What if they held a reunion & nobody cared?

[othort]

It has been a couple of months now since the reunion and overall I would have to say that it has been very disappointing.

The album is dive bombing on the charts and the band receives very little media attention. I am a Van Halen fan and this upsets me because it did not have to be this way. The band really could have done a better job of marketing themselves.

And as far as the new material goes, it is OK... but it could have been better. It could have been better simply because the band has had so many years off and you would have expected they would be able to come out something awesome.

From some of the comments you really do get the impression the Hagar and the band will part company on good term after the tour. It seems like this whole reunion was just a test to see if they could still do it. They still can do it, but it could have been done better.

[Crusher]

I was disappointed that the reunion was only promoted half ass. It just doesn't appear to be given the proper push, for a band that's accomplished so much.

The sad thing is, the band is still playing to good crowds, which only feeds the ego, and make the band feel that everything is just fine.

[Kenny]

The only thing I would say in response to particularly the first post is that somehow I can't bring myself to see a marriage breakdown and a battle with cancer as 'so many years off'.......
Additionally, I am reading from reviews and from fans attending the shows that most of them have been sold out, and the band has been having a great time.

I am hoping we get a new album.......if we do, I will certainly buy it. If we don't, so be it.

[ltbob]

If we get a new record, I hope it gets on the net so I can hear it before I waste my money if it sucks like this last mess.

[NUBMAN]

I think the Reunion with Sam was rushed and somewhat ill-conceived. I know that Ed and Sam wanted to find out if they could still work together, but the music (new songs) really arent that great.
I think if they would have done an entire record and actually kept their fans informed they would have been more successful.

Kenny, you cannot refute the irreparable harm the band did to its fanbase by not keeping fans informed. I think many fans didnt swallow the new stuff, but they still love to see VH live. Thats why they are so guarded. A full length Sammy/VH cd could have been awesome. I would even go so far as to say that the 3 new songs that are on the new hits package would end up as filler on a new cd. I think the band has the potential for a groundbreaking new cd. Not Eddie demos with thrown in vocals and no Michael Anthony on bass.

The band is relatively under the radar due to the fact that they have commented that this is some sort of "trial" or test. That is a really bad way to promote future projects. The real test will be when a new cd comes out.
I think VH still can bring it. The 3 mediocre songs (IMO) just havent gotten me back "into" VH again. If Sam and Ed are apprehensive, then why should fans go through another singer separation. Rebound love is tough. VH may be due for another heartache.
I wish them well.

[Abitaman]

Sammy is one of my favorite performers. Never cared for the other 2 guys that were on lead vocals. I followed Sammy before and after Van Halen. Hope thinks work out for them, but the new songs were very weak, and the concert in Biloxi was sloppy, Eddie seemed space out. Sammy and Mike did great, and Alex was good, although he is far from one of my favorite drummers. Maybe Sammy can put out solo cds between the long offs of VH.-ERIC

[jestor92]

Personally I think the Van Halen fan base has been dwindling slowly since 5150 time. Each album has sold less and less units and VH 3 with Cherone really didn't sell. Balance was if I'm not mistaken VH's lowest selling non Cherone album. Maybe they don't sell like they used to because the fan base isn't there anymore. Balance IMO wasn't a great album. I think there were 3-4 songs on there that actually deserve to be mentioned as classics. Songs like Don't Tell Me, 7th Seal, Can't Stop Lovin You, and to a lesser extent Not Enough, though that song suffers from Bruce Fairborn itis like most of the album with to loud of drums.

Finally as much as I love Van Halen (all eras) I don't think there will be a huge explosion of people talkin about them until they get DLR back and either do a fairwell tour or a reunion.

I'm a bigger fan of Hagar solo, but as much as I hate to say it I think to get to the pinnacle of bands they need Roth.


BTW They rocked in Hershey this year

[Abitaman]

Van Halen's Balance suffered from production. It did not fit the groups sound.
True a Roth reunion tour may have been bigger, but not better. Can you see Roth singing Van Hagar tunes?
In their recent tour together, Sammy blew David away, not just in performance, but in song selection.
I think Sammy being back is for the better in the long run, if Eddie makes the long run-ERIC

[Penny]

There are too many good bands around today for Van Halen to be anything but old try hard geriatrics

[NUBMAN]

In reality, Sammy doesnt have much to prove going back to VH. Since being away from VH, Sammy made albums, toured and had a kick-ass band. He is stifling his production by playing by Ed's rules. I know he wants to write hit records and what not, but Sam should have stuck to his guns and kept making his own records.
Ed is clearly a mess, but I do not think he is finished with writing great songs. A new cd will be the test.

