Van Halen Cafe Wha!

[BYeh1]

I've forgotten about the drama behind why Mike Anthony isnt back, but it pisses me off that these guys can't act like grownups, put their egos aside and get back together for the fans (and their wallets)!

I went to the show at Staples Center in 2007 with Wolfgang on bass, he was like 16 or something, just wasnt the same. Felt like Eddie was a control freak putting his teenage son in the band, while DLR was restraining himself in fear of getting kicked out again. I'm sure DLR needed the cash badly, I remember his lows in 90-91 whe he got busted selling drugs in Washington Square Park in NYC, his mugshot on newspaper covers.

[brentmann]

He was buying a $ 10 bag of weed not selling drugs. I agree, it should be Mike on this tour but what can you do?!?

[Nimitz]

Everybody could boycott their shows and Eddie might get the hint people want to see Van Halen not Van Wolfie... :idea:

[Larz]

Too bad Alex couldn't fit the quad bass drum on that stage

[BenoA]

He looks like Super Mario.

Was about to type the same thing as you did before reading the whole...

Used to be a huge fan of VH, early era and even Van Hagar... Now it does nothing for me.

[MikeStrat]

Used to be a huge fan of VH, early era and even Van Hagar... Now it does nothing for me.

+1. They've been off the radar too long. And hearing some of the leaked clips of new stuff.........boring. They sure ain't what they used to be.

[tonemonster]

I used to be a very big VH fan. both versions. but after sammy left in the mid 90's it really lost its luster for me. VHIII was a disaster. the endless drama of dave coming back, then sammy coming back, then..... blah blah blah...... it gold old and moldy. I would not waste money to go see them live anymore. its just a joke without Mike in the band. I dont care if the bass players name is van Halen or not......its not VH without Mikey. it just aint. Eddie is a washed up. He was once a great guitarist, musician, and performer, but those days are gone. If he truly gave a shit about music, he would have got off the booze and made it happen. instead he spent over 15 years sitting on the side of the music highway idling. now I am not trying to start a band A vs. band B war here, but there 80's bands that stayed the course through the 90s and stayed on the stage, in the studio, and on the radio. love them or hate them, Bon Jovi, Metallica, and Def Leppard all did it. you cant take it their success away from them. they kept on when others failed. VH had the tools to succeed, but he just didnt want it bad enough. he possessed more natural talent than anyone in the biz. If VH gave a shit, they would have been right there with those other bands making it happen. but they didnt. Sammy did though. he is a survivor.

[Larz]

Good post Tonemonster

[brentmann]

Give VH a chance it just might be good! i know Metallicas LULU and recent releases by Def Lep and BJ have not been on the mark.

[BYeh1]

He was buying a $ 10 bag of weed not selling drugs. I agree, it should be Mike on this tour but what can you do?!?

You're right he was buying not selling, I stand corrected. But it was sad back then to see DLR's pathetic mugshot on the cover of the NY Post (this was before Lindsay Lohan made a profitable career out of it.)

What should we do about it? I dunno, but boycotts, email campaigns, making noise about it on web forums all sound good to me. If it gets enough momentum maybe it takes on a life of its own and they get the message. Seems thats the only way for things to change, is for them to see how badly the fans want it and recognize the market demand and commercial opportunity for themselves.

[BYeh1]

Good post Tonemonster

+1

[triplehold]

Look at it this way- this is the now and the past is the past. The Cafe Wha! gig is killer. It reminds me of any old club band doing their thing, only it is EVH and Co. A big bass drum, some halfstacks and a young buck kickin' ass on a kickass lookin' bass. The new record is something to look forward and will get more attention than ever. It could set the whole rock and roll world on fire and get every other band pumped. Every guitar player in the world will tell you- there was Jimi and there is Eddie. He may have been idling, but now he is floorin' it.

[Nightbat]

The only thing Eddie did wrong to become an absolute legend like Jimmy and Randy is that he kept living, which will make his legacy into something "The biggest talent on guitar,...washed up in later life"

[BenoA]

I used to be a very big VH fan. both versions. but after sammy left in the mid 90's it really lost its luster for me. VHIII was a disaster. the endless drama of dave coming back, then sammy coming back, then..... blah blah blah...... it gold old and moldy. I would not waste money to go see them live anymore. its just a joke without Mike in the band. I dont care if the bass players name is van Halen or not......its not VH without Mikey. it just aint. Eddie is a washed up. He was once a great guitarist, musician, and performer, but those days are gone. If he truly gave a shit about music, he would have got off the booze and made it happen. instead he spent over 15 years sitting on the side of the music highway idling. now I am not trying to start a band A vs. band B war here, but there 80's bands that stayed the course through the 90s and stayed on the stage, in the studio, and on the radio. love them or hate them, Bon Jovi, Metallica, and Def Leppard all did it. you cant take it their success away from them. they kept on when others failed. VH had the tools to succeed, but he just didnt want it bad enough. he possessed more natural talent than anyone in the biz. If VH gave a shit, they would have been right there with those other bands making it happen. but they didnt. Sammy did though. he is a survivor.

Thanks Tonemonster, this is exactly what I'm thinking but could not put it in words. BTW you could had all the crazy things Eddie did in the late 90s/early 2ks to get the rights regarding the trademarks on the 5150 stuff, guitar graphics, closing web sites...

[brentmann]

I'm with ya Triplehold! I really hope it kicks ass and brings about something good with it! I was never a big Vanhagar fan, I was a big Sammy the red rocker before VH fan, To me its always been DLR with Eddie! I hope it ROCKS!