Why does Dave suck live in 2015?

[Terry]

The thing of it is, back in the CVH days Roth had plenty of other aspects to his performance that could augment any live vocal shortcomings.

He could utilize martial arts moves, or go into his stock audience "look at all the people here tonight/hey, I'm gonna fuck your girlfriend, pal!" banter - it was all part and parcel of his routine. And his voice was in good stead back in those days for most of the CVH tours - certainly comparable to what he was doing on the studio albums back then.

These days, he can't replicate the physical showmanship he once had, and the 2012 banter I heard was pretty much nonsensical gibberish. So basically we're left with his vocals. And his vocals just aren't what they were anymore. So what we got with 2015 Dave is a guy who can't move very well, tells jokes that go nowhere and really can't deliver the songs well in terms of just singing them. And as a fan, you either accept this diminished standard or you don't.

Everyone gets older. While the music they made ages just fine to my ears, I think what Van Halen did as a live act just wasn't meant to age that well. Certainly not in a manner that would ever hold up to the act 30 years ago.

Hey, no big 'ting.

[philouze]

Pretty much what Terry said.
Plus, as DLNatra said: we got sober. At least I did. And what I'm hearing now is just painful (vocally-wise, don't get me wrong.. The band kicks major ass)
But then again, what do I know?

[ZahZoo]

Pretty much what Terry said.
Plus, as DLNatra said: we got sober. At least I did. And what I'm hearing now is just painful (vocally-wise, don't get me wrong.. The band kicks major ass)
But then again, what do I know?

LOL

You nailed it Phil... "then we got sober".

Back in the early 80's a bunch of us from a few bands would get together on a Sunday afternoon once a month for what we called "Champagne Jams"... show up with a bottle and a 6 pack at this remote studio and play n party... The tape machine would run the whole time. We had monumental jams we'd brag on and tell tall tales of our exploits for days. Then some sober afternoon a week later I'd go listen to the tapes... Damn we were a bunch of drunk/high idiots making some of the most horrific noise you could imagine... but we had fun!!

[philouze]

Double Z, my dear friend, I totally hear ya.

The thing is, back in '07, when VH announced the reunion, I watched or listened to a show EVERY NIGHT. And I got plastered while at it.

Then came the bootlegs from that reunion tour and I was grunting and screaming things like: "Woo-Hoooo", "Fuck Yeah", "Oomph", "I'm gonna come", "Swallow, ye old hag" and others...

2012, ADKOT. Same thing, except louder and stronger.

Same year, the bootlegs are coming. It was like when you smoke a real fucking fantastic joint (I'm not much of a smoker, I have to admit) and you start to (I don't know if this is the correct word) "get down", you know.. The buzz is starting to fade..

2013, I'm sober. Alcohol-free. I still smoke a little. And I go listen to a 2013 bootleg. Dude... That was as Painful as the worst sounding FZ & the Mothers bootleg from 1968, recorded in the back of the hall while there's a construction work going on at the same time. Just as painful. Oh, believe me, the sound is Grate!!!
But the problem comes from THIS guy.

If I ever start to drink again, it would be Dave's fault. Take that with you.

[dave_is_vh]

Dave can still sing, he just chooses not to. There is nothing wrong with his voice. It just sounds bad because he screws up the timing, melodies, and lyrics. He sings in the wrong octave or talks the words rather than singing them. His voice is great, he just chooses not to use it properly. The real question is why does Dave intentionally screw things up like this. At this point I think Dave cares more about entertaining himself than entertaining the audience. He thinks what he is doing is clever. Unfortunately being clever is not his job. His job is singing the songs in a way the fans will find enjoyable. I have been a huge Dave fan all my life, but if he doesn't get his act together soon I think Ed should call Cherone or go find singer number four.

[WARF]

Ed doesn't wanna bring back John Travolta!

[DONNIEP]

Ed doesn't wanna bring back John Travolta!

I think John would fit right in with that bunc of crazies...

[WARF]

I was referencing Ed calling Gary Cherone "John Travolta" with his stags outfit.

This interview is gonna be great for quotes for many years to come!

[Nitro Express]

Maybe Ed will become a homo again. He got distracted by his wife's big titties but crazy Ed probably will get hungry for some coke and disco glitter soon.

[Nitro Express]

Ed doesn't wanna bring back John Travolta!

Ed's a dork. I remember he was calling John Travolta his brother and soul mate and giving each other love stares on stage that only two gay men in love do. Naw Ed was hot for Gary. Don't tell us you knew it wasn't going to work. Maybe it was the shitty songs people didn't like Ed. You know the songs you wrote.

[Never was]

I think it is more like a combo. An underlying health issue that impacts some control functions that has caused him to essentially lose a gear that he could control well. To compensate he has made awful choices by singing up instead of down, not stay still more often to better focus on his diaphragm control, and just an inability realize his limitations and how bad his choices are.

[WARF]

Ed's a dork. I remember he was calling John Travolta his brother and soul mate and giving each other love stares on stage that only two gay men in love do. Naw Ed was hot for Gary. Don't tell us you knew it wasn't going to work. Maybe it was the shitty songs people didn't like Ed. You know the songs you wrote.

Ed and Gary had a secret love affair like George Michael and that other faggot in Wham!

[Vinnie Velvet]

I'm waiting for Dave's dance album.

[Nigel]

I'm desperately waiting for a new album in the 6 pack vibe; not like ADKOT.

The kind these guys used to make when ALL the songs sounded like the one's they reworked for ADKOT. . .

[Terry]

I'm desperately waiting for a new album in the 6 pack vibe; not like ADKOT.

The kind these guys used to make when ALL the songs sounded like the one's they reworked for ADKOT. . .

I don't think Eddie and Roth are capable of coming up with a full-length album where all the songs are compelling on the level that the 6 pack tunes were.

If I think of just the new tunes on ADKOT:

You and Your Blues - It's so-so, but really nothing much more outstanding than anything on the 1998 DLR Band album, truth be told.

Chinatown - Now THERE was a stellar new tune!

As Is - ANOTHER stellar new tune.

Honeybabysweetiedoll - I really liked the result, although at times it feels more like an experimental exercise than an actual song.

Trouble With Never - Felt like a rush job, and again is really nothing better than anything found on the 1998 DLR Band album.

Stay Frosty - It's a fun listen, but nothing too essential to my ears.

So out of 6 new offerings on ADKOT, 2 were outstanding, 1 was good in a weird way, 1 was funny as a goof, and 2 were average/fair at best.

That's about 50% of the new ADKOT output that was approaching 6 pack standards.

Not an overly positive prognosis for a new studio album where all the new tracks are excellent.

I mean, they recorded ADKOT in, what 2011? After they had already been back together 4 + years? And they still needed to rework...what...7 old demos to complete the album?

For whatever reason(s), these guys aren't really as interested in creating anymore as they are recreating.