| Author | Message | ||
| 88persuader
Advanced Member Username: 88persuader Post Number: 254 Registered: 5-2004 |
Have you guys heard this one? Apparently Eddie thinks his 15 year old son is such a good bass player he's now the official bass player for VH ousting Mike A. Thing is Wolfgang is not only just 15 years old but he's only been playing bass for 3 months! I wonder if he's ever even changed his strings for the 1st time yet? Guess that makes the rest of us guys who have been playing longer and don't play for a recording act slackers! God ........ I think Eddie's finally lost his mind! Check out this atricle. http://www.guitarist.co.uk/page/guitarist?entry=van_halen_anthony_out_wolfgang | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 73 Registered: 10-2006 |
In Eddie's first Guitar Player cover interview, he was asked how much he practices - "Why would I practice? I'm already as fast as I'm going to get." This sounds completely in character. But it does give me hope. I've been playing for 30 years, but sound like it's been 3 months - maybe I have a shot! Peter | ||
| southpaw
Intermediate Member Username: southpaw Post Number: 111 Registered: 12-2004 |
I'm a Van Hagar fan, (not trying to start a Dave vs. Sammy debate but for my 2 cents Sammy's the man!) but the Van Halen brothers are not very bright or loyal. When Hagar was on Howard Stern he mentioned politely how difficult and immature the VH brothers can be and how they spend money like water. Eddie's ego thinks that anyone can sing or play bass and it will still be great, two words; Gary Cherone! Michael Anthony deserves better treatment. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony in March will be interesting. For a great night of fun, go to Sammy's place, Cabo Wabo in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico some time. I'm told I had a hell of a time! | ||
| hb3
Intermediate Member Username: hb3 Post Number: 195 Registered: 2-2005 |
I played in Cabo Wabo once. It was a real nightmare. A poster on one of the Van Halen fan sites mentioned Eddie's "meth-induced slop" on the last tour; looking at recent pictures of EVH, make your own conclusions. Regarding the Michael Anthony situation, it's too bad, as the reunion rumors were really kicking up again. I can't believe Roth would do it w/o MA. | ||
| southpaw
Intermediate Member Username: southpaw Post Number: 113 Registered: 12-2004 |
No way I would pay to see VH without Michael Anthony. He is not flashy or the front man but he has been there from day one holding the rythm down and putting up with the Brothers' nonsense. He seems to really have fun playing too, a nice touch from an old rocker, not just doing it for the $, which is why I believe Roth is open to touring with anyone these days. Old rockers on drugs is just plain embarrassing, to ignore the hazzards in their 50's is stupid. As I said, the VH Bros. are great musicians but not very bright. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1997 Registered: 7-2004 |
Personally, I do not believe that the ability to put electrical tape on your guitar and play very fast a great musician makes. Bill, tgo | ||
| alembic_doctor
Intermediate Member Username: alembic_doctor Post Number: 121 Registered: 8-2002 |
It's all about the Gaff Tape. Okay. I was gonna stay out of this one but I can't. I have been a huge Van Halen / Van Hagar fan for years. But I pretty much lost my respect for Eddie the day I met him at his hotel the day after a show in Houston. What a D**K. Even Alex was chiding him for being such a jerk. This thing with Michael Anthony is a pisser. I use VH tunes to work on my stamina on the bass. And the range on the vocals. i.e. "Get Up". But I do believe that Eddie is enough of a jack ass to replace him with his son. Why doesn't he do like every Rock Star with a budding musician child and get him his own record deal with his own band. Don't cause further embarrassment to the band. i.e. Gary Cherone. okay I'm done. I could go on all day. but I won't. Thanks for all the great albums up to Balance. | ||
| southpaw
Intermediate Member Username: southpaw Post Number: 115 Registered: 12-2004 |
Bill, you had me laughing with the "tape and speed" comment, so true. Though I'm sure Eddie is great musician aside from the "flash" part. Doc, it's sad when you meet someone you respect, and they turn out to be a D**K, that's why I like Sammy, he knows it is all about the fans and loves them. Oh well, that's Rock & Roll folks! | ||
| alembic_doctor
Intermediate Member Username: alembic_doctor Post Number: 122 Registered: 8-2002 |
Well that same day, not 5 minutes later, Sammy asked my friend and I to join him for a racquet ball session. I had to decline on account of I had to get back to work. But my budfdy Jeff got one of the best birthday presents a guy could ask for (except for the !@#&*@# Eddie part. My favorite part about it was this: It was Jeff's birthday. The band always stays at the Omni Hotel when they are in Houston. I took Jeff there to see if we could meet them before they left town. We got there just as the band was getting back from a round 'o' golf. Jeff hads a Musicman EVH that we got the band to sign. Jeff also asked Edward if he would sign his tour book too. King Edward declined and stormed off. Alex then agreed to sign the book. He opened the book up to a page that was a full page / full face shot of Edward the Great, pulled out a marker with a thick tip and proceeded to sign his autograph over his beloved brothers face. We all fell out. It was classic. It was then that Sammy asked us to join him for racquet ball. | ||
