Do you think Ed and Al enjoy playing with Dave again or is this all about the money?

[GreenBayLA]

I haven't seen Ed genuinely smile like that since well 1984. Al is hard to read, he looks barely there on the unplugged material but maybe he's a bit out of his element on bongos.

[Dave's Bitch]

Would like to think they do yes but honestly i could care less if it was all about the money.I have a new Van Halen CD with David Lee Roth.I am happy with it

[Golden AWe]

Well you can see that they really enjoy the music with him, if nothing else.

[Glitter Tot]

I don't think any of them are strapped for cash. DLR may have been a few years back, but the 2007/08 tour would have seen an end to that. Sounds like he's quite cozy in his 20 bedroom Pasadena home.

I doubt EVH even thinks about money anymore. No, this is about redemption and finishing up on a high note. Completing unfinished business and reclaiming some respect in the music world.

Not to mention the thrill.

[kingedward]

Exactly, As mentioned before, I think Wolfgang got his old man off his ass, A kind of "Let's Get Out There And Show The World Van Halen Is Still Around". I truly think the VH family wanted to mend the Dave fence. This ain't about cash. They want to show the Chickenfoot's of the world, We are the most kick ass 4 piece band in the world, Look what we can still do, So fuck off. I think ego had a big part in this, At least Dave/Ed's. Hell even Wolf had something to prove. So, What happens, They deliver THE greatest fuck'n rock album in at least 10 years. So it worked out, They can again say, We are fucking VAN HALEN. I think it's as simple as, They wanted to be a band again, Not just any band, A building-fell-on-your-head rock band. Boy, Did we get one.

[binnie]

It's too simple to equate things to 'money'.

Ed and Alex could have made decent bank going on the road with Hagar - or even another singer. Not the kind of money they're making here, but still more than most of us could dream of.

This is about a bunch of guys pushing 60 trying to get along and answer the 'what if' question: age is more vital than money.

[Glitter Tot]

Perhaps also some acceptance of the fact that they're never going to find a singer they permanently gel with. What they seem to have done is let go of their concerns about what their singer says and does, allowing him do his job while they do theirs. And who better to take that position than the person who has craved it more than any other person on the planet. The man with more energy, determination and hunger to prove himself than any other possible candidate. Plus, the overwhelming fan favorite choice. I sense that the Van Halen's have relaxed and simply accept that Dave is the front man and highly proficient and doing his share of the work, whether they like the guy or not. Meanwhile they can concentrate on what matters most to them, the music.

[Dave's Bitch]

It's too simple to equate things to 'money'.

Ed and Alex could have made decent bank going on the road with Hagar - or even another singer. Not the kind of money they're making here, but still more than most of us could dream of.

This is about a bunch of guys pushing 60 trying to get along and answer the 'what if' question: age is more vital than money.

I think that is it right there more than anything else.Probably had a few demons in the basement for a while and just thought "I wonder if the magic is still there".They look like they just want to kick back and make fun music,have some fun.Who is more fun to make music with,David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar.

[Va Beach VH Fan]

"Genuine" is the proper way to describe it....

And trust me, this exact topic was one of the main things I was looking for at the Forum show....

Every interaction was unforced, it was genuine, and it was fucking fantastic to see....

[clarathecarrot]

Perhaps also some acceptance of the fact that they're never going to find a singer they permanently gel with. What they seem to have done is let go of their concerns about what their singer says and does, allowing him do his job while they do theirs. And who better to take that position than the person who has craved it more than any other person on the planet. The man with more energy, determination and hunger to prove himself than any other possible candidate. Plus, the overwhelming fan favorite choice. I sense that the Van Halen's have relaxed and simply accept that Dave is the front man and highly proficient and doing his share of the work, whether they like the guy or not. Meanwhile they can concentrate on what matters most to them, the music.

I have wanted to touch on that thought also, I believe DLRs' attention to detail has given Ed the oportunity to become a little less controlling of every aspect of a tour and new record.
He may actually be able to enjoy sharing some control and realising it isn't healthy to be everything at all times.
Now I also hope DLR can delegate a little, to maximize his, get down live.
I see a mature band not so much in competition with each other to the point of implosion.

Clicking on all cylinders a few shows down the line.

Bitching about the rehearsals is like not giving a new TV show a few shows to get thier speed up.

Roth On.

[Sensible Shoes]

I get the impression that the work relationship is good and genuine, but they still don't want to be best buddies off stage. Their lives have gone in very different directions. And that's fine, how many people do you know at work that you want to hang out with on a regular basis? You can get some great projects done together and bond over that, but the Christmas party is the only time you want to see these people socially, and then not so much maybe.

[Matt White]

Clearly. When do you see Al sans shades?

[jhale667]

"Genuine" is the proper way to describe it....

And trust me, this exact topic was one of the main things I was looking for at the Forum show....

Every interaction was unforced, it was genuine, and it was fucking fantastic to see....

I felt the same way at the Henson gig, and like you I was close enough to see the interaction (and the stage was low enough that I saw a smiling Al peek out from behind the kit a few times). That's the word I'd use - genuine. They REALLY seem to be enjoying themselves, it doesn't seem forced.

Dave got them all (along with the audience) to crack up at one point with "OK, one more paramedic joke and I'll STFU about that sh*t guys, but this kinda reminds me of 'Mr. Rodriguez - can you tell us -HOW MANY OF YOUR FINGERS ARE WE HOLDING UP?'"

I remember (and have mentioned here before) when I saw them in '84 it seemed kinda forced, like Eddie didn't want to be there and was phoning it in... the vibe was head and shoulders above my memory of that night... tons of smiles and laughter. It was great to see.

[Luke D]

I hope so, but it's so hard to read those 2. Ed's been smiling a lot, but is it a "I'm so happy we're a band again!" smile, or a "I'm gonna rip your head off and shit down your throat" smile

[vandeleur]

I honestly think initially it was about the legacy ...ed wanted to set the young un up in the family business......Luckily by that time dave had mellowed abit and ed was struggling to stay on the wagon but pulled thru
I think they got together and to me it looks like they remembered how good they were as a band ... cos from what am seeing 10 years ago this wouldnt have been possible .. but the looks on ed and daves faces says this is fun and the cd couldnt be as good as it if it was all " heavy lifting"