Van Halen Interviews - Part V

[So this is love]

Did you hear Ed busting Dave's balls about his first audition with Van Halen?

Dave's saying how he remembers going with his acoustic guitar to some club on Sunday night at 10:00 and never making it past the audition...

Ed says "thats as far as you made it with us the first time, remember?"


lol...

yeah that was funny too

[loucap81]

Great interview, and I too love how they made clear they'd never have someone write songs for them. They are true artists.

[DLR Bridge]

Great interview, and I too love how they made clear they'd never have someone write songs for them. They are true artists.

I still consider Cheap Trick to be true artists even though they went fishing for a hit with outside help on The Flame, but no, I can't see VH ever going that route either.

[hambon4lif]

Great interview, and I too love how they made clear they'd never have someone write songs for them. They are true artists.

Or that they would never try that again!

I remember both sides telling a story of how they tried to get a 'Desmond Child' (the thing that writes songs for Bon Chovi)..) to write lyrics for Dave back in '96.

Thankfully, that stupid fucking idea got shut down immediately, but they did try.

[jhale667]

And let's also note, there's a HUGE difference between covering a song and making it your own (as VH has in the past) and having some schlep sit there while you're trying to write going "I think there should be some major-key modulation in the bridge section... our marketing research shows females under 30 love that schmaltzy stuff..." That's evil.

[Matt White]

In a word......


GENIUS

[ZahZoo]

These are fun... good ole days, campfire chats. I'm guessing it all stays focused on the roots angle and won't venture into the debauchery of when they were kings...

[qikgts]

Loved it! I hope these keep on coming...

[chi-town324]

to be continued.. Wonder how many more?

[DavidLeeNatra]

to be continued.. Wonder how many more?

not enough...

[Zing!]

Definitely hope there's more of these - I had a huge grin on my face by the end - even laughed out loud with Dave's Pearl Harbor and Justin Beiber 'trophy for last place' line. So cool to see them sitting together, laughing and joking around, and not trying to strangle the life out of each other. I hope this camaraderie is still there after the tour...

[Fairwrning]

I find it funny Ed says his reason to pick up the guitar wasn't because of another player he had heard and admired..He had to because Al took his drums...
Old story but funny to hear Ed say Al was his influence..Also when questioned about thinking you are the first to do anything its probably been done before..he seemed to get just a bit defensive..I dont think Dave was intentionally noodling him about tapping..

[Vinnie Velvet]

I am digging these vids but I hope they start talking more about the days when they were recording, touring the world and kicking serious ass.

Maybe even talk about the '78 Sabbath Tour; the Texas Jam; the 1981 show where they opened for the Stones; the 1984 tour, etc.

[loucap81]

I find it funny Ed says his reason to pick up the guitar wasn't because of another player he had heard and admired..He had to because Al took his drums...
Old story but funny to hear Ed say Al was his influence..Also when questioned about thinking you are the first to do anything its probably been done before..he seemed to get just a bit defensive..I dont think Dave was intentionally noodling him about tapping..

I'm really surprised he didn't mention Eric Clapton. I thought Clapton was one of his heroes.

[Fairwrning]

I haven't read or heard too many interviews where Ed talks about his influences..only about those that he thinks ripped him off.