Van Halen - More Fuel For The Fire:

[yleekiyote]

Yesterday's Van Halen report focused on news from a couple of sources close to band members. Today I have a further updated from a totally different angle.
A long time contact in Los Angeles forwarded some thoughts he sourced from his friend at Van Halen's 'former' record label Warner Bros. My source is totally reliable, but I can't personally vouch for his contact at Warner Bros. However, the following does make for more interesting reading and in places adds to the info reported yesterday:
The situation with Warner has never been clarified - like everything else over the past 4 years - so if this is indeed how things stand, it just adds to the complications that are Van Halen 2003. If any further news comes to light, I'll pass it on straight away. Sadly it's more unconfirmed stuff, but for the record, here's what the WB insider had to say:

* Van Halen technically has no recording contract, but is legally bound to Warner Bros. should the band decide to make an album with the band name Van Halen. And WB is NOT interested in singer #4 or a VH sans Mike.
* If anything is being recorded, it's without Warner Bros. input, and WB isn't interested in any VH without Sam, Dave, or both and Mike on bass. If they do record new material, it will "definitely NOT be released on the WB label".
* Any label interested in VH would have to buy VH from WB. In other words...don't expect ANYTHING under the band name Van Halen anytime in the foreseeable future.
* Mike has been out of VH since even before he teamed up with Sammy on tour.
* Neither Sammy nor Mike have any affiliation with VH at the time being.
* WB will decide the lineup and the type of material on any future album by the band Van Halen...not Eddie or Alex. And WB will not agree to a VH without Mike and Sam or Dave (or both).
* Do NOT expect anything from the band Van Halen anytime in the even distant future. Should Al and Ed make some material, find a singer, etc...it will be released on a label other than WB and will not be under the name Van Halen.
To be continued, no doubt!

[Doorman]

You know what's great, funny and IRONIC.....they don't even own the rights to their OWN NAME !!!:D

[chinarain62]

They are just pathetic and are SO over!

[yleekiyote]

Originally posted by Doorman
You know what's great, funny and IRONIC.....they don't even own the rights to their OWN NAME !!!:D

They sold their soul, for rock n' roll.

[macca]

I wonder what communist country WB is from??? I've heard labels refuse music because it isn't up to par, but control who plays it???? What's next? We use the "new" formula for bands: We need a theme......... you play this clown, and so forth!!!!

And they wonder why people hate corporate radio and why sales of CD's are down..........

[yleekiyote]

That's what happened with George Micheal and Sony. He had to wait until his contract was over, by some date, before he could release any new music.

Labels are vicious, bottom line. I think it's run by lawyers if you ask me.

[macca]

If VH has one album(CD) owed to WB....that's an easy out....Greatest Hits CD. Some of these major labels better watch their step. More and more, major acts are telling the labels to go F**K themselves when the contract is due and putting out new CD's by themselves(the Eagles and Pearl Jam come to mind).

And yes, the labels are run by lawyers. No other beings could dream up stuff this vicious!

[EVHFV]

All these things may seem vicious, but when it comes down to it, record labels are a business. They do what they're doing to make money, bottom line. Granted, a lot of times, they could do more things for a band to make more money, but dont, and sometimes the band gets the shaft and no real fair shot (Zebra, for example). They're going to spend time and money initially on the bands that will more quickly and easily show the most profit for their efforts. Lie any other business, they don't want to spend money to lose money. So, when it comes to anything VH, who's really interested in a new project without Dave, Sammy, and/or Mike??? Maybe a few....but enough to make it "worth" their time? In the business sense, especially with today's music scene and sales being what the are, I wouldn't have just Eddie and Alex on a project. As always, one hand washes the other. If they want to have the representation, the promotion, the support of a huge label and what the can provide, like Warner Brothers, then you need to give them a product they can SELL. Personally, I'd check out an Eddie/Alex project (not sure I'd BUY it, though...which is wat they're looking for), but they're looking formore than just the leftover die-hards. They're looking to the mass population, who'll pick up that cd for that one song they kind of like and will soon forget. They got the sale anyway. Does it seem heavy-handed, bossy, and like Ed/Al are getting the short end? Of course. But don't forget, they also did it to themselves. Had they kept things together and given WB a marketable product, they'd still be with them. There is irony in that the band is named after them, and that WB owns the "band" name. But, it's true, in today's day and age, there are ways around that. They have options. What they do with them is up to themselves. If they just try to whip out another slab of less-than-decent songs again and say "But it's VH, isn't that good enough?", they're in no doubt in my mind done for good at that point. Although to me, after all this time, they already are.

[Delirious Nomad]

I agree. I'm not a big fan of WB, but they are the ones that put all of their money up front. They are the ones that made the huge investment banking on making money from VH.
If Eddie and Alex can just pick and choose their singers.....let's just say "PeeWee Herman",...... WB will be taking it on the chin.
I would imagine that WB wouldn't lock VH's position into JUST Sammy, David, and/or Michael as long as it was a decent decision. Somebody that could bring in some cash, but I think WB should have some say-so since their the ones with the investment.
Just another opinion:)

[yleekiyote]

Usually with contracts, you do have a date that it expires. Let's say for an example that Dave is found dead in a hotel somewhere, what can the VH boys do now? I'm sure they are going to ride out there contract and probably go independant. Who knows, maybe they will come out with their own label. You would think they have the money for it.

They should release a karoke album, have the public send in their sung versions and pick someone from the songs. Hell, what else do they have to do?

[Delirious Nomad]

Boston ran into this problem. Their record company had them signed for 5 records. Tom Scholtz (inventor of the Polaroid 1-step:) ) had better things to do than pump out a bunch of records at the time. That's one reason it took so long to get theirs out. Tom just chose to take his time. (Maybe Tom should've stopped hugging trees and played some music) Maybe VH will do the same. Although music is really VH's only hobby. Boston was Tom Scholtz's side project more-or-less.:D

[macca]

Well...Boston IS Tom Scholtz. Last I heard, he's suing his label for lack of promotion on the current CD.

As far as the VH front......I suppose the record labels are looking at their bottom line and taking a "what have you done for me lately" attitude. Besides, I still think they're smarting from the last bomb Van Halen dropped on them (VH3). That's one turkey I'm glad a friend scored a promo for me.