All-Encompassing Van Halen New Album / Interscope Thread

[Zing!]

I wholeheartedly agree that at this phase of the game a lot of time and effort goes toward keeping the brothers happy - not only at the VHND but in all other facets of the VH business (as poorly run as it may be). One can hope that Dave has finally prevailed at demonstrating how very much money can be made off of very little effort on Ed and Al's part. However, I can't help but feel that much of this depends on Ed's state of mind. It's always been my opinion that the long delay between the 07-08 tour was to get Ed in a good place - which I think is basically his wife's full-time job. Yes, Wolf needed to graduate, yes, Ed needed wrist surgery, etc. - but the big picture is Azoff and everyone else involved in investing massive amounts of money in another tour (and hopefully album) needed to know that Ed was up for it - and not going to fall off the wagon midway through the tour. I like to think that that is the case - he looks good in pictures, seems happy at least, and by all reports is shredding again. It's surprising to hear that this effort seems to be reciprocated by Ed in that he (supposedly) wanted to keep Dave happy with where they signed their record deal - but perhaps that has something to do with being lucid for the first time in ages. If the veil of booze and heavy narcotics have been lifted from Eddie Van Halen's eyes for good - it could mean a renaissance period for us die-hard Van Halen fans.

Or it could continue to be 'no news is good news.'

[ThrillsNSpills]

Having said that, I don't agree it is necessary to run stories on Sammy Hagar telling anyone that will listen why he is over Van Halen every two weeks or so.

It's comedy at this point.
If Ed wants to work with me again he has to sober up.
Meanwhile , noone's knockin' at the door.
It's been what, 7-8 years being a non-issue?
And I think his interviews will get more goofy as time goes on.

[Nitro Express]

Dave always said Van Halen was greater than the sum of it's parts. I think everyone would come up with stuff on their own. Then they would share what they came up with and that would inspire more creation and then they would refine and tweak it into a final product. As brilliant as Ed is he can write songs worth shit on his own.

[jhale667]

If Ed wants to work with me again he has to sober up.

My theory has always been the reason why he started drinking super heavily was to tolerate Spammy once the "I'll get Spam in the band, that'll really piss Dave off!" wore off and the "OMG what have I done?" phase kicked in...

[Nitro Express]

LOL! To be honest. I think Dave was ready to strike the iron when it was hot in 1985. Van Halen was at the pinnacle of it's commercial success. I think the Van Halens wanted to stay home and do nothing. They had wives at home and a lot of money. They weren't hungry. Dave was still hungry and out of his frustration did some solo stuff and the Van Halen's seem to hate anyone in the band doing anything on their own; especially if it's successful. Ed once admitted he was jealous of Dave's freedom. I think the new singer in Van Halen would have been whatever warm body they found. Sammy got the gig because Ed and him had the same mechanic.

[Nitro Express]

In '74 when VH took up residence at Gazzarri's the only thing on at the Roxy - for a long long time - was The Rocky Horror Picture Show, featuring a then unknown singer known as Meat Loaf. I often wonder if he, or even Alice Cooper and Keith Moon, and even John Lennon, who were all propping up the bar in The Roxy back then in 74, ever stuck their noses into Gazzarri's to see if there was any action. It was practically next door.

I see it in my head - John Lennon looks through the door. Van Halen are playing some dance tune, and he says to Moon, 'fuck this, it's just some bunch of nobodies'.

I think the Godfather of Rock and Roll showcased new bands. Once those bands got a reputation they would move to the Whiskey A Go Go or The Starwood. I don't think VH had any doings with The Roxy. It also might just boil down to what place was willing to book you and give you a shot. Gazzarri seemed to be selling ass and parties and I think Dave and VH fit what he was doing to a T. Play some songs and then Dave could host the wet T Shirt contest. I think at the other places you just went on and played while people drank and watched you.

[ThrillsNSpills]

Hagar says blah blah blah blah. Who cares.

Hagar is not qualified to talk about music. PERIOD

let alone critique it. He's a calculated businessman who's only option is to say shit that gets your head nodding up and down. that's it, end of story. it's a sales technique. Bashing Ed's the only card he can play at this point.

Go listen to Let Sally Drive then ask yourself why his critiques of people who live for playing music (which is different than gossip) are even a little bit valid.

[DLR Bridge]

LOL! To be honest. I think Dave was ready to strike the iron when it was hot in 1985. Van Halen was at the pinnacle of it's commercial success. I think the Van Halens wanted to stay home and do nothing. They had wives at home and a lot of money. They weren't hungry. Dave was still hungry and out of his frustration did some solo stuff and the Van Halen's seem to hate anyone in the band doing anything on their own; especially if it's successful. Ed once admitted he was jealous of Dave's freedom. I think the new singer in Van Halen would have been whatever warm body they found. Sammy got the gig because Ed and him had the same mechanic.

Agreed. I've always thought that the set up in the mid 80's that Genesis and Phil Collins had would have been ideal for VH. They could've played around with their wives and their money and made demos for the next CVH release while Dave dabbled solo for a bit. They could've done the on and off thing to the dissatisfaction of no one! I don't think that I've Monday morning quarterbacked anything else in my entire life as much as I have with the fate of Van Halen. I'm just glad I'm not the only one who suffers from the incurable sickness of giving too much of a shit about a GD rock band!!

[ThrillsNSpills]

I'm not trying to bash folks who read his same interviews since people are looking for perspective but with regard to judging music it's really a matter of context because you forget how awful his is when he's saying things
(about the Halens)that you've suspected for years. But you can't really believe it since he's a calculated business whore.

[ThrillsNSpills]

Even a Halen retread, properly treated will live forever when it's released.

The Chickenfoot album released last week was forgotten yesterday.

[ThrillsNSpills]

It would be a shame though if the new album was all material that have been available for years on boots and youtubes.
I couldn't imagine that being the case.

[FORD]

It would be a shame though if the new album was all material that have been available for years on boots and youtubes.
I couldn't imagine that being the case.

I doubt they would get a contract with a major label if that's all they were doing. On the other hand, being signed to a Universal label does open up the possibility of the vaults being opened in the future (much like the Stones and U2 are doing)

[FORD]

Even a Halen retread, properly treated will live forever when it's released.

The Chickenfoot album released last week was forgotten yesterday.

What? Chickenshit released an album?

[ThrillsNSpills]

I doubt they would get a contract with a major label if that's all they were doing.

I hear you but the thing is I'm sure there's a good chance the hitters at Interscope haven't heard Big Troubles or Let's Get Rockin,.' so how would they know?
I didn't know there was old stuff that killed until '99 when out of the blue a friend sent me VH 77+Live (and I live for this stuff)
I'm really hoping this album is an instant classic where every cut gives you the chills because after all this time it seems like the only option.

the Mach II singer should just talk up his own release. I guess the Zep angle didn't work so he's back to Ed bashing.

[neuralfraud]

I'd like to take a different approach to the "meh, this is all old material!" BS.

How old were all of their songs when VH1 hit the shelves? How many "OLD" songs did VH use on 1984? House of pain was at least 10 years old as evidenced by the myriad early demos floating around.

Here's my humble and worthless opinion:

these "old" songs could well be a gold mine, and there's nothing wrong with that, one damn bit. Why should they go and invent 100% fresh material especially if theres a ton of old shit they all dig? furthermore, if some of this old shit was carried over from roth's last 'days', well it wouldn't be a stretch to think of it as "5150...the way it should have been."

..So maybe they'll call it "7162"