Van Halen's New Music

[Nefarious]

We need more Van Halen and less Van Hagar

[AWwrgwy]

QFT!   Michael Anthony's bass playing, but even more important were his harmonies.   

+1.

It was his harmonies that kept VH sounding like VH through all the singer changes.

I'm a bit sad that Mikey isn't with VH and has been "replaced" by Wolfgang, but I understand the move. 

Explain it to me.  Loyalty?  MA wanted to work?  Sounded more like sour grapes on VH's part.



wrongway

[Masherbrum]

Explain it to me.  Loyalty?  MA wanted to work?  Sounded more like sour grapes on VH's part.

wrongway

Absolutely it was sour grapes.   EVH had often been quoted throughout the 2000's about Hagar's "Cabo Wabo" commercial ventures.   Michael started up a Hot Sauce of all things and it was THIS, that broke the camel's back for EVH and he then turned to his son.    But EVH had no problem using blow, go figure.


Here's a pretty good 2008 interview with Hagar:  "It got to the point where I was the leader of that band. Eddie was a humble, meek guy. Greatest guitar player in the world, but not a leader. I would write the lyrics, and Eddie was happy to just play guitar and play piano. But he woke up one morninig and he decided he wanted his band back. Like I was taking over and I was just the bad guy."

Hagar chalks the problem up to Van Halen's then-new manager (whom he declines to name), who replaced longtime manager Ed Lefler. "From that moment on, everything changed," said Hagar. "If I said to Eddie, 'Let's do this at two o'clock,' Eddie'd go, 'No, no, I wanna do it at noon!' Then Alex would say, 'Noon...two o'clock,' and Eddie would go, 'Okay, one then!' If I said, 'I want the album cover black,' he'd go, 'No, no, no, I want it white!' I'd be like, 'Fine, white then,' and he'd go, 'No, no, no, it's gotta be black!'"

In Hagar's view, Eddie's rampant drug use played another part in the downfall of the "Van Hagar" lineup. "There was always substance abuse in that band. Everybody drank and did this and did that. We had a pretty good time. I probably less then most. Al went completely sober. Eddie was the only guy who was really out there. [The new manager] came in and he got to Eddie, because he was vulnerable."


I'm not saying Hagar was "sober" (but he hasn't touched a drop of alcohol, or drugs since 1993 - when he first left the band), but he seemed to recognize the bigger picture.  

[sluggish]

No way Sammy is alcohol free.  Hell, he does tequila shots throughout his shows.  He has his own brand for crying out loud.

[SmokinLoon]

Absolutely it was sour grapes.   EVH had often been quoted throughout the 2000's about Hagar's "Cabo Wabo" commercial ventures.   Michael started up a Hot Sauce of all things and it was THIS, that broke the camel's back for EVH and he then turned to his son.    But EVH had no problem using blow, go figure.


Here's a pretty good 2008 interview with Hagar:  "It got to the point where I was the leader of that band. Eddie was a humble, meek guy. Greatest guitar player in the world, but not a leader. I would write the lyrics, and Eddie was happy to just play guitar and play piano. But he woke up one morninig and he decided he wanted his band back. Like I was taking over and I was just the bad guy."

Hagar chalks the problem up to Van Halen's then-new manager (whom he declines to name), who replaced longtime manager Ed Lefler. "From that moment on, everything changed," said Hagar. "If I said to Eddie, 'Let's do this at two o'clock,' Eddie'd go, 'No, no, I wanna do it at noon!' Then Alex would say, 'Noon...two o'clock,' and Eddie would go, 'Okay, one then!' If I said, 'I want the album cover black,' he'd go, 'No, no, no, I want it white!' I'd be like, 'Fine, white then,' and he'd go, 'No, no, no, it's gotta be black!'"

In Hagar's view, Eddie's rampant drug use played another part in the downfall of the "Van Hagar" lineup. "There was always substance abuse in that band. Everybody drank and did this and did that. We had a pretty good time. I probably less then most. Al went completely sober. Eddie was the only guy who was really out there. [The new manager] came in and he got to Eddie, because he was vulnerable."


I'm not saying Hagar was "sober" (but he hasn't touched a drop of alcohol, or drugs since 1993 - when he first left the band), but he seemed to recognize the bigger picture.  

M. Anthony was forced to sell his "rights" to Van Halen right after the F_ck or Balance album (I forget which one).  The writing was on the wall then.  Also keep in mind that MA hardly contributed to the VH III album.  EVH did most of the studio bass work, MA simply played bass on the VH III tour.

FWIW, I think VH III was a good piece of work, it had a lot of great songs on it.  Rock n Roll was taking a back seat to the RnB/rap crap back in the mid 90's and regardless of what or who was singing lead for VH it would have sold quite a bit less than any SH or DLR fronted work.  I wish Gary would have been able to do one more album before moving on.  Im really crossing my fingers than the new new VH music is just as captivating as the DLR and 5150 stuff was.   

[TracerX]

It seemed like DLR could never be replaced, but after hearing the Hagar stuff, the older DLR stuff seemed like it had less... substance or something.  I like the Hagar years, but that is not to say DLR stuff is not good.  It is all just different, and I think that I might favor the Hagar years if I had to compare.

[Masherbrum]

Sluggish, he's clean.  Folks might think it's tequila, but I'm guessing it's something non-alcoholic. 

[smoe]