Expectation

[AndyChad]

Can I just ask everyone what they are expecting from this alleged

reunion?

I have this uneasy feeling that we are thinking Oakland '81 or the

1984 tour.

Daves voice ain't what it used to be; he certainly can't move like he

used to; Eddie seemingly can't be arsed; the drummer is still a tit;

and thats without mentioning the farce that is the bass players

identity!

So, I ask you all: what do we WANT from a proposed tour?

Don't get me wrong, CVH were a defining moment in my teenage years

and I can tell you what I was doing to each of those 6 albums, but

aren't things best left alone; or do we risk ruining all those memories?

[diamondsgirl]

Dave looks and sounds great! No, not like 1981, but still damn good. Seeing him now does not ruin any memories of him from the 1980's. It just makes me feel more proud that I have been a loyal fan since that time. Dave hasn't disappointed me yet and I don't expect to be disappointed next year.

I expect that the band will sound at least as good as Roth's band does now or Roth won't do it.

[Pasadena Bunnie]

Re: Expectation

Originally posted by AndyChad
Can I just ask everyone what they are expecting from this alleged

reunion?

I have this uneasy feeling that we are thinking Oakland '81 or the

1984 tour.

Daves voice ain't what it used to be; he certainly can't move like he

used to; Eddie seemingly can't be arsed; the drummer is still a tit;

and thats without mentioning the farce that is the bass players

identity!

So, I ask you all: what do we WANT from a proposed tour?

Don't get me wrong, CVH were a defining moment in my teenage years

and I can tell you what I was doing to each of those 6 albums, but

aren't things best left alone; or do we risk ruining all those memories?

Dave is Smokin' on Stage, if you had the opportunity to see him this Summer.

Like DG said, we don't expect Dave to jump off the drum riser...he doesn't need to. He has as much energy, sings with as much beligerant enthusiasm as he did in the 80's, but with a more mature sound and stage presence. The band captivated us with 2 LEGENDS.....this is what we want to see and hear.

That's all we want to hear/see once again in our adult years....is that too much to ask?

[m_dixon1984]

Since I don't agree with your assessment of Dave at all I'm bound to have a different opinion.

What I'm hoping for is to be witness to some of the old magic, regardless of whether it's brief and fleeting. I hope to see that Dave and Ed together is better than anything they've done separately. I want a chance to witness the MIGHTY VAN HALEN!!

Personally, I think Dave's voice and stage act is perfect right now for a reunion. If Ed can get motivated by the reunion, maybe some new music, a tour with his son, the chance to be in the spotlight, the $$$, whatever, I think we all have a chance to see some of the old magic return.

I don't want to see a repeat of the 2004 fleece the sheep tour. I was pissed with Ed's 45 minutes of drunken noodling after his solo (in Toronto - I swear he wasn't even playing the right song most of the time), I was almost ill watching Sam treat a live show like an autograph signing session, and I was furious that even sheep were treated with When It's Love as a closing number. I wanted to puke!!! My friends loved it...I don't see them anymore.

M

[AndyChad]

I just hope that if it happens, it works, and doesn't turn out like the

debacle in '04.

I've seen classic VH in '78 and '84 over here, and i've seen DLR here

4 or 5 times, so I think I am qualified to have an opinion on his voice

etc.

My question was not meant to sound negative; I am just intrigued to

see what people are expecting.

[SNIPER]

Thats like saying the Van Halen of 76 is not the same as 84 Van Halen. There is this thing called time and people get older but it is still Van Halen and it would kick fucking ass one way or the other so fuck off.

[lztom]

To be honest, since Dave cut his hair short and got this new look, he's got a decent image sorted out for himself that can work well. He's not trying to be 25 and act like its 1983 anymore.

Eddie's gone in the opposite direction. He still looked great 5 years ago. Now he's virtually got a copyright on the 'down and out bum' look. I know he's had health problems but look at Charlie Watts. He probably looks as well now as he did before he got ill.

Musically, anything could happen. I'm not convince by all these rumours that Ed's playing is coming back upto scratch. He really doesnt seem that interested in playing guitar anymore tbh from the last stuff i heard of him.

I'm just hoping when/if it happens Dave would only let it go ahead if he knew it wouldn't deface the legacy. Let's face it, Dave's the only one over the years who has demonstrated that he knows what CVH actually means to people.

[Diamondjimi]

Originally posted by lztom
To be honest, since Dave cut his hair short and got this new look, he's got a decent image sorted out for himself that can work well. He's not trying to be 25 and act like its 1983 anymore.

