Jeff Berlin was asked to join Van Halen

http://cms.bassplayer.com/article.aspx?articleid=26121&categoryid=1171

Legendary Bass Innovator Jeff Berlin To Release New CD
BY BP STAFF
May 4, 2010

Jeff Berlin is a legend of the electric bass, considered by many to be the finest electric bass player in the world. A true master of the bass, Jeff Berlin has played with the likes of Bill Bruford, George Benson, Allan Holdsworth, and even toured with original members of Yes (Anderson, Wakeman, Bruford, Howe) on only three days’ notice. Much to the anticipation of his fans, Jeff is releasing a new jazz trio CD on his own MAJ Records label titled High Standards. Along with Berlin on electric bass, the CD also features Woody Herman alumni Richard Drexler on piano and upright bass, and famed drummer Danny Gottlieb (best known for his work with Pat Metheny).

“It is a standard jazz piano trio led by a former rock bass player playing jazz tunes, and soloing nothing like bass players usually solo,” says Jeff. “Keith Jarrett is huge influence on me. I transcribed his solos and practiced them on bass. I wanted to try my hand at recording tunes that I have played for many years, which inspired me to record three guys in a room and let the session remain as they eventually turned out.”

Jeff Berlin’s resume reads like the who’s who of the higher echelon of music artists. Jeff Berlin was even asked to join Van Halen, an invitation that he actually turned down. “Eddie Van Halen was a fan of the band that I played in with Bill Bruford,” Berlin recalls. “We met and started to hang out and jam together. He was a sweet terrific guy. One day he saw me play a gig with my group and then asked me if I would like to join Van Halen. After this, we rehearsed at David Lee Roth’s house a couple of times. Ultimately, I said no to his gracious offer because when you join a band, you join the entirety of it, the life philosophy of its members and also the habits that they may be involved with. I felt that, in terms of activities and attitudes, I didn’t mesh with their vision of things. I didn’t wish to be mercenary and just take the job for money because it wouldn’t be fair to the band members. So, I just said no to the offer.”

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http://dmme.net/interviews/berlin.html

Interview with JEFF BERLIN
June 2010

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Q: Mentioning the potential VAN HALEN gig is good for publicity but were you really interested in the band so much as to go and jam with them? By the way, what year was that?

A: A long time ago, around 1982. I also jammed around that time with RUSH. I was invited to their soundcheck when, while standing on stage, Geddy Lee’s assistant handed me his bass to play. Geddy was playing keyboards, so, for around ten minutes, RUSH was a quartet! We sounded pretty good together. Geddy is rock bass royalty and he is also — as I am — a child of Holocaust survivors. Back to VAN HALEN! I jammed with them at David Lee Roth’s house and it was a lot of fun. I liked those guys and I liked their music. But, they were into things that I preferred not to be involved with. Also, later, Eddie changed his mind about me being in his band because I did something that seemed to offend him. I was hanging out at a VAN HALEN rehearsal, with Michael Anthony on bass, and I had my step-daughter with me. She was around five at the time, and she got tired and asked me to take her home. So in the middle of the rehearsal, I left with her. Around 3 am, Eddie called me and in a very hurt voice, and he asked me, “Was the music so terrible that you had to leave?” I told him that my daughter was tired and I needed to take her home. But, he never forgave me for what he considered to be a slight against him for leaving early.

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