Your worst nighmare?

[Terry]

Well, for me there's just been too much bullshit generated by this band since 1985 for me to get too wrapped up in any "end-of-the-world" scenarios regarding who may or may not bail...too many wasted years and soap opera histrionics in the press.

From my perspective, everything the band has done since Roth rejoined 5 years ago is, as somebody else already said, gravy. If the band decides to pack it in tomorrow, or Roth quits again, or Hagar rejoins...far as the future of Van Halen goes as long as Dave and Eddie are working together I'm interested. If they're not, I really couldn't give much of a fuck what Van Halen does.

[chefcraig]

Well, for me there's just been too much bullshit generated by this band since 1985 for me to get too wrapped up in any "end-of-the-world" scenarios regarding who may or may not bail...too many wasted years and soap opera histrionics in the press.

[minkahed]

I love Van Halen and there isn't a Van Halen without Dave as far as I'm concerned, but I'm also a realist.

It's been a nice ride since Dave's been back and the glory days were kick ass, but judging by some of these you tube vids, Dave seems to be off again, a lil burnt out, if you will.

Another cd would be great, a good break to give Dave a rest on his overblown cold pipes for maybe another tour, but to bow out gracefully would be a nice touch.

Give us another all Dave, "Greatest Hits" package, a bonus cut, or two, a nice comprehensive boxed set with killer demos, unreleased alternate takes and "Live" stuff from yesteryear and a couple remastered DVD's would end the ride beautifully.

[So this is love]

ok lets just say the Mayans were right for a minute and the end is near...I mean WE CLASSIC VAN HALEN FANS HAVE BEEN FUCKING SPOILED THE LAST FIVE YEARS!!!!!!!!

[loucap81]

I know a guy (not friends, but I've known him for eight years and have caught up with him from time to time) who is quite close to the Van Halens. He's had a tour pass for every "Van Halen" tour since God knows when. (A tour pass is a badge issued by the Van Halens that allows you to be in the arena, go backstage, watch soundcheck, basically do whatever you want for any show on the tour. Transportation to the arena is on you, but otherwise you have a free get-in to any show and can stand/sit anywhere that's not occupied. For example, Valerie B. & current hubby have tour passes).

In any event, this guy told me that the reason Van Hagar happened in 2004 was that Alex needed the money. They really didn't want to get back with Hagar, they wanted to get back with Roth but it didn't work with Roth so the attitude was essentially, "All right someone get Hagar on the phone." Eddie doesn't like touring but would do anything for his brother or son. As we saw Eddie shouldn't have been allowed off the premises of a halfway house let alone touring in 2004. But that tour was ALL cash grab for Alex's sake. Hagar I guess was content to be used as a pawn, he HAD to know what was happening. As a side note, Michael Anthony was paid $5,000 per show as a contract employee. That's awesome money for people like you and me but for him, it's pretty insulting.

So here's my point--after that I can't see Hagar wanting to come back or the brothers wanting to come back. Hagar was nothing more than a one-off, plan B thing.

[DavidLeeNatra]

I know a guy (not friends, but I've known him for eight years and have caught up with him from time to time) who is quite close to the Van Halens. He's had a tour pass for every "Van Halen" tour since God knows when. (A tour pass is a badge issued by the Van Halens that allows you to be in the arena, go backstage, watch soundcheck, basically do whatever you want for any show on the tour. Transportation to the arena is on you, but otherwise you have a free get-in to any show and can stand/sit anywhere that's not occupied. For example, Valerie B. & current hubby have tour passes).

In any event, this guy told me that the reason Van Hagar happened in 2004 was that Alex needed the money. They really didn't want to get back with Hagar, they wanted to get back with Roth but it didn't work with Roth so the attitude was essentially, "All right someone get Hagar on the phone." Eddie doesn't like touring but would do anything for his brother or son. As we saw Eddie shouldn't have been allowed off the premises of a halfway house let alone touring in 2004. But that tour was ALL cash grab for Alex's sake. Hagar I guess was content to be used as a pawn, he HAD to know what was happening. As a side note, Michael Anthony was paid $5,000 per show as a contract employee. That's awesome money for people like you and me but for him, it's pretty insulting.

So here's my point--after that I can't see Hagar wanting to come back or the brothers wanting to come back. Hagar was nothing more than a one-off, plan B thing.

nice story...but we had too many of these "I know a friend, who knows somebody who heard from somebody" - storys...

BTW...5 K per show isn't that bad..even for MA...it's 400.000 for 80 shows. A tour costs a shitload of money, don't expect the guys in VH to make a million every night...it's closer to the 5k's than you'd think...

[Yount]

I'd love to know if all these asshat reviewers who rip DLR for not singing also hated Bon Scott. Because I don't think anyone talked through songs more than he did. Yet Bon Scott is revered (as he should be) while DLR gets way too much criticism for a similar style.

Plain and simple. Death elevates you to hero status for some stupid reason.

[So this is love]

I know a guy (not friends, but I've known him for eight years and have caught up with him from time to time) who is quite close to the Van Halens. He's had a tour pass for every "Van Halen" tour since God knows when. (A tour pass is a badge issued by the Van Halens that allows you to be in the arena, go backstage, watch soundcheck, basically do whatever you want for any show on the tour. Transportation to the arena is on you, but otherwise you have a free get-in to any show and can stand/sit anywhere that's not occupied. For example, Valerie B. & current hubby have tour passes).

