Intersting Take on the Billboard Interview

wjamflan: You’re missing the point. Sammy said the same thing in print and it was ok with you and all of the other Mike defenders.

I’m missing the point? I was never OK with what Sammy said in his book, never defended it, didn’t think it was the right thing to do. Sammy has been a total dick many times.

Don’t say I was OK with something you have no fucking idea about. One thing has nothing to do with the other.

jroundy: you think it’s cool of Ed to be a dick?

I guess I’ll answer this since it seems to be the most important part of this story to you. He’s not being a dick, as others have said. He’s telling the truth from the inside. He has every right to do so. You just can’t handle that it doesn’t go along with what you think. Mike is an average bass player (at best) with a high voice that tends to use it in annoying ways live. He has zero soul in his voice. He was never the “background sound” of VH. That was a blend of his voice with Ed’s, Ted T. and anyone else who happened to be in the studio that could help balance out “cannonmouth”. I’d love to see the whole gang back together, but it ain’t gonna happen. They are better off with Wolf as their bass player because he makes them still tour and make music. Your boy Mike just makes Ed sick. That’s the way it is. You can curse me out all you want, but you don’t know these people any more than I do. And you certainly don’t know Mike more than Ed, so you might want to get off your high horse and give it a rest already.

ron: Total speculation.

Sure thing Ron. Sammy’s great. Dave’s great. Everybody loves everybody. Kumbaya. There’s no such thing as common sense when it comes to VH. Oh yeah…. and you’re the authority. Sorry to have engaged in such wild speculation your lordship… I’m out. You and jroundy can tell us how it really is.

Found a pic of Eddie getting sick. Too bad it’s Eddie Money instead of Eddie Halen, and it’s Sammy instead of Mikey. Oh well.

I think it’s the dog whisperer dude.

Another…
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ROCK MUSIC MENU: Van Halen strife erupts before lengthy tour
6/25/2015 / By Michael Christopher, Delaware County Daily Times

Friction between Roth and Van Halen is nothing new. It’s what played a major part in making some of the greatest rock albums of the late ’70s and early ’80s. So while it’s not entirely surprising a jab would be taken, it’s more a question of “Why now?”

Part of the answer could lie in Klosterman, a textbook music journalist who uses linguistic gymnastics to gloss over both his incredible dorkiness and unlikability. He’s been known on more than one occasion to stir the pot just to assist in marketing a story that might otherwise fall under the radar, whether it’s by (allegedly) misrepresenting a subject’s quotes or putting them in a context that better suits his intended narrative.

On the other hand, it’s hard to defend Van Halen when it comes to his decimation of Michael Anthony and the bassist’s backing vocals, which were a signature of the band’s sound from day one.

ron: Found a pic of Eddie getting sick.Too bad it’s Eddie Money instead of Eddie Halen, and it’s Sammy instead of Mikey.Oh well.

Most people want to throw up when they see, or worse yet, hear Sammy Hagar….

voodoo: Kind of off topic, but when Van Halen III failed, I was soooo hoping Eddie would put out a solo album. I always thought Van Halen III should have been released as “Edward Van Halen” and not as the band, since the music was so far removed from what people considered ‘Van Halen’ music to be. The reason I’m mentioning this is because of Ed’s admitted dedication and bond with Al, I’ve always wondered what an Edward Van Halen album would sound like, just instrumental, without Al’s drums and without the cliche’ electronic drum machine stuff he did in the 80s. There were several tracks on III that had drum samples if I recall, but I don’t think any song was completely “Alex free”. This hope of an Ed solo album with him playing all of the instruments was really fed after I heard “Crossing Over” and they had mixed Ed’s drum demo drum track in one channel and Al’s in the other. Ed has a different take on the song rhythmically, but the two tracks work well off each other. I have a feeling that Ed will never, ever release anything without Al on drums. Once Wolf’s solo album comes out, I think there will be a long hiatus in between Van Halen albums or tours, if there are any at all.

This is worthy of its own thread, but I feel the same.. VHIII as a solo effort isn’t too bad.. i like a lot of what’s happening on that record as a player – as a VH fan, not so much. Id love to hear Ed with different drummers & players..