The Van Halen Thread

[8bit Fighter]

Well, I'm about to head out soon on vacation. So before I do, I thought about doing a sequel to my great Megadeth Thread by doing another thread about my other favorite band. The album I like most would have to be Fair Warning. Brutally underrated classic at it's finest, where "Unchained" was the radio hit, the other tracks take you down to another side of Van Halen. The intro to Mean Street pars up to the god-like Eruption track, as it opened up a much darker album than any other from the Roth era. So without further ado, let the posting begin. Van Hagar fans are welcomed as well, along with any thoughts of the lonely VHIII release.

[evileye]

I'm a big Sammy Hagar Fan, I love his solo stuff (Apart from F.U.C.T. and Balance, I don't fancy the Van Hagar stuff that much)
Being also a VH Fan, we get the same "problem" as with Sabbath. The so called Lead Singer Disease.
The Similarities are just astonishing: Ozzy/D.L.R = great preformers, weak singer, very popular
Dio/Hagar: better singers than preformers, not as popular....

Before I bash anyone: I am on the Hagar/Dio camp, but do like the other eras of both bands. Personally I think the early VH/DLR stuff you mentioned, is underrated. Like "2", "Fair Warning" and "Woman +children first". Evrybody's just talking about "Jump", as with "Paranoid". They're most popular songs and not really a representation of their respective legacy.

[Ashley Dalby]

Originally Posted By: evileye I'm a big Sammy Hagar Fan, I love his solo stuff (Apart from F.U.C.T. and Balance, I don't fancy the Van Hagar stuff that much)

What about his two albums with Montrose? Self-Titled and Paper Money?

From a musician perspective Van Halen were brilliant innovators. They are amongst my favorite bands, who were one of the few who could say that their 'commercial' songs were just as good as their 'non-commercial' ones.

Fair Warning is my favorite of theirs, it's menacing and dark and extremely Gothic. Then would come Women And Children First, with Fools being perhaps my favorite song of theirs. But all their Roth-Era albums are great, while all but one in their Hagar Era were good. 5150 just never did anything for me, although "Love Walks In" was an OK song.

I did not care for Van Halen III, but only because the album just did not click, this could change however.

Their best thing though is their live performance, having seen them live on their Fair Warning tour, and twice on their 1984 tour, they were one of the best live bands I seen, with David Lee Roth.

Live with Hagar I saw them twice on their OU812 tour and For Unlawful Carnage Knowledge tour, they were even more energetic. The first OU812 concert, here in Tampa, was one of the best shows I've ever seen. Wouldn't mind seeing them again either.

[evileye]

Originally Posted By: Ashley Dalby What about his two albums with Montrose? Self-Titled and Paper Money?

I forgot about those, but they are brilliant too. A lot of artist were influenced by the first one, which is very heavy for 1973.

[devilmaycare]

I'm a fan of both the Roth & Hagar eras...

I saw the band with DLR supporting Sabbath in London back in the 70's & saw them both in the States & at Donnington on the 1984 tour. Saw the Hagar line up on their Monsters Of Rock tour of the States (with Metallica supporting) & on the reunion tour tour a couple of years back. The bottom line is that Roth is a great performer (sorry WAS a great performer... he's embarassing now) & Hagar is one of my fave vocalists. I hated the album with Cherrone but the show I saw was pretty good & at least he tackled ALL the material... The actual setlist was a VH fans' dream come true!
Hopefully they won't reform with DLR... the guy is just a parody of himself now.

[devstorm]

Originally Posted By: 8bit Fighter The album I like most would have to be Fair Warning. Brutally underrated classic at it's finest, where "Unchained" was the radio hit, the other tracks take you down to another side of Van Halen. The intro to Mean Street pars up to the god-like Eruption track, as it opened up a much darker album than any other from the Roth era.

I Love the Roth era of the band for sure. They along with AC/DC were one of the main bands that I transitioned into after my KISS fascination had subsided in 1980. Being a beginner guitarist then of course Eddie was an instant attraction.
I had The Dance The Night Away single, when I first heard that song I hated it. But when I flipped the thing over & had my first listen to Outta Love Again I was hooked.

As for Fair Warning that is my #1 fav for VH. And I agree it's completely underrated in the Roth collection. That album almost didn't happen as Eddie & Dave were fighting a lot before it come out (Which contributes to the dark mood of the album). The argument was mainly about using Keyboards in the band and thats how Sunday in the Park, & One Foot Out The Door came about. I read Eddie really poured his anger and frustration into the songs and that created probably their best sounding & heaviest album ever. Eddie has said the most difficult solo ever to get "right" & took the most attempts was Push Comes To Shove (which is also a very underrated & rare glimpse of VH doing Funk).

I liked Diver Down quite a bit as well. Songs like Hang Em High & The Full Bug had great melodies & awesome guitar playing. By the time 1984 had come out I had already been swayed to the "Dark Side" and was ensconsed in all things Ozzy & Sabbath (Along with Maiden, Priest & others). I didn't really like Jump all that much, but Panama was decent. It took me 4 or 5 years to finally hear stuff like House Of Pain & Girl Gone Bad which are the songs I favor on 84.

I will also add about 10 years ago I got a hold of both the Santiago 82 & Largo, MD 82 videos that have been in circulation for some time(I'd never seen the original VH live). Both of those concerts really showed me how tight Alex & Mike played together and I got a great appreciation for Mike in particular. He always seemd like just an adequate bass player. But those shows are great example of Mike & Alex working with machinelike precision.