| southpaw
Intermediate Member Username: southpaw Post Number: 116 Registered: 12-2004 |
Great story Doc, thanks for sharing your experience. | ||
| alembic_doctor
Intermediate Member Username: alembic_doctor Post Number: 123 Registered: 8-2002 |
ya. I've got at least 237 other stories that are at least as interesting if their not all cool. Maybe it's why I'm so jaded now. Some of the guys in my shop are starting a Podcast. As a weekly installment, they want me to come on and tell some my stories. | ||
| inthelows
Advanced Member Username: inthelows Post Number: 288 Registered: 11-2006 |
How much smarts do you need to play one or two note bass lines? Really, it's always been about Eddie this and Eddie that. They're history and by self admission(Eddie) what's he offered of any significance lately? My last outing to see van hager, EVH was stoned drunk and made a mockery of the legacy left behind them. All in All, his choice, Michael should step up and go solo and show how restrained he's had it. They all made money, so how bad is it really? Eddie was hip, then he had it replaced. Apparently that's not all thats been replaced! NLP | ||
| hb3
Intermediate Member Username: hb3 Post Number: 196 Registered: 2-2005 |
Michael's in Hagar's band. | ||
| alembic_doctor
Intermediate Member Username: alembic_doctor Post Number: 125 Registered: 8-2002 |
So Greta is gone? | ||
| dannobasso
Senior Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 439 Registered: 3-2004 |
Mike was the solid root of that band who's backing vocals were a key ingredient to their success. Sometimes when someone does their job so well, you forget they are there. i for one will not be buying a ticket to this. i must admit that the last time i saw them was for VH2 at Convention Hall in Asbury Pk, NJ! Rock on Mike, Rock on..... | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1112 Registered: 9-2002 |
Ed seems to have been in an unfortunate state of mind for quite a while now. I saw photos of rehearsals for that last short tour last year, and he looked like a very sick man in many ways. I never thought Mike and Alex pushed him. I once saw Ed on a Cinemax tribute to Les Paul years ago. He fronted a group with Tony Levin on bass, Rick Marotta on drums, and Jan Hammer on keys. They let him do the elephant noises and his two handed bit then dug their claws into his back and made him play: It was amazing. These guys weren't on the payroll and certainly weren't intimidated, and he really dug in and delivered. I really feel for the guy, and in a way, it reminds me of Jaco's last years in his detachment, his very erratic behavior, and very bad choices. I would not be surprised if one day soon I heard he was gone. This is truly the bad part of fame: There's nobody to grab you by the collar and smarten you up. J o e y | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 2000 Registered: 7-2004 |
Is he still married to Valerie Bertinelli? Bill, tgo | ||
| inthelows
Advanced Member Username: inthelows Post Number: 289 Registered: 11-2006 |
I don't think so Bill! Been about a 1/2 year. HERE NLP (Message edited by inthelows on January 10, 2007) | ||
| 88persuader
Advanced Member Username: 88persuader Post Number: 256 Registered: 5-2004 |
Many guitarist don't give credit to their bass player counterparts. Apparently Eddie's ego is out of control and has been for some time and he fits into this category. I've known guitarist who have had this idea that bass is easy, an instrument for failed 6 string guitarists. And unfortunately some styles of bass playing and a few bass players i know fall into that category. Lazy players who have never learned the most basic scales. 6 string was too hard so they went to bass. And they stick to the most simply one note types of songs. But as most of you guys realize bass played well requires technique, indebth knowledge of scales and a instinctual ability to use the proper scales at the right times. Most 6 string lead guitarist I know who are awesome guitarists can't play bass. (Sorry you Alembic lead players but to my experience it's true.) They can "play the notes" but don't have the instinct. They don't lock in with the drummer and don't push the music forward the same way. I was never blown away with MA's playing but he always PUSHED VH with a lot of energy. The Pocket was always there. Regardless of talent you don't learn all this in 3 months. So what's Eddie going to do next? Hang a grandchild over the railing of a belcony and sleep in an iron lung? Geesh! | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 1447 Registered: 3-2004 |
As much as this story bothers me, I doubt that Wolfie picked up his first stringed instrument only three months ago. He's probably been a musician of some sort or another for most of his life. He would be much more capable as a bass player after a few months if he had been playing guitar for ten years, but pointing that out doesn't make for as controversial a story. I still think it's a bad idea, just not as bad as it seems at first read (musically, anyway...). | ||
| hb3