In any event, this guy told me that the reason Van Hagar happened in 2004 was that Alex needed the money. They really didn't want to get back with Hagar, they wanted to get back with Roth but it didn't work with Roth so the attitude was essentially, "All right someone get Hagar on the phone." Eddie doesn't like touring but would do anything for his brother or son. As we saw Eddie shouldn't have been allowed off the premises of a halfway house let alone touring in 2004. But that tour was ALL cash grab for Alex's sake. Hagar I guess was content to be used as a pawn, he HAD to know what was happening. As a side note, Michael Anthony was paid $5,000 per show as a contract employee. That's awesome money for people like you and me but for him, it's pretty insulting.

So here's my point--after that I can't see Hagar wanting to come back or the brothers wanting to come back. Hagar was nothing more than a one-off, plan B thing.

with all due respect to you I don't believe a thing your friend told ya...These guys are swimming in money...Ed would have just handed Al a check just as they got their Audi R8 a few years ago...

[loucap81]

That's what I was told, you can believe it or not believe. I don't know why the guy would invent that and I'll tell you this much, I've seen his tour pass and I actually carpooled with him to one of the shows in 2008. I waited in the parking lot (in a special area for VIP's) while he went in the arena through a back entrance and talked to the Van Halens.

[So this is love]

That's what I was told, you can believe it or not believe. I don't know why the guy would invent that and I'll tell you this much, I've seen his tour pass and I actually carpooled with him to one of the shows in 2008. I waited in the parking lot (in a special area for VIP's) while he went in the arena through a back entrance and talked to the Van Halens.

an arena sold out show is more or less $2 million gross a night...the contract in 2004 guaranteed $400,000 for VH each night...if Sobolewski was paid $5000 a night he was screwed...

[loucap81]

Well Mike was an IDIOT for renouncing his rights to the royalties IMO. That was part of the 2004 Van Hagar tour deal--he had to give up the royalties to be a part of that tour. I believe that's common knowledge. Maybe he doesn't care about money, I don't know. Also I misspoke slightly, he wasn't a contract employee of the band but rather an "independent contractor" which means you have to pay double FICA on income in the US which means you're also screwed on that end.

BTW I know you guys get alot of these he said, she said rumors. Maybe you don't know who I am but I've been posting on VH message boards since I was a 19 year old college kid in 2000 back on the old Pleasure Dome. Then I came here in 2001, found a home at DDLR in 2004 and now I'm back here. I've met a lot of people on here including three weeks ago at Greensboro so despite the new username, I'm not one of these "first time poster, fly by night" people with some bullshit story.

Anyway that's what the guy told me in 2008 while we went to Hershey, PA together. Last time I saw him was happenstance, this past March in Reading, PA as he was standing in the front row, with his tour pass. We made eye contact, he came over and talked to me, and he broke the news of the setlist changes as well as the whole "Light Up the Sky" thing where it was played three times in soundcheck (which he said he was the only one around for that), and it was on the official setlist but pulled at the last minute.

[So this is love]

Well Mike was an IDIOT for renouncing his rights to the royalties IMO. That was part of the 2004 Van Hagar tour deal--he had to give up the royalties to be a part of that tour. I believe that's common knowledge. Maybe he doesn't care about money, I don't know. Also I misspoke slightly, he wasn't a contract employee of the band but rather an "independent contractor" which means you have to pay double FICA on income in the US which means you're also screwed on that end.

BTW I know you guys get alot of these he said, she said rumors. Maybe you don't know who I am but I've been posting on VH message boards since I was a 19 year old college kid in 2000 back on the old Pleasure Dome. Then I came here in 2001, found a home at DDLR in 2004 and now I'm back here. I've met a lot of people on here including three weeks ago at Greensboro so despite the new username, I'm not one of these "first time poster, fly by night" people with some bullshit story.

Anyway that's what the guy told me in 2008 while we went to Hershey, PA together. Last time I saw him was happenstance, this past March in Reading, PA as he was standing in the front row, with his tour pass. We made eye contact, he came over and talked to me, and he broke the news of the setlist changes as well as the whole "Light Up the Sky" thing where it was played three times in soundcheckich he said he was the only one around for that), and it was on the official setlist but pulled at the last minute.

Dude you can tell me anything... I'm just a nobody who doesn't know much but hey if you're telling the thruth so be it...I mean I'm a diehard VH fan and if you're here you must like VH as we all do....so cheers to you

[Angel]

Dude you can tell me anything... I'm just a nobody who doesn't know much but hey if you're telling the thruth so be it...I mean I'm a diehard VH fan and if you're here you must like VH as we all do....so cheers to you

If this guy's saying it, then it's true. I've known him (online) for years. He's straight up.

[FORD]

I can vouch for Lou. He's not one of the "Michael Jackson"/"Sherman"/Timothy Bull Schidt/Venom Thrust/Melodicrock types who make up ridiculous stories just to hear them rattling around inside their empty skulls. And yes, I do remember hearing somewhere that Velveetapalooza 2004 was done mostly to pay off Alex's then most recent divorce, and that Hagar had to twist their arms to get Sobolewski back on board for the tour. So I have no reason to doubt the rest of the story either.

[Carmine]

I can go one step further on Lou's connection...

when we went to the Atlantic City show back in March, Lou told me about this guy he knew close to the VH camp and that they had spoken recently...Lou already knew this tour was going to go beyond the end of June...he knew dates, he knew where, he knew when...and they were all correct when they were "officially" released by the band...

Lou actually does "know a guy"...of that I have no doubt...

(not that I ever questioned what you were telling me anyway, bro)