Van Halen to Rock the Grammys?

[machinegunlotus]

VH are one of my favourite bands (guess y'all know that from my username here ),

Nope, I would only guess that you are a fan of Van Hagar not Van Halen.

[5150]

VH are one of my favourite bands (guess y'all know that from my username here ),

Nope, I would only guess that you are a fan of Van Hagar not Van Halen.

Hmmm- I guess you know enough about the band to use the term "Van Hagar"... ok, so you tell me- is there an earlier instance of Eddie using the term "5150" than for the title of that album? And post that album, who has trademarked that term for a series of guitar amps, let-alone had it emblazoned on his guitars? Eddie or Sammy? I've never thought of "5150" as just an album title- to me it much more so encompasses EVH per-se, and has no connection to who the lead singer of VH was at any given point in time.

[machinegunlotus]

Well yes 5150 is eddie's studio, but for most 5150 just represents a VERY bad turn in their career. And that studio itself has become synonymous with sucky output and where Eddie would try to call the shots as the powerfreak wreck he became and piss everybody off. Apparently the new album was recorded elsewhere, though.

So ..err, do you think Sammy Hagar sucks or not? there is no halfway answer here.

[5150]

Eddie would try to call the shots as the powerfreak wreck he became and piss everybody off.

I'm glad you wrote this. This I think has been one of the main factors plaguing VH as a band from way back, and more and more so over the years- I just wish Ed would stick to writing and playing guitar, as he's out of his depth just about everywhere else

But I'll keep this short as your line of questioning seems to intimate that if I like Sammy then I'm not a true Van Halen fan. Well sorry to disappoint you, but I like Sammy. I think he's great and did some great stuff with VH. But then I also like Dave. LOVED Dave as a kid- he was a teenage hero. Got into VH firstly because of Dave. But I'm not a black-and-white kinda person- in this particular instance I look at VH as a band started in the 70s, and what they've done since: produced one of the world's most respected rock guitarists; had one of the world's greatest frontmen (DLR); and produced some great music (DLR and Sammy era). The album "VH" is incredible. "VH2" is only half-decent, and "Women and Children First" blows except for a few tracks. "Fair Warning" is amazing, and I personally love "Diver Down" as the originals on there more than make up for the cover tunes. "1984" is the first record done at 5150 and it is probably my favourite VH disc. "5150" is also amazing. "OU812" is hit-and-miss but is awfully recorded. "F.U.C.K." is VH back to form, but "Balance" was anything but. The new tunes on "Best Of Vol I" are kick-ass, but the new tunes on "Best of Both Worlds" aren't. And we won't even mention "VH3"

So yeh I like Sammy. I like Dave too. Both made some great music with VH, but also participated in some stinkers. I also love Ed as a guitarist, but not much when he opens his mouth to venture an opinion. So thus my hesitation in the latest happenings- when the new record comes out I'll give it some very careful listens first, but won't assume anything just 'cos "Dave's back!" 'Cos also, Mikey's gone, so there's no "classic" VH b-vox any longer. See? It's not clear-cut no matter which way you look at it.

[sebastian_gnr]

Eddie would try to call the shots as the powerfreak wreck he became and piss everybody off.

I'm glad you wrote this. This I think has been one of the main factors plaguing VH as a band from way back, and more and more so over the years- I just wish Ed would stick to writing and playing guitar, as he's out of his depth just about everywhere else

But I'll keep this short as your line of questioning seems to intimate that if I like Sammy then I'm not a true Van Halen fan. Well sorry to disappoint you, but I like Sammy. I think he's great and did some great stuff with VH. But then I also like Dave. LOVED Dave as a kid- he was a teenage hero. Got into VH firstly because of Dave. But I'm not a black-and-white kinda person- in this particular instance I look at VH as a band started in the 70s, and what they've done since: produced one of the world's most respected rock guitarists; had one of the world's greatest frontmen (DLR); and produced some great music (DLR and Sammy era). The album "VH" is incredible. "VH2" is only half-decent, and "Women and Children First" blows except for a few tracks. "Fair Warning" is amazing, and I personally love "Diver Down" as the originals on there more than make up for the cover tunes. "1984" is the first record done at 5150 and it is probably my favourite VH disc. "5150" is also amazing. "OU812" is hit-and-miss but is awfully recorded. "F.U.C.K." is VH back to form, but "Balance" was anything but. The new tunes on "Best Of Vol I" are kick-ass, but the new tunes on "Best of Both Worlds" aren't. And we won't even mention "VH3"

So yeh I like Sammy. I like Dave too. Both made some great music with VH, but also participated in some stinkers. I also love Ed as a guitarist, but not much when he opens his mouth to venture an opinion. So thus my hesitation in the latest happenings- when the new record comes out I'll give it some very careful listens first, but won't assume anything just 'cos "Dave's back!" 'Cos also, Mikey's gone, so there's no "classic" VH b-vox any longer. See? It's not clear-cut no matter which way you look at it.

