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The thing that I can't figure out is why Van Halen should be so "hands off" with the media at this point. Sure, they're bound to get asked some uncomfortable questions. But so the fuck what? I understand that Dave recorded a quick video to answer the main question. But why not do a little press too? Seriously, what would it hurt? I'm not complaining, just asking...
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American by birth. Southern by the grace of God.
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I just don't think they want to be bothered, simple as that. They don't need to market anything anymore so there's no need to deal with the media.Comment
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I think they hate being famous. I think they just like to make music on their own terms and if anyone else likes it, then fine. I think they hate the whole marketing aspect of it and that is one reason VH has never been great at public relations unless Dave is the guy allowed to run with it.No! You can't have the keys to the wine cellar!Comment
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Because they hate doing interviews and I think they don't need the money. They are doing this on their terms and Valerie said Ed would hang up the touring thing for good if Wolfie wasn't in the band. They like to get up there and play but all the rest of it they hate and they are old, they don't need the money and they are going to do it on their terms.No! You can't have the keys to the wine cellar!Comment
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They never did play to the expectations of critics / the music media / press. Dave once said - to the fckn press at the Us Fest, no less:
"we never cared what anybody thought about anything. We carry on down our own little merry path. You're all invited ... but I'm driving."THINK LIKE THE WAVESComment
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The press were always viewed as a PLAYTHING to VH in the old days, and to me it is all of a piece with their indifference to the media now (especially now that they are not really necessary, what with social media).
DLR: "the worse they hate us, the more colorful adjectives they have to use - we love it. It makes for great reading."
AVH: "I see Van Halen as kinda like social workers - our job is to keep rock critics in work"THINK LIKE THE WAVESComment
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It's called IRONY.
The critics never liked being outsmarted by some mere 'party band' from Pasadena ...THINK LIKE THE WAVESComment
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It's one thing for the media to be outsmarted by a band...it's quite another to be outsmarted by yourselves...and if it was any other band I'd get it. But we're talking about Van Fucking Halen!!! The masters of bending the media to their will, or at least to Dave's will!!American by birth. Southern by the grace of God.
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I guess in these days of social media, rumours taking hold like wildfire, and every jerk in what's left of the mainstream media feeling the need to spout an opinion on anything and everything as soon as they can, you are on the mark there, Donnie.
But on the other hand, they - or Dave - I reckon might still think, 'if you hear anything bad about us ... spread it around'. I always thought DD was from the Malcolm McLaren school of publicity, i.e., even bad news is good news.
But I don't disagree with you, dude. Now that the fans are the fuel in this social media, and its not good PR to piss that media off too much.THINK LIKE THE WAVESComment
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But at this point...would VH really think that any publicity is good publicity??? Especially since they don't have to promote anything??? And since when did Van Halen decide they don't have to promote anything? If you follow that logic then we'd have to say, "well, they don't have to put out another record". And "they don't have to tour anymore because they have nothing to prove." I say bullshit!!! I say they need to get out in front of whatever decision they make and OWN IT!!!
Eddie has no problem promoting his gear and his shoes (which I've bought) and his flip-flops. Why in the fucking hell am I the odd man out IF I even suggest the band shoud promote the GODDAMNED BAND???American by birth. Southern by the grace of God.
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I agree, and yeah, the lack of promoting the album (the weak videos etc) in particular is frustrating as a fan, because I want everyone else to know how great this is - So, yeah, I think they should promote the hell out of themselves and - most of all - do more to tell the world what a great record they've just made.
But I just don't think they need to pay much attention to the badly-informed media reporting, which is fuelled by rumours and reports from apparently knowledgable but probably non-existent 'insiders' (Rolling Stone). I think we, the hardcore fans, see all this and it can look more than it is. It's all froth, really - the media who are misreporting it just need something to fill up a few column inches, a few minutes on air, 24hrs a day, etc. It'll all be swept away by the next wave of ... whatever it might be. Chatter of some sort.
Somebody just posted elsewhere about Stern saying the tour was 'cancelled'. Think about what the media environment has done people like him, once called 'shock jocks'. Nothing he can say anymore makes it onto the radar for long. Once, he might have been thought to have impact as a rumour-monger - now? Now he is just another table tennis ball bobbling on the surface of a vast and pretty unchartable ocean of rumour, innuendo and downright untruths.
Dave though (as per my sig!!) thinks like the waves, like the ocean ...
Zen babe.THINK LIKE THE WAVESComment
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Well....hey....they did the same sorta thing last time. Though the break was for different reasons, but I bet one of them was to take a fucking break.
I hope exhaustion is all it is....but hell, they have been doing pretty much solid shows with occasional weeks off since mid-Feb. Four and a half months by the end of June....fuck....how many bands go out and tour longer than that at a time these days? Not that many.....and for them to do so at their age is pretty fucking great!
I like Dave's way of putting it, lol. Sidelined for unneccesary roughness.
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"Don't try to confuse the issue with half truths and gorilla dust." - Bill NcNealComment
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was the music good, though?
the eternal question.Comment
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