Van Halen

[bigredbass]

Ed seems to have been in an unfortunate state of mind for quite a while now.  I saw photos of rehearsals for that last short tour last year, and he looked like a very sick man in many ways.
 
I never thought Mike and Alex pushed him.  I once saw Ed on a Cinemax tribute to Les Paul years ago.  He fronted a group with Tony Levin on bass, Rick Marotta on drums, and Jan Hammer on keys.  They let him do the elephant noises and his two handed bit then dug their claws into his back and made him play:  It was amazing.  These guys weren't on the payroll and certainly weren't intimidated, and he really dug in and delivered.
 
I really feel for the guy, and in a way, it reminds me of Jaco's last years in his detachment, his very erratic behavior, and very bad choices.  I would not be surprised if one day soon I heard he was gone.
 
This is truly the bad part of fame:  There's nobody to grab you by the collar and smarten you up.
 
J o e y

[lbpesq]

Is he still married to Valerie Bertinelli?
 
Bill, tgo

[inthelows]

I don't think so Bill!
Been about a 1/2 year.
HERE
NLP
 
(Message edited by inthelows on January 10, 2007)

[88persuader]

Many guitarist don't give credit to their bass player counterparts. Apparently Eddie's ego is out of control and has been for some time and he fits into this category. I've known guitarist who have had this idea that bass is easy, an instrument for failed 6 string guitarists. And unfortunately some styles of bass playing and a few bass players i know fall into that category. Lazy players who have never learned the most basic scales. 6 string was too hard so they went to bass. And they stick to the most simply one note types of songs. But as most of you guys realize bass played well requires technique, indebth knowledge of scales and a instinctual ability to use the proper scales at the right times. Most 6 string lead guitarist I know who are awesome guitarists can't play bass. (Sorry you Alembic lead players but to my experience it's true.) They can play the notes but don't have the instinct. They don't lock in with the drummer and don't push the music forward the same way. I was never blown away with MA's playing but he always PUSHED VH with a lot of energy. The Pocket was always there. Regardless of talent you don't learn all this in 3 months. So what's Eddie going to do next? Hang a grandchild over the railing of a belcony and sleep in an iron lung? Geesh!

[bsee]

As much as this story bothers me, I doubt that Wolfie picked up his first stringed instrument only three months ago.  He's probably been a musician of some sort or another for most of his life.  He would be much more capable as a bass player after a few months if he had been playing guitar for ten years, but pointing that out doesn't make for as controversial a story.  I still think it's a bad idea, just not as bad as it seems at first read (musically, anyway...).

[hb3]

He's been playing guitar for awhile, but still....
 
Joey, that was an insightful post. I saw EVH years ago at a small club in North Hollywood, doing a jam w/ a bunch of guys, among them Steve Lukather (oh man I'm spelling that horribly wrong, I'm sure), who absolutely shredded...Ed was completely embarrassed...trading solos, Lukather would do these outrageous runs, and Ed would make the elephant noise....

[alembic_doctor]

For me it's not the fact that Wolfie is in.  I actually think that's kinda cool.  I always loved playing together with my dad.  It's the fact that after what , 30 years, Michael is out.
 
Playing with Sammy couldn't suck though.  Maybe they should start a band called EVH  Ex Van Halen.

[bigredbass]

No, hb3, that's the right spelling.  They're very good friends, but Luke has that session player's instinct of party hard, but DON'T screw up your dates.  His website has lots of stories from the other side of the glass, definitely worth checking out.  Still tours with the current incarnation of Toto, hasn't lost a step at all, as you obviously heard.
 
J o e y

[alembic_doctor]

Lukather Kicks Ass.  His work on Beat it  along with Eddie is legendary in some circles.  (well maybe my own small circle)
 
BTW, if anyone has an original Ernie Ball Musicman The Luke that thhey would like to part with.  I would really like to own one.

[jorge_s]

I think if anybody jams with Steve Lukather better duck.  Check him out playing with Santana and Beck
http://youtube.com/watch?v=6nLdhXZb_z4&mode=related&search=

[David Houck]

Joey wrote, Ed ... with Tony Levin on bass, Rick Marotta on drums, and Jan Hammer on keys.
 
Wow, interesting line-up!

[jalevinemd]

According to the lastest article in Guitar World, Eddie's line of guitars (EVH), will be offering dead accurate replicas of his infamous Frankenstein Strat for $20-30,000! Lot of money for an instrument that looks like the neighbor's dog got hold of it. Oh well, if you live and breathe EVH, maybe it's worth it. Not me. I really don't get the whole relic concept. I like my stuff looking and staying new. Let's raise a glass to borderline obsessive-compulsive's everywhere!
 
Regards,
 
Jonathan

[bigredbass]

Any of you with the VH relic bug:
 
Don't have $30K?  For only 10 grand I'll buy the Mighty Mite body and neck, a Floyd, one pickup (your choice), and the handful of parts, shoot it with red, white, and black Krylon, ride it around Nashville in a Waste Management dumpster for a week, then put ih the screen door eyelets for your strap, and it's YOURS!  Individually numbered from 1 to 5150. These will EASILY be worth two-hundred grand five years from now at Gruhn's !  
 
Act Now and Avoid the Rush!  No snobby auctions, no Burst Brothers, and for an extra grand, I'll deliver it personally.  Guarnateed to play like hell and sound like sh*t, but you'll look cool doing it!  Brown sound (and I mean REALLY brown) for days . . . .  
 
J o e y

[jazzyvee]

 
This left me completely cold.... it sounds like the noise you get on short wave radio between stations.
 
 
Jazzyvee

[davr35]

That video made my cat puke