So what do you think of VH3? i thought it was pretty interesting... and there is still and unheard VH3 album that no one will ever hear....

[Robbie]

VH III was actually as bad as people say

[machinegunlotus]

Samuel Roy Hagar is a lying scumbag who out of insecurity about his personal inadequacies has been ceaselessly venturing to distort perceptions about his importance in Van Halen and in general. He rode on the wave of a large name that others built basically lucking out because for many years people were still hanging to see EVH play, certainly not because they were much interested in Hagar.

Aside from the fact that he is a hack who produces nothing but cheesy tripe (which in itself is not an uncommonly big sin, but when combined with self-delusional lies and acting like a complete and utter fuckwit douche who ungratefully craps on those who paved the way for him to be noticed, it IS), he is one of those despicable relentless perception-twisters in music who might seem convincing to the undiscerning observer because they believe and repeat their own bullshit so much. They benefit from benefit of the doubt when others -- for whatever reason (eg. can't be bothered to stoop to the same pathetic level, or they figure the fans are smart enough to see through it) -- do not rebut the constant stream of petty selfserving attention-seeking crap that Sham puts forth. He knows that every time he gives some journalist some opinion or comment about Van Halen, voila! - he's got attention. And that nobody is really interested in him otherwise. So he constantly uses the name to bring himself attention and some semblance of relevance.

His douchery re VH started from the get-go circa the 5150 tour when the Van halens were having a war of words with Roth. Now Roth has always taken the high road and never slagged any of them out of hand in the press. He mocked them humourously as he told his side of the story, which he could because it was true,  back then and then basically stayed quiet, ever hopeful of getting back in VH. But Hagar showed a total lack of class by seeing fit to get involved and then frequently and casually saying shit like "who the fuck needs Roth, he can't sing" and whatever. And perpetuating blatant bullshit such as that his VH albums sold more than Roth's. For years he dumped on Roth, and then especially since the disasterously crap and crap-selling '04 tour after which they last fucked him off,  he has dished crap on VH and Eddie, while saying things like that they might still call him back! He knows very well that they won't. Oh, and he sees aliens, and he might manage GN'R! What. A. Fucking. Dick!

Now, if you like someone who thinks doing all that is ok, then YOU SUCK AS WELL!

[5150]

I, like you, have (likely) never met, nor more importantly, hung-out with any of the people we are discussing. So we only know them at best to a second-degree level of association. And this is where we differ- I like Sammy, Dave, Eddie et al's music, as I am not qualified to comment on the persons per se, bar venturing an opinion based on information provided to me by sources which may or may not be completely accurate. And more pertinently, I don't particularly care to know the personality types, as I merely wish to enjoy their music, and they all make good music.

But since you seem (i) far more passionate about the personalities than the music, then maybe you should go join a fanclub; and (ii) that you are that narrow-minded to generalise that I or anyone else "suck" merely because we like someone at a superficial level, then I either can recommend you some good psychiatrists for your anger-management issues - or I can just  report your posts and cease wasting my time on you - which seems like a far better plan

[5150]

So what do you think of VH3? i thought it was pretty interesting... and there is still and unheard VH3 album that no one will ever hear....

"VH3" is very likely VH's worst record, but I do have to agree it was interesting... for starters Gary Cherone was on board, and I have a lot of time for him (from his tenure with Extreme- their album "3 Sides To Every Story" would have to be a candidate for "all-time favourite record" of mine irrespective of genre- it is a work of genius on so many levels, and Gary had a significant part in its creation)- he is intelligent, a great lyricist, and a great singer. So there seemed potential for VH to venture along creative paths they hadn't gone before, but unfortunately VH and Gary weren't a great match, let-alone I think that he was very-much just a guy paid to do a job, and his boss (Ed) was likely calling 100% of the shots, and so I think it is Ed who really needs to take responsibility for "VH3" being the sub-standard album it is.

And from another point of view, I think Ed's guitar-tone on "VH3" is just atrocious- I have played a Frankenstrat, Steinbergers, EBMMs, and Peavey Wolfgangs, and to me the Wolfgang is just an awful guitar. It sounds awful and I'd never own one (whereas I own one or more of the aforementioned ). And so throughout "VH3", Ed's guitar-tone just grates on me and detracts from an already poor record.

But to look at the positives (?), I actually really dig "Without You" and "One I Want"- great tracks and I think an indication of where Ed and Gary could have gone... but "VH3" is what it is . Hopefully VH are back in form with this new disc

[sebastian_gnr]

I love VH even VH3 i thought it was more modern and interasting... but after that it just all crumbled down. When i heard about the reunion i was like shit this is going to be owesome BUT when they left out mike i was like NOOOOOO STUPID STUPID MISTAKE!! it could of been perfect.