EVH and Sammy interviews from back in the day...

[locobenno]

I've been reading a few interviews here and there lately. Its odd, I go through a mini VH revival in my head every couple of years and I get stuck into finding out everything I can about the band.

So this time around, spurred on by the reappearance of leaked chapters from Sammy's unpublished book, I thought I'd go find some interviews on the members that were conducted around the time they broke up back in '96.

Interesting stuff with Eddie saying this and Sammy saying that, Eddie's professing he's sober yet Sammy's insisting his battles carry on. The big barney appears to focus on a track they recorded for the Twister sound track called "Between Us Two" with several people around the band telling them they'd recorded their "Stairway To Heaven". The track has never been released to my knowledge but man, whose keen to hear that? Pick me! Then Bruce Fairbairn tries to stiff the band into a third of the royalties on it.

Then you move on to around 98 and some Guitar World sycophant is waxing fantastic about Van Halen III and Eddie's saying he's found spiritual guidance - wow he's off planet in some of those questions. Telling us that since "giving up" drinking he can't stop the creative process. Van Halen III was creative, interesting. I've tried and tried but just can't do it.

Anyway skip to around 2000, Sammy's just put out album number three since the split and expecting another child and having a brilliant time with the Waiboritas, but there's still sadness in some of his tone when he reflects on where it all went bad.

I for one was reservedly excited when they reformed for that tour last year, I thought the new studio tracks were good without being great - Learning To See was the pick for me - and reading and listening to mostly Sammy interviews since it ended I don't get the impression its done for good but I'd say we're in for another long wait. Be brilliant if they could just put it all to bed and create music again.

And then that radio interview with Eddie surfaced earlier this month, he sounds like a total wreck. <sigh> Something in me hopes that Eddie and or the band can release some of these "hundreds" of tracks that Eddie's been working on in his studio before the Van Halen name is lost forever.

Anyway, I'll be over this in a couple of days probably. Not before I chuck on a few of my fav boots though, just so the after-taste lingers for a little longer

[NealIsGod]

Wow, locobenno, your post made me sad. I wonder if Eddie realizes how many people he is disappointing.

[Kenny]

I think it's pretty sad that anyone would be 'disappointed' with the wonderful volume of work Edward has given us......the guy owes us nothing, man. Some people should lighten the fuck up, it's a rock band for chrissakes!!!

I agree with the sentiments in Locobenno's post - it was a good one, especially the bits about Sammy's 'tone' sometimes.....I hear and feel that too.

Yes some parts of the Van Halen saga make me sad, some of it uplifts me no end.....and I nearly always get a smile, at least up to about 'Balance'.....but then life is like that, isn't it? A constant mix of emotions and feelings??

As far as Eddie sounding like a 'wreck' on that radio show? I heard some of it, sounded like he was being a goof to me......but then I tend to try and look at the positive side of life if I can.....

[NealIsGod]

Well, Kenny, I am disappointed that Eddie seems to be wasting away creatively and physically. Hard to be positive about that.

[Kenny]

Well, Kenny, I am disappointed that Eddie seems to be wasting away creatively and physically. Hard to be positive about that.

Well I wouldn't have enough information to comment on that......in any event, that's different to saying 'does he realise how many people he's disappointing'.
One is concern for the man, the other is having a crack at him.

[locobenno]

I think it's pretty sad that anyone would be 'disappointed' with the wonderful volume of work Edward has given us......the guy owes us nothing, man. Some people should lighten the fuck up, it's a rock band for chrissakes!!!

Yeah don't get me wrong Kenny, I'm a huge fan of the work Eddie's put out and I especially love the fact he and the band have never bowed to what was popular at the time. The fact that a VH album was going to sound different to anything else that was around made me look forward to it coming out; as well as the fact that they never put the same thing out twice.

But for the forseeable future I won't get that anxious wait, that sense of excited anticipation of new music that isn't going to sound like anything else, because VH for me was the only band that could do that. I love and hate a lot of the music being released at the moment, mostly hate, but none of it excites me to the point I hang out for its release.

As far as Eddie disappearing into the bottom of a needle/bottle/nostril, thats his business and his alone and doesn't bother me either way. And if the band never gets back together to put out any more music, well thats life as you say. But I'll still be disappointed because I'll never get to anticipate another VH album again.

I'll never forget the night I was up late watching MTV back in '91. The last VH album had put me off the band a little with its electric drums and keys and a less edgy approach on OU812 and they'd slipped off my radar a bit. Didn't even have them in my head and the Australian mainstream had forgotten about them since "Dreams" really.

Come back from an ad break and Sammy Hagar pops up being followed around by a camera on what looked like the back lot to a studio. He's raving about Ted Templeman and how the new album will sound great on stage as a three piece and I straight away think "if Sammy's not playing an instrument, what's that going to do to the sound...?". Anyway so he continues to show us around this studio lot, then he takes us indoors and the rest of the band are mucking around - Alex is puffing furiously on a ciggie with his sunnies on, Eddie's got a guitar around his neck and Mikey's telling jokes. They look in good spirits. More words from Sammy, "this is where we're filming the new clip, blah blah, we love the new record" and then it cuts to the new film clip for real.

I went WOW! That whole drill thing, and then the drums kick in and Alex is playing real drums, no electrics there. That massive wall of VH sound, WOW! They followed up that clip with the Runaround clip. WOW! Then I'm looking at release dates and oh my lord please make that date come now. I lined up for it, what a day, what an album, VH had re-hooked me.

Its not so bad that I want that again...isi it...? Good times.

Cheers and beers

[NealIsGod]

Well, Kenny, I am disappointed that Eddie seems to be wasting away creatively and physically. Hard to be positive about that.

Well I wouldn't have enough information to comment on that......in any event, that's different to saying 'does he realise how many people he's disappointing'.
One is concern for the man, the other is having a crack at him.

Dude, I am a HUGE fan of Eddie's. I would never take a crack at him. The music of VH is some of the greatest in rock history and a big part of my musical life. Don't mistake my concern for Eddie's health as taking shots at him. I just hope he knows that even if he doesn't seem to care about getting VH back in the studio and making music, that he is disappointing millions of people. That's all.

[Kenny]

I just hope he knows that even if he doesn't seem to care about getting VH back in the studio and making music, that he is disappointing millions of people. That's all.

Well.....ok!!
I'm not one of them!!! He just has to live his life, dude!

Nor do I even remotely know his plans for the future, or even what the fuck he cares about 'right now'!!!!!

[NealIsGod]

I just hope he knows that even if he doesn't seem to care about getting VH back in the studio and making music, that he is disappointing millions of people. That's all.

Well.....ok!!
I'm not one of them!!! He just has to live his life, dude!

Nor do I even remotely know his plans for the future, or even what the fuck he cares about 'right now'!!!!!

I don't think his brother even knows.