I Figured Out A Way To Get Mike Back In The Band

[devildawg]

Thanks for all the feedback. I was just throwing it out and wanted to see your thoughts on the matter.

One thought I didnt see was the rumor that Mike was kicked out because he never gave his condolences to the VH brothers after their mom passed.

As far as Wolfie not fitting in playing the "extra" guitar parts, I guess maybe there wouldnt be a whole lot to play during a concert??

But to respond that Eddie will never let Mike back into the band is just like when the brothers said that Dave would never be in the band again.

[DONNIEP]

But to respond that Eddie will never let Mike back into the band is just like when the brothers said that Dave would never be in the band again.

And that only took how many years??? Dude, Ed has Wolfie in the band - he's NEVER gonna let that go! Not today, not tomorrow, not 20 years from now. Dave had to accept it - as is - or just let it go. Wolfie holds his own on stage. And there ain't no fucking way Ed's gonna toss Wolfie to the side and welcome Mikey back in. Come ON!!! Ed, Wolf and Al are the "Three Twins"! Which is almost as fucking stupid as Ed telling the whole goddamned world that Gary looked more like Al than he did!!! I'm glad that I've already seen the tour. And I fucking love the new record. But there ain't no way Mikey's coming back - ever - period. VH will be whatever Ed wants it to be up until he kicks off.

[SNIPER]

Not a case of bashing, but just to look at what is known about the situation:

Mike only participated in the 2004 tour because Hagar insisted. Mike had to sign away future rights to the Van Halen name and got a reduced rate for those performances.

Ed wouldn't allow Mike to play on the new tracks for the 2004 BOBW release.

Ed most likely played all the bass parts on Van Halen 3.

When Dave and Hagar were touring together, Dave wouldn't play onstage with Mike. According to Mike, Roth wouldn't even talk to him backstage until Mike confronted him.

Dave rejoined the band, despite Mike no longer being in it (and in spite of his previous "all or nothing" stance in interviews when asked about the possibility of a Van Halen reunion re: lineups/member participation).

The Van Halens didn't show up to the RnRHoF awards, and were content to let Anthony and Hagar turn up and make fools of themselves. If there was ever a chance for a one-off with Anthony and Roth with no future strings attached, THAT was it.

Wolf is a driving force in the band now. He has a lot of input in terms of what tunes the band plays onstage, and knocked it out of the park on the ADKOT album. There's nobody in the band at the moment to advocate for Anthony rejoining, unlike the 2004 tour re: Hagar.

Clearly, Ed doesn't want Mike in the band, and nobody else in the band disagrees.

Also, it just wouldn't be RIGHT to have a second guitar player onstage at a Van Halen gig...unless it's Dave strumming on an acoustic during the Ice Cream Man intro. There was something fundamentally wrong about it when Hagar used to play electric onstage when he was in the band, and Ed covers more than enough of the sonic spectrum alone to the point where a second guitar player just isn't needed.

And thats the way it is.

[chi-town324]

the only way Mike is getting back in is if Ed adopts him, and changes his name to michael Van Halen

[gbranton]

The only way it ever happens, and I mean EVER, is if you hook up with THIS guy:

[philouze]

The only way it ever happens, and I mean EVER, is if you hook up with THIS guy:

What the...?!?

[loucap81]

Does anyone even care at this point about Mike not being in the band? I got over it pretty much when the reunion tour began. You know what I want back in the band, Dave's 2007-08 voice quality. Now that would be a difference maker.

[DONNIEP]

I think that a lot of people are just wishing for a little of the old Dave magic, plain and simple. No, I don't think Dave should try to jump off the drum riser...But it would be nice to see Dave giving just a little more of what he did back when he was solo-Dave...right up until he was back in VH.

[loucap81]

I'd argue that strictly pure singing-wise, 2007-08 was the best he has EVER sung. He totally nailed every note and his voice was as strong, clear and powerful as I have ever heard. He still has the swagger and the showmanship, which ultimately is what matters most, but he has got to get his vocal cords fixed. I'm listening to the Oakland 6/3 show right now and he's not close to where he was in 2007-08. That's what this band needs right now to attain perfection, not Michael Anthony.

[DONNIEP]

My point is that most people aren't really looking to have Mike back in the band - but they want to see and hear VH the way they either saw them or see them on youtube videos...And that ain't what they see now.

[DavidLeeNatra]

[Yount]

Also, it just wouldn't be RIGHT to have a second guitar player onstage at a Van Halen gig...unless it's Dave strumming on an acoustic during the Ice Cream Man intro. There was something fundamentally wrong about it when Hagar used to play electric onstage when he was in the band, and Ed covers more than enough of the sonic spectrum alone to the point where a second guitar player just isn't needed.

Oh shit yes! Ever since I saw that Rock 'n' roll cover on Live Aid with Sam, it sounded like a move designed so Ed could be lazy, or maybe I'm being harsh, gave him freedom to noodle around and play more on instinct and loose. I liked the directness of DLR led VH where the song riffs were epic and fast and compact, the solos mostly wham bam right at you.

[Jetstream]

you know, something people seldom consider is that Dave and Eddie seem to be getting along better since Mike has not been in the band. Yes, part of it has to do with Wolfgang...maybe even a majority of it, but there remains this fact... The band wanted Anthony out according to Roth in the mid '80s. Sammy mentioned that the brothers always seemed to consider replacing Michael. Maybe Michael Anthony does not mesh, not only with Roth, but just maybe his character we do not see behind the scenes irritates the hell out of the whole group and brings the worst out in all of them. Yes, it could be Michael Anthony is a dick. People of similar character hang together and Mike does seem to get along great with that irritating Hagar guy.

[sadaist]

Mike had to sign away future rights to the Van Halen name and got a reduced rate for those performances.

.

Word is he received $5,000 per show. Paltry? Perhaps. But after 80 shows it ain't half bad for a chump.

When Dave and Hagar were touring together, Dave wouldn't play onstage with Mike. According to Mike, Roth wouldn't even talk to him backstage until Mike confronted him.
.

As we are just now seeing old interviews where Michael bashed Dave hardcore...do you really blame Dave for this attitude in 2004?

[Yount]

The issue has to be that Mike had a mansion from less than 25% input. Ed has said this previously.

But I don't think Mike's ever going to be the guy to tread on toes to get song ideas across, so I (in a way) feel bad for him. There's always some jackass in the band looking to take complete control.
And by that I mean, everybody adds their parts, Ed can't hack it, wants what he wants, banishes Mike to fix it, tape comes back, Ed is shitty, Ed storms off and does it himself, Ed then blames Mike for being slack and not putting in his share. Just a theory.
Oh and I learned it too, from experience. That school's too slow and I know folks...