Is Eddie Van Halen washed up?

[bueno bob]

Originally posted by Kristy
...It was like you're really pulling for the guy then something slaps you across the face and tells you this guy has no respect for you as a fan.

I think that something slapping you across the face was reality...

[Terry]

Originally posted by Halen High
He needs to get out of the comfort zone in the studio where he and Alex make all the rules, and be challenged again.

Pretty much sums it up!

[Terry]

Comes down to what that band was when Roth was in it (not necessarily saying "Roth was Van Halen" either), and what it represented to me.

EVH was one of my primary influences when I first began to play guitar, and when I was into classic VH it would be fair to say EVH was the focal point of the band for me.

Maybe all the success and accolades EVH got in the early 1980s (what he brought to rock guitar was responsible for launching numerous guitar magazines and even more EVH clones) in some way caused the man to go on autopilot. Maybe it's just the fact that he has stuck around for so many years and been subject to career pitfalls due to the sheer passage of time (how many bands were consistently hot on EVERY album? how would rock immortals like Hendrix have fared if they had lived?).

However, it's just painful to see what the band and Eddie have "matured" into when I compare it with the band I was (and still am) such a huge fan of in the late 1970s/early 1980s, and as for longtime fans who've stuck with the band through all it's lineups and continue to profess that the band is as good as ever.............it's just beyond me to comprehend how they even ARRIVE at that conclusion, never mind agree with it. I think what turns somebody on is subjective to a degree, but do these people have shit in their ears? Or is it just a case of being content/learning to acceot and live with lowered expectations?

From what I've read, Ed has said that he's a private person who doesn't go out much, and this was in interviews given before the 1980s. He said that's the way it's always been for him. His success enabled him to build his own studio and become more insular, and his brother strikes me these days as someone who (out of what I think is legitimate concern on his part) is sheltering EVH from reality.

We can only hope this year that Ed was able to see beyond the spotlights shining in his eyes, look out upon some of the half-filled venues Van Halen played to in 2004 and perhaps come to the conclusion that a change is in order.

[RogueHorseman]

Originally posted by Terry
Comes down to what that band was when Roth was in it (not necessarily saying "Roth was Van Halen" either), and what it represented to me.

EVH was one of my primary influences when I first began to play guitar, and when I was into classic VH it would be fair to say EVH was the focal point of the band for me.

Maybe all the success and accolades EVH got in the early 1980s (what he brought to rock guitar was responsible for launching numerous guitar magazines and even more EVH clones) in some way caused the man to go on autopilot. Maybe it's just the fact that he has stuck around for so many years and been subject to career pitfalls due to the sheer passage of time (how many bands were consistently hot on EVERY album? how would rock immortals like Hendrix have fared if they had lived?).

However, it's just painful to see what the band and Eddie have "matured" into when I compare it with the band I was (and still am) such a huge fan of in the late 1970s/early 1980s, and as for longtime fans who've stuck with the band through all it's lineups and continue to profess that the band is as good as ever.............it's just beyond me to comprehend how they even ARRIVE at that conclusion, never mind agree with it. I think what turns somebody on is subjective to a degree, but do these people have shit in their ears? Or is it just a case of being content/learning to acceot and live with lowered expectations?

From what I've read, Ed has said that he's a private person who doesn't go out much, and this was in interviews given before the 1980s. He said that's the way it's always been for him. His success enabled him to build his own studio and become more insular, and his brother strikes me these days as someone who (out of what I think is legitimate concern on his part) is sheltering EVH from reality.

We can only hope this year that Ed was able to see beyond the spotlights shining in his eyes, look out upon some of the half-filled venues Van Halen played to in 2004 and perhaps come to the conclusion that a change is in order.

Excellent post and insight, Terry.

[Blacklisted]

Most definitely. The change that needs to happen is getting the Diamond one back on stage.


DLR fucking RULES!

[BIG GOOSE]

Originally posted by Halen High
I saw Van Cherone when they toured Down Under. Sadly, that's my only live experience of any version of this band. I thought Eddie was solid that night, although I was probably just thrilled to actually see him play for the first time.

But like you I thought he looked 'sad' and 'lost'. He was distant, as if he didn't really want to be there. As if he resented the fact that we made him come down to play for us. Definately not enjoying himself.

I've wanted a Classic VH reunion since 5150 came out, but unless Eddie can sort himself out what's the point? His depressive behaviour would ruin it.

What a cunt he is.He and his fucking gorilla brother were too fucking lazy to tour Australia when Roth was in the band.Roth was saying back in 86 that one of the problems for him with those bastards were they were so fucking lazy they wouldn't tour overseas markets.He said he wanted to play other places than North America and little dabbles into Europe.When the VH brothers come to OZ it's on the back of an album that tanked in their home country.You know when a band of the calibre of Van Halen doesn't tour Australia until 20 yrs after the release of their debut album,I knew we were gonna eat a SHIT SANDWICH.