Van Halen News Part 2

[yleekiyote]

SAMMY HAGAR CONFIRMS FRIENDSHIP WITH VAN HALEN BROTHERS:
I took some time off over the weekend, only to return to another barrage of e-mails and questions regarding the Van Halen news of last week. There has been a new development all rabid Van Halen fans will, no doubt, already be aware of - Sammy Hagar has made an official comment on the rumors started here that he is about to announce a return to Van Halen.
Here are his comments:
November 21 2003
"A couple of months ago I called Alex out of the blue because we had run into a mutual friend and both of us said to tell each other "hello". So I said, "I am going to call him" and we talked.
Alex said "Hey, next time you are down here call me and we'll have dinner or lunch or something." So a few weeks ago I was in L.A. I called Al, we had lunch, spent the whole day together. It was great. Reconnecting as friends. That was the end of it. A couple weeks later I talked to Ed on the phone, and a few times since then. It's like old times as friends but nothing more than that. It's great to have open communications with some old friends again, much better than being in a maze. If anything develops more from that when the time is right, I will keep you posted.
Meanwhile, upcoming tour dates you need to know:
December 22, Red or The Second Annual Red or Dead Electric Benefit at Marin Civic Center in San Rafael with Sammy Hagar & the Waborita's, Bob Weir and Friends, Mickey Hart, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann and guests. Additional details coming.
12/28 Sammy Hagar & the Waborita's at the Cabo Wabo Cantina
New Years Eve - 04 Sammy Hagar & the Waborita's at the Cabo Wabo Cantina
1/2/04 Sammy Hagar & the Waborita's at the Cabo Wabo Cantina
See Ya in Cabo!
Sammy"

A few thoughts on this! First and foremost - wow! For Sammy to come out and actually say he has been talking to Eddie and Alex is a monumental development. I did not expect anyone to make any comment for some time yet, so for Sammy to talk about this already is another positive sign. Yes, he has hosed down speculation of a re-union and has not commented further about the future, but there was no way he was going to comment further on that!
Sammy apparently called Alex the first week of September and in addition to meeting with Alex, has been to 5150.
The fact that Sammy has confirming he is talking to the Brothers and the band as such are on the verge of making an official announcement about new management (Irving Azoff) is all good news.
Expect further hosing down of the rumors for now, but stand by for a great 2004.

[yleekiyote]

EDDIE SPEAKS - BUT DOESN'T GIVE AWAY MUCH:
Eddie Van Halen was caught out by a surprise phone call Tuesday, from Dwyer & Michaels, the morning crew on rock radio station Q106.5 Davenport. The guys took a chance on speaking to Ed and called at 9.30am. The interview took place by phone from their studio to 5150 where Ed was working away.
I asked the guys what the plan behind the call was, to which Greg Dwyer replied: "We called him on a whim on Tuesday November 25th and found him unusually candid, but even so we were surprised to hear Wolfgang described so lovingly by his dad. As you can hear, he makes no reference that can possibly confirm or deny any rumors that have surfaced recently, even when asked directly. But we aired it because it was great to hear him so relaxed and obviously comfortable with his life and career, which I think we can all agree he deserves at this point in his life."
Eddie did state that he was cancer free, has a new hip and will not say anything..."until its time."
He also told the guys that the new material "...will be a fat mother ****in cabernet...what do you think I've been doing for the last four years?" and lastly "...I got enough for 10 ****in records..."
Download and listen to the whole interview yourselves via this link

[Halen]

Here's the audio guys.

interview mp3 (http://www.twodorks.com/vanhalen_interview.mp3)

[OU812]

Originally posted by Halen
Here's the audio guys.

interview mp3 (http://www.twodorks.com/vanhalen_interview.mp3) HALEN thanks for that link
ed sounds some what up beat i still think it will be after the first of the year until we get conformation on who will be singing

[Halen]

No prob man.

