Allow me to vent for a minute on something few of you will care about – Van Halen. Long time viewers will know that I grew up listening to VH and pretty much decided to be David Lee Roth when I grew up (something I never really got over but now I’d be happy to get him to do a podcast on TPN… Dave, the offer is still open man).Â
Confirmation today from the Van Halen camp that Michael Anthony aka “Michael Fatteny” as we used to call him (a reference to his generous girth) is no longer in the band and has been replaced on bass by Eddie’s 15 year old son Wolfie! Gah! So now the band is Eddie, his son and his brother Al on drums.
Now, losing Mike on bass is bad enough – those of you who aren’t VH fans probably think that all bass players are the same, but Mike has always been a key ingredient to the VH pie. He’s a master on the instrument, provides the dog-whistle-soprano back-up vocals, and of course comes across as the only truly nice guy in the whole outfit. And how is Wolfie going to drink Johnny Walker from the top of his bass? At 15? Although if he’s got his dad’s genes, I doubt it’ll be a problem….
As bad as losing Mike might be, the worst part of all this is that rumours that DLR might be back on vocals is unlikely if they can’t even make peace with Mike. Apparently the problem between Mike & the brothers VH is that he’s still mates with Hagar and plays the occasionaly gig with Sammy at Cabo. Mike’s been with the band since the beginning, around 75/76, that’s 30 years, if you don’t count the last year of them sitting on their rich asses. And they have dumped him because he’d rather play gigs with Sammy than sit around getting even fatter? So you have to surmise that if Eddie can’t get over that, there’s no way in HELL he’s going to tolerate working with Dave again.
So my chances of EVER seeing DLR out front of VH in this lifetime are pretty much zero minus something. Thanks Eddie. Thanks a lot. By the way, hope you enjoyed doing that porn soundtrack cuz I think that’s pretty much where your career is headed now dude.
A bass player is just a bass player unless they’re a very good bass player, in which case they are the soul of a band.
There is nothing more thrilling in music than a truly great bass solo.
Yeah Cam, I’m with you. Eddie VH must be a SERIOUS alcoholic. What happened to that guy? He used to be this sweet, soft-spoken kid, always laughing with the boys. Now he’s a nightmare! I remember an interview he did when Sam left the band. He was sober at the time, for the first time, when he recorded “Me Wise Magic” with Dave—which is one of his best guitar performances maybe EVER. He seemed inspired, happy, doing yoga, meditating….
Then Gary and Val left and he jumped off the wagon and let it ALL go. His health, his fans, his band, everything except maybe his son. Michael Anthony is an integral part of the VH sound. How do you kick a fun-loving guy like that out of VH?! Mental illness. Ed’s pissed that Anthony toured with Sam and started a side business selling “hot sauce” and because he’s unwilling to wait on Eddie. Ed’s still smoking, drinking….etc. I can’t believe Val is actually willing to let Wolfie go on the road with him. Hard to believe that Al doesn’t have the scruples to give that boy some tough love—like, “Ed, we have the worlds greatest rock band–cut the shit or I’m not playing drums for you.”
Good point Mark, what is Valerie thinking? She’s seen what the life has done to Ed. Then again, maybe having your 15 year old on the road with you would stop you from being a complete lost cause. Maybe this will make him get a grip. But the next question is – who is going to front the band? Knowing what Dave, Sammy and Gary went through, who is going to put themselves through that? It’ll have to be a newbie, I bet they are 2 seconds away from a reality TV show.
“Here’s YOUR chance to be the next ex-lead singer of Van Halen!”
haha… you wanted to be David Lee Roth.
The fashion police and the Fab 5 are all grateful that didn’t happen Cam.
Isn’t that how Cam ended up with a perm at one stage??
sheesh mim, DLR never had a perm! It was Sammy Hagar, his replacement, that had the perm. And yes. That’s why I had a perm. 🙂
Sorry for confusing the two permatanned aging rockstars with bad hair :-p
Fortunately I can tell the difference between good music and good taste.
Hey dude, Long time no contact…looks like you’ve been busy though…I am very sad about Van Halen…Seems like Eddie is a bit cranky…but taking it out on fatteny is just wrong! anyway, I’ve been looking at old clips of Van Halen on Youtube…they were awesome! Anyway Cam give us a bell…I’m living in Canberra now
Just heard that VH is reuniting (absent the aforementioned Mr. Anthony of course). I’m pulling the $125 out of my pocket right now.
Dickard – in the story I’ve read (on 26 January, 2007) it’s still “almost confirmed” which I normally read as “Dave is leaking this to the press in the hope it will create a huge positive reaction and Eddie will cave in and agree to it”. 🙂
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070125/en_nm/vanhalen_dc_2