Michael Anthony's actual contribution to classic Van Halen

[Destructo2]

Am I the only one who heard Michael Anthony recently say in an interview that the first record he sang on was Fair Warning??? Don't get me wrong, I love the guy, but he wasn't as big a part of the magic they created in those early records as everyone thinks... I was shocked when I read this, but it was a direct quote from him.

[WildTurkey]

I think you may have gotten something mixed up? I think that's pretty conclusively Mike on the six pack, especially if you compare with boots. Mike might be a fat bass-player of debatable talent, minimal personality, and possibly lacking in any kind of songwriting talent - but he is an unmistakable voice.

Maybe Mike was saying that the Fair Warning sessions were the first time that he was able to break the vaunted 30 Twinkies in One Day Barrier.

[ELVIS]

You obviously have no idea what Michael Anthony's voice sounds like...

[chefcraig]

You obviously have no idea what Michael Anthony's voice sounds like...

Ed seems to think Anthony sounds like Steve Lukather.

[Terry]

Am I the only one who heard Michael Anthony recently say in an interview that the first record he sang on was Fair Warning??? Don't get me wrong, I love the guy, but he wasn't as big a part of the magic they created in those early records as everyone thinks... I was shocked when I read this, but it was a direct quote from him.

I'd have to see a link to said interview, and even then I'd be of the mind that the interview just got misprinted. Clearly Anthony sung backing vocals on all the 6-pack records.

[ZahZoo]

Mike sang backups on every record VH produced. There's no question about it...

Mike also played and recorded the bass on every song, on every record with the exception of III and those 3 songs they did w/ Hagar in 2004. Mike also played and recorded the bass on the 2 Roth songs on BOV1. On the first 5 records, before 5150 was built, Mike was directly involved in the song composition and writing process. As things shifted with Ed building his own studio... Ed and Al would develop the basic tracks which included a crude foundation track for the bass. When the actual recordings were cut Mike took over and played all the bass parts and added his touch, timings, and voicings to the bass tracks.

I recognize some here prefer to minimize Mike's contributions to the Classic 6-pack and the Van Halen catalog as a whole due to his working with Hagar... but revisionist history don't fly and what's captured on all those records don't lie. Mike was an intregal part of the magic that became the Mighty Van Halen.

[ELVIS]

As well as the Mousy Van Hagar...

[ZahZoo]

Well... anyone who was an adult back then has to admit the 2nd half of the 80's is a pretty cheesy and embarrassing time looking back at it in retrospect... It's ok to admit it 25 years later...

[ELVIS]

[Seshmeister]

Well... anyone who was an adult back then has to admit the 2nd half of the 80's is a pretty cheesy and embarrassing time looking back at it in retrospect... It's ok to admit it 25 years later...

You're just saying that because you were middle aged at the time.

We members of the generation after yours think it was great.

[sonrisa salvaje]

Well... anyone who was an adult back then has to admit the 2nd half of the 80's is a pretty cheesy and embarrassing time looking back at it in retrospect... It's ok to admit it 25 years later...

I would agree with that especially when referring to the Warrants, White Lions, Wingers, Poisons, etc.
Even the legends weren't releasing great records - ie- Judas Priest's Ram It Down.
That being said, i can also look back just 20 years and see that the grunge movement was pure unadulterated shit.

[Diamondjimi]

That being said, i can also look back just 20 years and see that the grunge movement was pure unadulterated shit.

I smelled that stinkin pile of hog shit the moment it hit the scene. It was a generation of long haired nerds who failed at competing with the guitar shredders of the 80's.
Generation X can suck my dick!
(And no, I'm not referring to Billy Idol's first band)

[sonrisa salvaje]

I'll say this about Mike. Not only was he important from a vocal standpoint but he was a high energy performer as well and brought it when CVH hit the stage. Granted he is not a showy player but he was very animated live and didn't just stand there all night like a mullet. What you saw in the Jump video was pretty much what you got live. I thought he was very cool back in the day.

[Destructo2]

99.9% sure he made this statement on That Metal Show. I didn't beleieve it when he said it, but that is what he said...

[silverfish]

99.9% sure he made this statement on That Metal Show. I didn't beleieve it when he said it, but that is what he said...

That episode is on-line if you wanna watch and let
us know at what point he makes that statement.