Yeah, sounds like Ed tipped a few back. I agree though, after the first sounds about right. I just wish they could find a way to get Dave involved in some way.

****, a double album with Dave on one disc and Sammy on the other would ****in ROCK! Why can't they find a way to make that happen?!....bastards.

[yleekiyote]

Originally posted by Halen
No prob man.

Yeah, sounds like Ed tipped a few back. I agree though, after the first sounds about right. I just wish they could find a way to get Dave involved in some way.

****, a double album with Dave on one disc and Sammy on the other would ****in ROCK! Why can't they find a way to make that happen?!....bastards.

Because Dave would want to do one more song than Sam, that's why. Dave would want more of the spotlight as if to say "Look at me, I'm the original." Yeah, the original that quit the band. Told Eddie Alex and Micheal to go and **** yourselves, I'm going solo oh and by the way, I want to take the "Van Halen" name with me too. Like I said, would you want a guy like that fronting your band??

[Halen]

Originally posted by yleekiyote


Because Dave would want to do one more song than Sam, that's why. Dave would want more of the spotlight as if to say "Look at me, I'm the original." Yeah, the original that quit the band. Told Eddie Alex and Micheal to go and **** yourselves, I'm going solo oh and by the way, I want to take the "Van Halen" name with me too. Like I said, would you want a guy like that fronting your band??

Man, I'm not even looking to get into all this with you but if you think the brothers Van Halen are a couple of angels, you're just plain crazy.

The two of those guys are like the woman that's been married 50 ****in times and keeps complaining that she "Can't find the right guy."

Maybe it's time they look in the mirror to see where the problem is at.

As for Sam and his soon/noon/moon/june lyrics? If a picture is worth a thousand words...THIS speaks volumes.



http://www.redrocker.com/2003tour/10071303/IMG_2480a.jpg

Try a sit-up every once in awhile Sam.

[tome811]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Halen
[B]

The two of those guys are like the woman that's been married 50 ****in times and keeps complaining that she "Can't find the right guy."


Hey! Yer talkin' 'bout my sister there boah! Well, she's been married 47 times now, but yer in her neighborhood! Just watch yerself Bubba!
:p

[yleekiyote]

Hey Halen, I know they are no perfect angels but you have to think about this opinion. You have 5150, OU812, F.U.C.K., and Balance.......at some point, when does Eddie come in and say, Hey Sam, stop writting material about soon/noon/moon/june. This was not his band? He like the direction that Sam brought them with 5150. He liked the direction with the other albums to, "OR" he would have told Sam to take a hike. Sam is just the voice for those albums. Ed's job is to create the music around the lyrics....if you don't like the lyrics, write them yourself.

All I'm saying is on a business level, Sam showed alot more progression than Dave. Maybe that was the problem. Everyone listed VH as Heavy Metal and they switch to the corporate radio. Think about this for one moment. If Dave was still in charge and with his direction he would have lead the band, do you honestly think it would have lasted till today? Before you answer, look around you. Corporate radio isn't playing that music anymore. If you do hear any VH it is their old stuff with Dave (which I agree, sounds very good). But on a business standpoint, VH would have collapsed years ago. Most Heavy Metal "Labeled" bands are deceased today. The pop culture ate them alive. It's not the bands fault, it's corporate radio.

The future, Sam will be back, tour will be ok at best, album will do better than VH III, but they will not be in their 80's form by no means. If Dave were back, probably sell a few more copies and more at the shows, but gauranteed, it would be their farewell tour.

Just my opinion.

[Halen]

Originally posted by yleekiyote
Hey Halen, I know they are no perfect angels but you have to think about this opinion. You have 5150, OU812, F.U.C.K., and Balance.......at some point, when does Eddie come in and say, Hey Sam, stop writting material about soon/noon/moon/june. This was not his band? He like the direction that Sam brought them with 5150. He liked the direction with the other albums to, "OR" he would have told Sam to take a hike. Sam is just the voice for those albums. Ed's job is to create the music around the lyrics....if you don't like the lyrics, write them yourself.

