Wolfie Delays New VH Album for a Number of Years

[ZahZoo]

I can understand that Wolf has to concentrate on graduating from high school, which means studying for exams, etc. Kid got no time in the studio and I am sure Val will make sure he spends more time with his studies than jamming tunes for a new VH album. So, don't think for a second Mom made the call for Wolf to finish school first than make new music with Dad.

But then that throws the question behind having Wolf in the band if he can't committ to VH full time just yet.

Good points... but... If, as many here have asserted here that the Bass Player was given a free ride from 1974 - 2004... then what the hell do they need Wolfie for to lay down tracks for a new record?

He could stop by after his morning chores on Saturdays and lay down the bass tracks and backing vocals in a couple of hours. Have it done in no time...

[kwame k]

Yup and if you ever heard some of Alice's comments like......"I only have Ed in my monitors and a Little bit of vocals, no bass", and other comments he has made over the years about recording with little or no bass in his mix.

How about the fact that everyone thinks Ed did the bass on FW. Hell, they could have the album done without bass tracks or just scratch tracks for the bass and let Wolf come in a lay those down after June.

[Vinnie Velvet]

Good points... but... If, as many here have asserted here that the Bass Player was given a free ride from 1974 - 2004... then what the hell do they need Wolfie for to lay down tracks for a new record?

He could stop by after his morning chores on Saturdays and lay down the bass tracks and backing vocals in a couple of hours. Have it done in no time...

True dat.

I mean, how much can Wolf contribute to the actual songwriting of new VH songs?? The assumption is minimal.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that Ed really needs Wolf around so that he doesn't fuck himself up again.

Or Eddie is a still a lazy fuck.

I'll go for the latter. :D

[if6was9]

Somebody please merge this thread with "Who will be the first VH member to kick the bucket?" poll.

[ZahZoo]

How about the fact that everyone thinks Ed did the bass on FW. Hell, they could have the album done without bass tracks or just scratch tracks for the bass and let Wolf come in a lay those down after June.

From what I've heard from Michael himself was the full band recorded together up thru Balance. It was after that time that he was excluded especially on III and 3 crap tunes w/ Hagar in 2004.

Until Ed built 5150... most of their stuff was written on the road or in practice sessions. Then from 84 on Ed and Al laid out the scratch tracks and then it was recorded as a full band. This progressed until it was almost all Ed for III even on the drums and bass... no wonder it was shit.

[Nickdfresh]

Ed building his own studio is one of the root causes for the aborted VH legacy...

[Vinnie Velvet]

Ed building his own studio is one of the root causes for the aborted VH legacy...

I agree.

It cemented a breakup with Dave for one thing.

And I think it made Eddie all the more lazy. Not to mention a nice place for him to get drunk 24-7.

[LoungeMachine]

I agree.

It cemented a breakup with Dave for one thing.

And I think it made Eddie all the more lazy. Not to mention a nice place for him to get drunk 24-7.

Plus it gave him "home court advantage" to say "my toys, you can go home if you dont like it"

Ironic when you consider how little actual recording has taken place there.

[Terry]

I take you mean fall 2006. :D

Anyhow, yeah, I agree on all points.

Ed has never been known for his work ethic and was one of the main reasons Dave dumped him in the first place back in '85.

Ed is still a tool, yes, however, its probably a good thing we haven't heard new music from him since the Fagar 2004 tracks seeing as how he was pretty fucked up during those years before hooking up with Dave again. And I am sure Alex knew this better than anyone else, hence no new music.

The only positive thing now is that he SEEMS to have some his marbles back judging from his recent interview and his 'clean' look.

I can understand that Wolf has to concentrate on graduating from high school, which means studying for exams, etc. Kid got no time in the studio and I am sure Val will make sure he spends more time with his studies than jamming tunes for a new VH album. So, don't think for a second Mom made the call for Wolf to finish school first than make new music with Dad.

But then that throws the question behind having Wolf in the band if he can't committ to VH full time just yet.

Yes, fall 2006 for this lastest go-around.:0

Think Eddie's recent healthy look is just cosmetic...yes, he cleaned up his meth-mouth, cut his hair and isn't looking like a hobo anymore...gut feeling is that was done as it was necessary for promoters to extend a tour guarantee...whatever. He strikes me as a weak person these days, but it'd be good for his own sake if he was able to stop drinking and have a real sense of purpose regarding his music.

I do agree that it is just silly to be dicking around, wasting more time, but that's really what Ed is best at these days.

[Terry]

Plus it gave him "home court advantage" to say "my toys, you can go home if you dont like it"

Ironic when you consider how little actual recording has taken place there.

Well, it certainly doesn't provide an incentive to put together an album quickly...if one doesn't have to worry about paying for studio time, than one can spend an infinite amount of time dicking around.

Recording somewhere else besides 5150 (even from a strictly sonic perspective, the records made there don't sound all that great) with a producer who isn't there to kiss ass would, to my mind, result in a better sounding album put out reasonably quickly.

[Nickdfresh]

I agree with some of the above sentiments. But Ed strikes me as a guy that can't decide if he's "done enough" in his life to preserve some sort of legacy and just float on through semi-retirement with some half-assed window dressing of nostalgia tours. Or if he wants to seriously go back to his roots and make music and tour like a serious musician would - like musicians far older than him do!

[kwame k]

From what I've heard from Michael himself was the full band recorded together up thru Balance. It was after that time that he was excluded especially on III and 3 crap tunes w/ Hagar in 2004.

Until Ed built 5150... most of their stuff was written on the road or in practice sessions. Then from 84 on Ed and Al laid out the scratch tracks and then it was recorded as a full band. This progressed until it was almost all Ed for III even on the drums and bass... no wonder it was shit.

True, the point I was making is the bass has never been important to Al. He has said so in a few interviews. So if he doesn't use the bass to record his parts and relies just on Ed's guitar parts to track.......half the backing tracks are done without Wolf even needing to be there. Not really saying how they used to record, just saying there is no reason a new album couldn't be done in time for the summer touring circuit. Summer is, IMO, Van Halen time.

[kentuckyklira]

I´m just losing more respect for Ed day by day! What moronic bullshit! Then look at the headstock of his new sig guitar. What the fuck was he inspired by, the bottle opener he used to open a beer every time he snuck out of rehab?

Damn, Dave doesn´t deserve this shit!

[katie]

Van Halen Bass Player Is Hot For Teacher
by Paul Cashmere - February 24 2009

http://undercover.com.au/News-Story.aspx?id=7691

There will not be a new album from Van Halen for a number of years because bass player Wolfgang Van Halen has to finish school....

.

[GAR]

Ironic when you consider how little actual recording has taken place there.

The biggest irony is that the band must wait for Wolf to finish school in order to go you know, so far into town, to record... I saw a picture once of 5150's outside, and the back porch to the house is literally right there next to it isn't it?

If Wolfie were to travel to the 5150 studio, he'd be so far away from his schoolwork. Oh boy. It's just another layer of bullshit built upon a groundwork of lies and I'm happy for the kid that he doesn't have to give any interviews or else he'd have to keep track of all the currently running layers of truth going on he'd be sure to mess it up.

Man if that were me, once I'd hit 18 and get into that bank account I'd be so far outta there.. change my last name, move east into a decent Ivy League shit school and forget about it till graduation.