Eddie's gone in the opposite direction. He still looked great 5 years ago. Now he's virtually got a copyright on the 'down and out bum' look. I know he's had health problems but look at Charlie Watts. He probably looks as well now as he did before he got ill.

Musically, anything could happen. I'm not convince by all these rumours that Ed's playing is coming back upto scratch. He really doesnt seem that interested in playing guitar anymore tbh from the last stuff i heard of him.

I'm just hoping when/if it happens Dave would only let it go ahead if he knew it wouldn't deface the legacy. Let's face it, Dave's the only one over the years who has demonstrated that he knows what CVH actually means to people.

I agree. If the rumours are true and they reunite, Dave will not accept anything less than 100% from the guys and himself.
If it happens to end in failure and embarasment Ed and Alice would blame it all on Dave like they always have.
Reunite , perform top notch or get the fuck off the stage.

[PlexiBrown]

Dave looks and sounds great! No, not like 1981, but still damn good

He doesn't forget the words as much now as he did back in the day.

[FORD]

If Eddie can play like he did on the VDIII tour, the show will be worth the money. If he plays like he did on Velveetapalooza 2004, we're in trouble.

I haven't seen a bad DLR show yet this decade, so it ain't Dave I'm worried about.

As for the bass player situation, if Sobolewski isn't going to be there, I'd rather see Billy Sheehan than a fucking 15 year old kid.

I think that would be a more than reasonable compromise.

[fryingdutchman]

If it happens, Dave will probably be so jacked that he will turn in a perfomance that will likely be reminiscent of '81 or '84!

He'll raise the bar, no doubt.

The rest of them had better be ready to match it....

[Terry]

My expectation levels are both high and low.

I know that if they had the desire to and just put all the bullshit aside and agreed to a four-way even split, the classic four could put in some solid writing and rehearsal time, come up with some new material, and then hit the road and deliver performances that could live up to CVH's own standards. It'll never be 1981 again, but that isn't to say that a CVH reunion at this point has a sole option of a greatest hits cash-grab tour. They could start a new chapter of the band, or at least end it on a positive note displaying a bit of fighting spirit, rather than go out like money-grubbing aged punks punching the clock and revisiting old steps, like so many other bands have opted to.

Realistically, from what I've seen, read and heard, the Van Halens are at odds with Roth, Anthony and their own history, and weighed down with the results of too many poor choices over the last decade. Ed's just a mess and can't really come up with anything interesting anymore; if that would change by collaborating with Dave is anybody's guess. Dave is the only one who freely admits that the rock audience, by and large, is only gonna accept what these guys do in the context of them working together...meanwhile Ed hunkers in the bunker of 5150, frittering away what seemingly little inspiration he has left on softcore porn soundtracks. The guy has tucked his tail between his legs and run away from the spotlight for the better part of 7 years now, 2004 excepted.

Roth has admitted that virtually all people want to see from these four guys is a reunion. I have to believe the other three know it in their bones, even if they don't want to say it. It's really up to the to the other three if they want to pony up and take a swing at it, or just let it all dwindle down to slapping logos on guitar effects and marketing hot sauce. Kind of a pitiful way to bow out.

[pjvan]

I would say the official word is taking so long because either it's all bullshit, or Ed can't pull it off anymore. The CVH legacy means so much to Dave, I don't see him pissing it all away because Ed can't play the songs anymore. If Dave get's in the room and it's not there with the VH fam, you know he's going to walk.

You know Dave wants Mike along for the tour, who the hell wants to spend months on a tour with the odds stacked against him? You just know Mike will side with Dave against the VH's.

[VanHalener]

Re: Expectation

Originally posted by AndyChad
Can I just ask everyone what they are expecting from this alleged

reunion?

I have this uneasy feeling that we are thinking Oakland '81 or the

1984 tour.

Daves voice ain't what it used to be; he certainly can't move like he

used to; Eddie seemingly can't be arsed; the drummer is still a tit;

and thats without mentioning the farce that is the bass players

identity!

So, I ask you all: what do we WANT from a proposed tour?

Don't get me wrong, CVH were a defining moment in my teenage years

and I can tell you what I was doing to each of those 6 albums, but

aren't things best left alone; or do we risk ruining all those memories?

What do I expect to see?
I am expecting to see everyone who reads this to gather at my house for the preconcert party. There will be food, drinks, very loud music and perhaps some womens jello wrestling. Transportation to D.C. for the show will be provided. Now turn your stereo up a little louder and think about getting a babysitter for a week early next year.

[binnie]

I'm expecting FUN!!!

Lots of it, and great tunes played at ear-splitting volume.