All I'm saying is on a business level, Sam showed alot more progression than Dave. Maybe that was the problem. Everyone listed VH as Heavy Metal and they switch to the corporate radio. Think about this for one moment. If Dave was still in charge and with his direction he would have lead the band, do you honestly think it would have lasted till today? Before you answer, look around you. Corporate radio isn't playing that music anymore. If you do hear any VH it is their old stuff with Dave (which I agree, sounds very good). But on a business standpoint, VH would have collapsed years ago. Most Heavy Metal "Labeled" bands are deceased today. The pop culture ate them alive. It's not the bands fault, it's corporate radio.

The future, Sam will be back, tour will be ok at best, album will do better than VH III, but they will not be in their 80's form by no means. If Dave were back, probably sell a few more copies and more at the shows, but gauranteed, it would be their farewell tour.

Just my opinion.

I agree 100% with your last statement there....100%.

As far as Ed and the issues with Sammy's lyrics, I know for a fact that Eddie didn't like Sammy's writting. That all came out right after Sammy left. I clearly remember Eddie publicly talkin smack about Sammy and his "Wham Bam Amsterdam" lyrics. He also has stated that he was VERY insecure and EASILY pushed around so it wouldn't surprise me if he just bit his lip and ****ed it up. I'm sure he was happy with the direction and overall quality of the music enough to "put up" with inferior lyrics.

Now, Roth era VH standing the test of time? Obviously we don't know what would have happened if Dave never left...but...let's remember, these guys were NOT Ratt. They were NOT Poison. They were NOT Dokken. These guys were THE MIGHTY ****ING VAN HALEN! Eddie (in my book) is top 5 OF ALL TIME. The guy is a living legend that took guitar playing to the next level. I have no problem mentioning Van Halen (not Van Hagar) in the same breath as Hendrix, Zep, ACDC, Aerosmith and Kiss...no problem. If Aerosmith can still be around, playing Superbowls and award shows, I have no reason to think VH wouldn't be able to do the same had Dave stuck around.

It's the BANDS that are considered "classic rock"...not the SONGS they write.

As long as there are classic rock radio stations, bands like this will have a place to be heard. As these bands get older, so does the fanbase. So it's not really a matter of whether or not you'll hear them on the radio but what station you'll hear them on.

- out

[sasssy1]

Go Alex!

[OU812]

FACT 1


IF VH AND SAM GET BACK THE NEW CD WILL NOT GET ANY AIRPLAY AT ALL NO MATTER HOW GOOD IT WILL BE.
KINDA LIKE THE LAST STUDIO KISS CD THAT THING FELL ON ITS ASS WITH ALL THE PROMOTION BEHIND THAT BAND .
OLD 80"S ROCK BANDS DON'T STAND A CHANCE .
THE ONLY THING THAT WILL FUEL VAN HALEN IS ALL OF THERE PAST HARD CORE FANS OVER THE YEARS (( JUST LIKE KISS ))

[GuitarPLYR]

Originally posted by Halen
Eddie (in my book) is top 5 OF ALL TIME. The guy is a living legend that took guitar playing to the next level. I have no problem mentioning Van Halen (not Van Hagar) in the same breath as Hendrix, Zep, ACDC, Aerosmith and Kiss...no problem.

I agree with you and would say that they were better than most of those bands you mentioned too.

[Crash N' Ride]

I don't know. I'm lookin' foward to this reunion. I don't care if it's Sammy or Dave. I just think it will ROCK! It's Van Halen, I mean I didn't grow up hearing these guys, so I think it will be COOL if they comeback. Because right now all I got is Zebra and thats it!! Everything else ****s. Although I heard this new band called Jet, their pretty good. Anyways I hope they comeback and I am looking foward to it with a positive and happy attitude! :D

Just my two cents.

- Nick