Michael Anthony

[nondairycreamer]

Mike is an awesome BASS player given the nature of the other members of the band. Yep it's laid back and he keeps a low profile because the BASS is practically mixed-out of the first three albums.

Anybody heard a good recording (soundboard) of the original WB demos? I know there are some poor recordings out there but get ahold of a soundboard copy and you will hear the sounds of a REAL BAND!

"She's the Woman," (first, non-bass players and bass players alike, try to figure out the rythm, second/third sing and play all the chorus lines at the same time),

"Last Night" (which I believe became 'Hang 'Em High,' sounds like an ACTUAL song instead of that poor mix on Diver Down and try to reproduce those walking bass line boogie riffs)

"Voodoo Queen" (which became 'Mean Streets'/outro of 'Hot for Teacher' sounds like it should, a good mix of instrumentation, even though it's a demo and the bass playing is locked in, not flashy)

Everyone knows who runs the show in VH. Mike used to really apply himself but because of the crappy mix (except for Fair Warning) and being treated the way he gets/got treated he probably decided not to fight it.

As a BASS Player he gets an 8 in my book. As a BASS Player in VH he deserves a 10.

Notable Bass Parts:
Fair Warning - whole album (good mix)
1984 - "Drop Dead Legs," "Girl Gone Bad" "House of pain" (although, nearly buried in the mix)
5150 - "Summer Nights" (listen to the pre-chorus run played in unison w/ the guitar)
F.U.C.K - "Poundcake" (let's see how many 16th notes you can play, in time, for practically 5:00 mins and still do the pre-chorus & chorus runs) the best mixed VH album along w/ FW

Sorry for the length, second post, point needed to be made

xdairycreamer

[frenchie]

you forget " how many say i".best mike's work

[lms2]

Michael Anthony is Michael Anthony; luckiest man in America. Could he have made a better name for himself by playing more competitively? Probably... but then if that were his attitude, he would have ended up a lead singer. Maybe not a bad idea either, as his voice still kicks ass. But he lacks the I am so important attitude. They guy knows how to play bass, and he does it well. He is an integeral part of Van Halen, has made a hell of a lot of money because of it, and he still knows how to have fun and enjoy it.

[nondairycreamer]

>>you forget " how many say i".best mike's work<<

That was a good one. What's your best Bass work?

xdairycreamer

[Terry]

Mike Anthony's unaccompanied live bass solos are swill, technically. Always have been.

Roth helped him design that bass solo way back when as a form of entertainment.

That being said, Anthony puts down a solid bass line. He's part of the rhythm section. Capable enough at what he does.

Non-instrumentally, he was indispensible to classic VH's backing vocals.

[RogueHorseman]

Originally posted by Terry
Non-instrumentally, he was indispensible to classic VH's backing vocals.

SO very true, and so often overlooked.

As much of the overall "signature sound" as, dare I say, Dave and Eddie in their respective roles. Which is to say, it simply would not have sounded the same, so unique, without Mike's backing vocals.

[scottydabodi]

err... I'm not sure if I'd consider Mikey a bass PLAYER... more like a bass HOLDER, yeah, that's it, a HOLDER.

[Matt White]

Mike is an below/average bass player. Never came up with the main riff in 26 years? Pathetic! Keeps it simple, but never adventurous at ALL!!!! Knows his role and SHUTS HIS MOUTH!!!!

I'd rate him a 4 at best.

[NightProwler]

Only a 4? Just for putting up with eddie and shemp, I'd give that guy a 5!

[ClubDave]

everyone is overlookign a very important thing here........without mike anthony on cvh tracks, it just wouldnt be the same.........all his harmonies are a part of the signature sound.......he has an amazing voice and chances are, if you have a favorite part of a vh song mike and dave are harmonizing together........i cant believe mikes playign is getting bashed like this too, i think hes a very good bass player, i give him an 8........mike knows his role in the music and he lays down fat soundign heavy steady bass........he plays nice rock n roll, and last time i checked......straight up rock groups arent remembered for there insane sounding bassist, except maybe the who.........mike plays his bass, and god dammit he plays it well.......when you listen to hot for teacher or you really got me, you here that heavy bass, and it makes the songs sound so much better.....and when eddie goes off on a solo you hear mike throbbing in the backround.....and thats what you want, you want someone playing the rythem during a solo, cause unless we have forgotten, van halen only has one guitar.....so stop hatin on mike, hate on eddie and sammy and we will all be peachy

[lms2]

Dont fault Mikey for not wanting to be the big cheese. He knows his role and plays it well....okay flame on about what a fucking tool he is, but ill tell you what. None of you. (okay maybe some of you, but you aren't saying) know how much Michael contributed to the band not only in terms of his bass playing, and back up vocals, but in just keeping the peace in the family. That is invaluable and probably has alot to do with why we got a six pack instead of a one hit wonder. Would you like him better if he had blown his own horn a bit more and ended up being mechanic somewhere because of it? I think he is much happier working on his own car collection. Those four men were like brothers....three of them still are. Go figure.

[Terry]

Maybe Mike Anthony has a tremendous amount of technical ability but chooses to lay back and lay down the rhythm.

When I listen to classic Halen, I'm not really concentrating on the bass lines. Never did. MA's bass is like an undercurrent, but it does the job.

As opposed to Sheehan on EEAS. What seemed incredible at the time in terms of bass technique hasn't aged very well when I listen to the stuff today. And what was with that Kahler whammy bar he had on his bass?