Why ole Alex does deserve to be in with the other greats.

[Matt White]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by MUSICMANN
[B]I would agree that Al will never be in the spotlight of innovation like ED, But the dude is as solid as a player as bonham.

Its sacriligious to mention Shemp Van Halen in the same breath as....JOHN BONHAM!!!! BONZO was an innovator,a drummer that SHAPED not only the sound of his band but the majority of that bands output. LED ZEPPELIN is in a huge way BONHAMS band, due to his rythmic imput shaping many of their best tunes. Most people can tell a ZEP tune just by the drum beat, and his influence is so ALL INCOMPASSING that its impossible to think of hard rock music with out him. Shemp/Alex Van Halen has had NOWHERE near the impact that BONZO has had, nor the influence. BONZO is the best, Shemp is average/above average.

[MUSICMANN]

As far as attitude, and the way he attacked his drums, Al is on the same level as Bonham. And you are correct to say that Zep was Bonham's band, but they both play in a similar way. You can see that Bonham was Al's biggest influence . I never said he was a better drummer than Bonzo, i just said he should be considerd a great player in his own right. Ed and Al have a very tight and brotherly chemisty togeither. They know what each other is doing without saying a word. The mighty VH we all love would not even be near as great of a band as they are without AL. And remember, Some people here think of VH as the best hard rock band ever, even better than Zep. So if that's true, you do not get to be as big as VH is without being able to play drums really great and be inventive. And also, Foozwah, why ya breakin my my balls bro?

[Matt White]

I get what your sayin' Bro, but I don't feel that Alex had/has as big an inpact on the music as Bonham did. Nor, does he have a STYLE that other drummers imitate and are influenced by. I've been playing guitar for 22 years, and NEVER have I said to a drummer "Play it like Alex Van Halen". But, "Play it like Bonzo" is a very valid way of conveying not only a stylistic approach, but an "BALLS OUT" attitude as well.

[rustoffa]

It'd be grate if Al fell down the Washington Monument stairs with
a Don Brewer wig on.

He's an ok drummer but look what his mouth is doing to the ozone layer.

[MUSICMANN]

I hear ya man, being a guitar player myself, i just went over to drummerworld.com, went into the guest book and it seems like the dudes that hit the skins think that Al is a major influence in the drumming world. Seems to me if you have a crap load of dudes that have been playing for 25 to 30 yrs. and think that Al is God, i'm not going to argue.

[rustoffa]

OK, he's a grate drummer.
I'm not a guitar player or a drummer, but the way he made the drums sound like a shovelhead with the choke on at the beginning of "Hot for teacher" is awesome.

[a.j]

alex van halen a drummers drummer!!

Originally posted by Terry
Nah. As long as Al's around, there won't be a reunion.

AVH is a good drummer, perhaps even great at times, but nowhere near making my list of all time great drummers.

Ed and Dave were the main contributors to classic Van Halen's signature sound. Mike and Al both had a big part in it, but Al's just part of VH's rhythm section to me.

Guess the main thing AVH lacks that prevents him from being one of the all-time greats is innovation.

thats why no one ask your opinion assberry alex van halen is king! if i want to listen to a drummer who has 90% of his drum sounds computer program i'll listen to neil peart, when i want to listen to a real all out drummer, a drummers drummer, i'll listen to alex van halen.

[a.j]

dude get your fucking head out of your ass, alex van halen is a much better than bonham. and who gives a shit what you think anyways ALEX DONT!!!

[guwapo_rocker]

Originally posted by pete
The only reason alex's drums worked so key within VH is because EVH is a riffer. you never heard much rhythm guitar. it worked in VH context. him and Michael Anthony created a backdrop for EVH's showcase. but as a drummer..... he's aggressive. but not overly skilled.

and I wouldn't want a neil peart playing on it. drums are secondary in VH. neil peart and EVH would become fusion. I like rock.

U2 used the same concept believe it or not. The edge is not a strummer. A simplistic low end, accented by percussion. creates a rhthmic backdrop to the guitar.

Manu Katche' (peter gabriel) that's a drummer. Steve Gadd is a monster. (check out "50 ways to leave your lover" ignore everything else-listen to the drums and polyrhythmics) AVH doesn't have the finesse, imagination, or attention span of these guys.

Al doesn't have the finesse of a crab doing a backflip off of

Diaper's ball sack.

[SNIPER]

Fuck off once again, Gayapo.

[guwapo_rocker]

Originally posted by a.j
Dude help get my fucking head out of my ass, alex van halen is a CUNT really. Please help me!!

Sorry Stinky. Die a slow and smelly death!:D

[SNIPER]

Gayopera_rocker. kind of fits you better I think.

[guwapo_rocker]

Originally posted by SNIPER
Gayopera_rocker. kind of fits you better I think.

Now Diaper, you can do better than that can't you?

C'mon girlie think hard now.

[SNIPER]

Oh, your from fucking Canada? Now I understand what is wrong with your ass.

[Bill Lumbergh]

Originally posted by a.j


d
, alex van halen is much better than bonham. Not only that Liberace was straight, Richie Sambora is a virtuoso, and shit tastes like chicken

Hey dude, get some help NOW! Locate the nearest bridge, and jump off of it. No charge for that advice by the way!