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All these reviewers saying that MA's backing vocals are missed is becoming as boring as FORD saying repuke. It doesn't mean anything anymore but they keep on saying it hoping they'll get to stay in the head up the ass club.
"If the American people had ever known the truth about what we (the BCE) have done to this nation, we would be chased down in the streets and lynched." - Poppy Bush, 1992
Look when you compare MA to Geddy Lee, John Paul Jones, Les Claypool, Flea, Billy Sheehan, Chris Squire, Cliff Burton, Tony Levin etc. he just doesn't measure up. I think he's a good bass player and enjoyable to listen to but nothing more. He has no distinctive style, not to my ears anyway. Unlike those guys you don't listen to a MA bass line and nod your head saying, "Yup that's Mike, only he plays like that." And a lot of people can sing high harmonies, it's not like he sings with a distinct sound like the Beach Boys.
For what his role was, for what was asked of him, he did it well. But it wasn't special and irreplaceable as we're finding out with Wolfgang being more than capable of doing that job. I chuckle when people criticize Wolf's stage presence, like Michael Anthony was this big attraction at a Van Halen show back in the day.
For what his role was, for what was asked of him, he did it well. But it wasn't special and irreplaceable as we're finding out with Wolfgang being more than capable of doing that job. I chuckle when people criticize Wolf's stage presence, like Michael Anthony was this big attraction at a Van Halen show back in the day.
Lou's right. But I did enjoy watching Mikey jump around on stage like a coked up monkey during his "solo" Ah...some things are best left in the past
It's been pretty well documented that the bros VH gave Anthony the heave-ho and not the other way around.
The problem with Mike is that he has his head up Hagar's ass. If that wasn't the case, he'd probably be back in the band by now. If not in 2007, then at least by the time of the current album and tour. After all , it wasn't that many years ago that Alex said that Dave being in the band again was about as likely as a Beatles reunion tour, and yet here we are.
We have all heard the speculation as to what went down between the Van Halen brothers and Mike Sobolewski. Their mother's funeral and all that, none of it confirmed, and I imagine its not something they would want to talk about even if it were true, so we may never know. We can only judge by what we see, and what we see is Mike and the Ched Spammer closer than a couple of gay guys on ecstasy at the SF pride march. And that is enough to suggest that Mike might put his loyalty to the tequila salesman above the legacy of Van Halen.
On one level, it sucks that we may never see the original 4 on stage again, but Wolfie has definitely grown into the role. I can see why people might have had their doubts on the 2007 tour, but ADKOT and the current live shows have settled the question. Mr Sobolewski is no longer needed.
"If the American people had ever known the truth about what we (the BCE) have done to this nation, we would be chased down in the streets and lynched." - Poppy Bush, 1992
Another one of those classic genius posts, sure to generate responses. You log on the next day to see what your witty gem has produced to find no one gets it and 2 knotheads want to stick their dicks in it... Well played, sir!!
Lou's right. But I did enjoy watching Mikey jump around on stage like a coked up monkey during his "solo" Ah...some things are best left in the past
Those solos were horrible, total waste of time in the concert. The idea of doing a bass solo is stupid to begin with but if I have to listen to one, I'd rather it be by someone who really was a master of the instrument like Cliff Burton.
Also Catfish brought up a great point. Who the hell knows how much bass MA even played on the classic albums? We happened to be talking about this in Greensboro, and I think Fair Warning especially is pretty suspect as to how much he was involved.
As to how MA was treated, my personal belief is that EVH was determined to get his son in the band no matter what, and there was only one realistic spot for him. The Hagar stuff didn't help, but I don't think it really mattered. Eddie wasn't going to reunite with Roth and hire a professional bassist to replace MA. It was Wolf or it was more sitting on his ass and silence.
Those solos were horrible, total waste of time in the concert. The idea of doing a bass solo is stupid to begin with but if I have to listen to one, I'd rather it be by someone who really was a master of the instrument like Cliff Burton.
Also Catfish brought up a great point. Who the hell knows how much bass MA even played on the classic albums? We happened to be talking about this in Greensboro, and I think Fair Warning especially is pretty suspect as to how much he was involved.
As to how MA was treated, my personal belief is that EVH was determined to get his son in the band no matter what, and there was only one realistic spot for him. The Hagar stuff didn't help, but I don't think it really mattered. Eddie wasn't going to reunite with Roth and hire a professional bassist to replace MA. It was Wolf or it was more sitting on his ass and silence.
I am a bass player and I think bass solos are even a waste of time. ...To me judging by the VH live clips with Mike playing it sounds to me like he played on full albums up untill WACF. Although I can hear the Mike bass Style in a few songs on 1984, like GGB and HFT.. ...Again, Wolf put the band back together. Ed made no choice on who was playing bass..
Every single classic VH show was FLAWED because of the bass solo.
If you need to have a bass solo, which you never do, why fucking put it after the second song after they'd built up incredible momentum, just to see it all fade away? Thousands of people standing, then SITTING back down? THAT SHIT ALONE is reason why DLR is the greatest ever, having to re-rev the crowd like that.
Every single classic VH show was FLAWED because of the bass solo.
If you need to have a bass solo, which you never do, why fucking put it after the second song after they'd built up incredible momentum, just to see it all fade away? Thousands of people standing, then SITTING back down? THAT SHIT ALONE is reason why DLR is the greatest ever, having to re-rev the crowd like that.
Actually the drum solo came after the 2nd song. The bass solo was somewhere in the middle, except for the 1980 Invasion tour when thankfully, there was no bass solo. Both are really stupid though. At least Alex has a distinct style though unlike MA. While Alex also didn't write any of the songs, I can't imagine the albums sounding the same without him. He has a rare warmth that very few drummers had, the only other one I can think of off the top of my head was John Bonham. Anyway Van Halen II and Fair Warning especially highlight Alex's sound. Maybe they never did "Dirty Movies" in concert because Eddie can't play both lead guitar AND bass like he did on the studio version of that one.
I am a bass player and I think bass solos are even a waste of time. ...To me judging by the VH live clips with Mike playing it sounds to me like he played on full albums up untill WACF. Although I can hear the Mike bass Style in a few songs on 1984, like GGB and HFT.. ...Again, Wolf put the band back together. Ed made no choice on who was playing bass..
Not to sound too terrible, but I hate seeing the clips of MA up there bashing the bass. To me it doesn't display any kind of musical skill and is really pretty annoying. I agree with Lou when he says to have an amazing bassist do a solo, but really folks, that just isn't MA. And when I say that I don't mean any kind of disrespect to MA. It's just my opinion. I'm more than thrilled to have Wolfie playing and doing whatever else he does to have the Mighty Van Halen making albums and playing shows.
Told ya I was comin' back... Say you missed me... Say it like ya mean it!
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