Intermediate Member Username: hb3 Post Number: 197 Registered: 2-2005 |
He's been playing guitar for awhile, but still.... Joey, that was an insightful post. I saw EVH years ago at a small club in North Hollywood, doing a jam w/ a bunch of guys, among them Steve Lukather (oh man I'm spelling that horribly wrong, I'm sure), who absolutely shredded...Ed was completely embarrassed...trading solos, Lukather would do these outrageous runs, and Ed would make the elephant noise.... | ||
| alembic_doctor
Intermediate Member Username: alembic_doctor Post Number: 126 Registered: 8-2002 |
For me it's not the fact that Wolfie is in. I actually think that's kinda cool. I always loved playing together with my dad. It's the fact that after what , 30 years, Michael is out. Playing with Sammy couldn't suck though. Maybe they should start a band called "EVH" Ex Van Halen. | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1113 Registered: 9-2002 |
No, hb3, that's the right spelling. They're very good friends, but Luke has that session player's instinct of party hard, but DON'T screw up your dates. His website has lots of stories from the other side of the glass, definitely worth checking out. Still tours with the current incarnation of Toto, hasn't lost a step at all, as you obviously heard. J o e y | ||
| alembic_doctor
Intermediate Member Username: alembic_doctor Post Number: 127 Registered: 8-2002 |
Lukather Kicks Ass. His work on "Beat it" along with Eddie is legendary in some circles. (well maybe my own small circle) BTW, if anyone has an original Ernie Ball Musicman "The Luke" that thhey would like to part with. I would really like to own one. | ||
| jorge_s
Intermediate Member Username: jorge_s Post Number: 116 Registered: 8-2002 |
I think if anybody jams with Steve Lukather better duck. Check him out playing with Santana and Beck http://youtube.com/watch?v=6nLdhXZb_z4&mode=related&search= | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 4691 Registered: 5-2002 |
Joey wrote, "Ed ... with Tony Levin on bass, Rick Marotta on drums, and Jan Hammer on keys". Wow, interesting line-up! | ||
| jalevinemd
Senior Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 548 Registered: 12-2003 |
According to the lastest article in Guitar World, Eddie's line of guitars (EVH), will be offering dead accurate replicas of his infamous Frankenstein Strat for $20-30,000! Lot of money for an instrument that looks like the neighbor's dog got hold of it. Oh well, if you live and breathe EVH, maybe it's worth it. Not me. I really don't get the whole relic concept. I like my stuff looking and staying new. Let's raise a glass to borderline obsessive-compulsive's everywhere! Regards, Jonathan | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1115 Registered: 9-2002 |
Any of you with the VH relic bug: Don't have $30K? For only 10 grand I'll buy the Mighty Mite body and neck, a Floyd, one pickup (your choice), and the handful of parts, shoot it with red, white, and black Krylon, ride it around Nashville in a Waste Management dumpster for a week, then put ih the screen door eyelets for your strap, and it's YOURS! Individually numbered from 1 to 5150. These will EASILY be worth two-hundred grand five years from now at Gruhn's ! Act Now and Avoid the Rush! No snobby auctions, no Burst Brothers, and for an extra grand, I'll deliver it personally. Guarnateed to play like hell and sound like sh*t, but you'll look cool doing it! Brown sound (and I mean REALLY brown) for days . . . . J o e y | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 708 Registered: 6-2002 |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppMepKUTqeE This left me completely cold.... it sounds like the noise you get on short wave radio between stations. Jazzyvee | ||
| davr35
Member Username: davr35 Post Number: 52 Registered: 12-2004 |
That video made my cat puke | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 2018 Registered: 7-2004 |
Joey: Funny you should use "5150" as this number has a special meaning in California. Welfare & Institutions Code Sec. 5150 reads, in part, as follows: "5150. When any person, as a result of mental disorder, is a danger to others, or to himself or herself, or gravely disabled, a peace officer, member of the attending staff, as defined by regulation, of an evaluation facility designated by the county, designated members of a mobile crisis team provided by Section 5651.7, or other professional person designated by the county may, upon probable cause, take, or cause to be taken, the person into custody and place him or her in a facility designated by the county and approved by the State Department of Mental Health as a facility for 72-hour treatment and evaluation." Given the subject of this thread, it seems highly appropriate. LOL Bill, tgo | ||
| hb3
Intermediate Member Username: hb3 Post Number: 199 Registered: 2-2005 |
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppMepKUTqeE" Oh my God...make it stooooopppppp.... | ||
| southpaw
Intermediate Member Username: southpaw Post Number: 123 Registered: 12-2004 |
Sammy said as soon the band heard the legal definition of code 5150 they busted out laughing and agreed that was the album title. He said "that's us, mentally disturbed and a danger to others!" | ||
| chuck
Member Username: chuck Post Number: 65 Registered: 3-2005 |
Wish I could do that. Chuck |