[ltbob]

If Ed just plows through another record without hitting the practice room for a few months it will just be another pile of junk. Same old stuff he has been playin for years. His name alone can no longer carry his band, he needs to work!! His guitar sound is way too processed to cover sloppy playing, if you play you know what Im talking about. Its no longer that big fat brown sound of the past. I would love to hear him record a new record just playin just his guitar and amp{no efffects} and hands. I just dont think his chops are up to anything like that any longer. Can you imagine what Sammy would sound like singin over just a guitar,bass, and drums with zero over dubs!! Real RnR for a change. In other words it would take a hell of alot of creativity to fill the space instead of just studio bullshit.

[DropForge]

I agree. Ed's been vegging for a long time. All that dough in the bank and a sweet pad led to the inevitable lazy period, while Sammy was out recording, gigging, interacting, and basically maintaining his status as a RnR'er. Maybe the brothers were in la-la land, but I like the fact Mikey was hanging with Sam a lot. He was obviously itchin' to get out and play while Alex and Ed were bumming around their pads, doing gawd-knows-what.

W/O delving back into the Hagar vs. DLR debate, I wish even DLR devotees had acknowledged the fact that having another guy in VH who could play guitar (and LEAD, as well as rhythm) was a good thing! Maybe Eddie should let Sam write some guitar parts, too. Oftimes, good results come from having another writer to bounce and juxtapose ideas off of.

[Abitaman]

Would love to see Sammy play axe on a Van Halen cd, along with Eddie. Would fire up Eddie maybe? But could add a whole new sound to the group-ERIC

[Kenny]

There are too many good bands around today for Van Halen to be anything but old try hard geriatrics

I wouldn't have thought that was entirely necessary Penny.....it's clear you don't like the band, that's fair enough.
Leave the forum for people who do, or have liked them maybe?

[Kenny]

Would love to see Sammy play axe on a Van Halen cd, along with Eddie. Would fire up Eddie maybe? But could add a whole new sound to the group-ERIC

I would also like to see Sammy play a bit of guitar mate......indeed it may even inspire Eddie a little.
Get back to the vibe they had on the 5150 album, perhaps.

[Rockindeano]

There are too many good bands around today for Van Halen to be anything but old try hard geriatrics

Yeah, like whom? New bands? Uh, not really. I'll take VH, ZZ Top, and Journey nowadays, rather than the Creed, Pearl Jam, and other "soundalikes" of today.

VH has the same "problem" as todays' Journey. These bands keep playing to huge crowds, and live is where the bands live. Hell, selling records is tough, real tough, for anyone; even Springsteen can't really sell cd's anymore. The real fans will buy the new stuff, but the on-the-fence fans don't give a shit.

[Lightninjackcane]

If V/H wanna make BIG news then they should invite Dave back it would be a momentous day in Rock music if it were to ever happen , but as dave`s voice is possibly shot now , i think they`ve probably left it too late

[Gaffguitars]

If V/H wanna make BIG news then they should invite Dave back it would be a momentous day in Rock music if it were to ever happen , but as dave`s voice is possibly shot now , i think they`ve probably left it too late

I agree even though I still think a tour with Dave would be huge. His voice was always shot. It didn't matter then and it won't matter now. I love Sammy but I'd rather see him solo at this point. I want to hear the old songs now.

[atthistime]

I totally agree with you and lightnin on this gaff. It''s how I feel about Journey and Perry. imo, it's why we loved the bands in the beginning and just to hear the magic, one more time,.................
That chemistry is only really there with the all star lineup for most bands, with few exceptions,imo.

[StevePerryRocks]

In reality, Sammy doesnt have much to prove going back to VH. Since being away from VH, Sammy made albums, toured and had a kick-ass band. He is stifling his production by playing by Ed's rules. I know he wants to write hit records and what not, but Sam should have stuck to his guns and kept making his own records.
Ed is clearly a mess, but I do not think he is finished with writing great songs. A new cd will be the test.

Couldn't have said it better myself. I saw them in Saint Louis, and EVH is toast. Sammy doesn't need his whino drugged-up ass.

[Kenny]

'Whino, drugged up ass'?? Yeah, nice one.
Remind me again why I don't go to your favourite band's forum and dump on them?
Oh, it's because I'm not a troll.

[atthistime]

You're too smart to judge everyone by one persons opinion, Kenny. Thanks!

[Kenny]

You're too smart to judge everyone by one persons opinion, Kenny. Thanks!

What an odd thing to say.
I was referring only to that person, yes.