Why Do You Think Ed Turned Into Such A Pussy in 1985?

[fryingdutchman]

But I guess on the contrary, at least they were a functioning band--after he died, it fell apart even more which led to all the disasters for the past decade.

It was a disaster from 1986 to 2007.

Leffler's passing wasn't that much of an impact.

Ed's inability to cope and manage his demons was the big culprit.

[GAR]

How about the other coin-side: was Roth too abusive to Ed during his original tenure, and had he allowed Ed to just take off 1985 into 1986 would they have never split?

[davehagarfan]

That's the problem right there. They were making plenty of money and wanted to dictate to the market what the product of what Van Halen was and how it should be delivered be rather than adapting Van Halen to the market. They wanted to get uppity and play bigger stadiums with fewer gigs at only festivals such as the Monsters of Rock. Dave would have none of this understandably as I think he was far more in touch with CVH's core audience and market than the sisters were. Roth's leaving reignited them and got the Van Halens off their asses and back into the studio and hockey halls with a vengeance. But they still toured and recorded less frequently and Sam was the one guy that made Eddie Van Halen seem industrious in the safe confines of a 'super-group.'

Dave's attitude was also getting a bit uppity as he was 'on fire' and overexposed by the end of 1984 and 1985. I also think constant touring ground them down and contributed to the burn out factor, with (as I've posted before) WB goading them into the studio to follow-up a successful song and was supposed to be a one-off hit to carry over things while they took vacations after the Fair Warning tour. The easy cover song, "(Oh) Pretty Woman" turned into Diver Down and there was no rest for the wicked. I personally believe that this is where much of the acrimony grew out of that resulted in the death knell of classic Van Halen in 1985...

The main problem with all of these assholes is that they only ever seem to want to do something when it involves spiting or showing up each other, and less so for the sake of making new music...

Excellent post Nick!!!! Even though I like Diver Down alot I agree with alot of what you said.

[davehagarfan]

How about the other coin-side: was Roth too abusive to Ed during his original tenure, and had he allowed Ed to just take off 1985 into 1986 would they have never split?

That's true to a certain degree but it might just be Ed crying like a pussy too......after all he showed no quarter for Mike Anthony it seems...maybe because Mike sided with Roth back then which has been mentioned before.....Dave's lack of judgement is that he didn't see the big picture in that CVH was bigger than all four of them individually. Mike is the only guy that has ever really understood that point......Roth nor Ed are that great of band leaders which is a real shame

[fryingdutchman]

How about the other coin-side: was Roth too abusive to Ed during his original tenure, and had he allowed Ed to just take off 1985 into 1986 would they have never split?

I see your point to an extent, and I'm sure that DLR fucked with Ed's head to some degree.

But the problem was that Roth was a workaholic, and Ed was a rampant ALCOHOLIC.

The two just didn't mix. Perhaps if Ed was sober he would have been in a better position to deal with Dave's work ethic, grandstanding, and (possibly) "abusive" behavior.

Maybe DLR was just showing Ed some "tough love" and the boy couldn't handle it....opting instead to go cry on Valerie's shoulder about how "mean" David was.

Which of course ultimately led to Ed finding a "kinder, gentler" frontman in the form of one Samuel Roy Hagar.

We all know what happened from there....

[if6was9]

Maybe it was because of his 5150 studio. Ed was in total control over his music, but nobody controlled him. So he freaked out.

[davehagarfan]

I see your point to an extent, and I'm sure that DLR fucked with Ed's head to some degree.

But the problem was that Roth was a workaholic, and Ed was a rampant ALCOHOLIC.

The two just didn't mix. Perhaps if Ed was sober he would have been in a better position to deal with Dave's work ethic, grandstanding, and (possibly) "abusive" behavior.

Maybe DLR was just showing Ed some "tough love" and the boy couldn't handle it....opting instead to go cry on Valerie's shoulder about how "mean" David was.

Which of course ultimately led to Ed finding a "kinder, gentler" frontman in the form of one Samuel Roy Hagar.

We all know what happened from there....

You have to keep in mind that Roth's solo career was checkered with a revolving door policy of side musicians. Roth's not a solo artist, he proved that and as a solo artist his work ethic wasn't any more strenuous than Van Hagar was. It would have been cool...since Dave was the unofficial leader of the group....had he pulled the band together in 1985 instead of jumping ship.....I can't say I totally blame him for jumping but on the other hand Van Halen was so phenominal that the petty bullshit they put each other through would have been worth the effort for the greater good of their music and live show.

A little tough love is cool at times but too much of it gets to be a real pain in the ass and in my opinion reflects poor leadership.

[letsrock]

Why is it that people that knew the band always say what a sweet guy Ed is, and that Dave is an ass. But then Dave always comes across as a victum and Nowadays Ed is the complete ass.

Circle of life?

[Bandit02tn]

Maybe it was because of his 5150 studio. Ed was in total control over his music, but nobody controlled him. So he freaked out.

I agree I think that the 5150 studio had alot to do with all the problems. Eddie thought that it is my place and I will decide what kind of music VH puts out. Do y'all think that the reason Eddie leaned towards to keyboards is that he had grown tired of the guitar? I have often wondered that. Also Alex whispering in Eddie's ear didn't help much!

[if6was9]

Do y'all think that the reason Eddie leaned towards to keyboards is that he had grown tired of the guitar?

Who didn't try keyboards these days? Queen, The Police, U2, almost every rock band did. It was a plague that affected rock scene in the 1980s. Just like guitars in the 1990s

[ELVIS]

Ed's inability to cope and manage his demons was the big culprit.

Bingo!

Ed succomed to severe alcohol abuse, period...

All of these other bullshit theories are just that, bullshit...

[if6was9]

Ed succomed to severe alcohol abuse, period...

All of these other bullshit theories are just that, bullshit...

Bullshit. All of you, alcoholics, excuse yourselves by blaming alcohol and "demons".

[Panamark]

Bullshit. All of you, alcoholics, excuse yourselves by blaming alcohol and "demons".

Damn it, you are so right !
I wasn't sure if the demons were with my heroin or cigarette addiction,
but they are clearly aligned with the alcohol, those little buggers....

If I smoke or shoot up, they just chill out, but once I start downing
the preservation fluids, oh lord !! there they be......

I just quaffed a dram as I typed this, and had to brush away a
pesky little hell dweller !!!!

[letsrock]

To bad newer bands of the last 20 years never learned from these guys.

[davehagarfan]

Why is it that people that knew the band always say what a sweet guy Ed is, and that Dave is an ass. But then Dave always comes across as a victum and Nowadays Ed is the complete ass.

Circle of life?

Those are the Edtards saying that and the Davetards said the opposite


Nowadays I think even the Edtards have a tough time justifying Ed's behavior over the last 15 years