I was never much of a Hagar fan to start with. I liked the song Heavy Metal, & one or 2 songs on 3 Lock Box, but it ended there.
I was skeptical when 5150 came out. By 1986 I was teaching guitar to other kids in my school. One student brought the album in for me to teach the song Dreams. I got to hear the entire album and thought it was far too melodic and much of their edge had left. I thought Dave's solo albums were far better(especially Skyscraper). Only exception to that was the F.U.C.K. album from 91. They seemed to find their edge & the albums production reminds me a little of Fair Warning.

The 2 songs from the late 90's Best of with Dave were ok, as kind of epitaphs to the Roth/VH legacy. But by then Dave had lost his trademark scream and the music still lacked a certain raunchy swagger it once had. It was at that point I realized those guys had changed a bit too much over the years to really be able to deliver what they once did. Eddie is still a brilliant player and Dave still has an inimitable way with words.
His book Crazy From The Heat is utterly brilliant, I wish he'd write another one. But they seem too much like damaged goods at his point to ever amount to what they once did. Although I could be wrong. We'll have to see if the tour with Dave fronting the band ever finally happens.

[Just me]

Hagar good with Montrose, after that I'll pass. VH great for first 2 albums, then I lost interest.

[Dehumanizer7]

Good band, I like both the Dave and Sammy eras. I prefer Sammy as a singer but I prefer the music they wrote in the Dave era, it's heavier and more guitar oriented. Ain't Talking About Love, Unchained, and Panama are my all time favorites, but a lot of the Sammy era stuff is cool, particularly Right Now and Dreams.

[Ashley Dalby]

Originally Posted By: evileye

Originally Posted By: Ashley Dalby What about his two albums with Montrose? Self-Titled and Paper Money?

I forgot about those, but they are brilliant too. A lot of artist were influenced by the first one, which is very heavy for 1973.

Could not agree more, Montrose was brilliant, Space Station #5 is one of the greatest songs ever laid to a record. Ronnie Montrose was one of five guitarists that made me want to play rock guitar. The others being Rik Emmett, Ted Nugent, Glenn Tipton and ofcourse Eddie Van Halen.

[8bit Fighter]

I like to comment on Eddie's guitar skills:

- Eruption (Nothing need to be said that has already been said)
- Spanish Fly (Oh man, look at him go on that accoustic)
- Poundcake (Can you say "Toothake"? A hand power drill reving against the strings, pure genious)

A true innovator in my eyes, third to Dave Mustaine and Tony Iommi. Thank you Eddie, hopefully I get to see you someday in concert. (Not holding breath)

[8bit Fighter]

I like to comment on Eddie's guitar skills:

- Eruption (Nothing need to be said that has already been said)
- Spanish Fly (Oh man, look at him go on that accoustic)
- Poundcake (Can you say "Toothake"? A hand power drill reving against the strings, pure genious)

A true innovator in my eyes, third to Dave Mustaine and Tony Iommi. Thank you Eddie, hopefully I get to see you someday in concert. (Not holding breath)

[LizzyRocks]

The Sammy era of Van Halen did their first show ever in Shreveport La. I was there. It was awesome. Theres a DVD out called "Van Halen, Live Without a Net". It's basicly the same show I saw.

I also have all the Montrose stuff. These are great CDs. Ronnie Montrose is one of the best of all time.

Speaking of the song "Panama" (above post). The first time I saw Pantera at a local club here in town (back when Dimebag was called "Diamond Derrel") they was playing Panama while I was walking in the door. From outside the place I would have bet money it was van Halen inside, Man they sounded good.

[LizzyRocks]

The Sammy era of Van Halen did their first show ever in Shreveport La. I was there. It was awesome. Theres a DVD out called "Van Halen, Live Without a Net". It's basicly the same show I saw.

I also have all the Montrose stuff. These are great CDs. Ronnie Montrose is one of the best of all time.

Speaking of the song "Panama" (above post). The first time I saw Pantera at a local club here in town (back when Dimebag was called "Diamond Derrel") they was playing Panama while I was walking in the door. From outside the place I would have bet money it was van Halen inside, Man they sounded good.

[Ashley Dalby]

Originally Posted By: 8bit Fighter - Eruption (Nothing need to be said that has already been said)

Not to rebut that statement, but Eruption was more of a rip-off of the Rock And Roll Machine solo. But because VH1 was more popular, it naturally gets the claim of inventing 'shredding', when in fact R&RM deserves it.

[Ashley Dalby]

Originally Posted By: 8bit Fighter - Eruption (Nothing need to be said that has already been said)

Not to rebut that statement, but Eruption was more of a rip-off of the Rock And Roll Machine solo. But because VH1 was more popular, it naturally gets the claim of inventing 'shredding', when in fact R&RM deserves it.

[8bit Fighter]

Bump

[Rover]

Never heard this band - well, the music world is so huge I can't ever hope to measure it! Any advice for a beginner?

[Ashley Dalby]

Originally Posted By: Rover Never heard this band - well, the music world is so huge I can't ever hope to measure it! Any advice for a beginner?

You've never heard Van Halen?

[Psychophobia]

Originally Posted By: Rover Never heard this band - well, the music world is so huge I can't ever hope to measure it! Any advice for a beginner?

Some of the early stuff is fantastic. The self-titled debut, Van Halen II, and Fair Warning are each top-notch. Timeless Artifacts of guitar rock. Some parts are beginning to sound a bit hokey or dated, but the music's got a sense of fun to it that is noticeably lacking in most hard rock these days.

The other three albums with original vocalist David Lee Roth have some good spots, but aren't as consistent. They have some classic pop-rock songs, don't get me wrong, but I'd leave them for later.

The albums they released with Sammy Hagar on vocals from 1985 - 1995 are for the most part, awful. Eddie Van Halen threw away his tone and energetic lead playing to become a keyboard player, and as commercial as the final album with Roth (1984) was, the Hagar albums are pure 80s radio cheese which is best avoided. If you really feel it necessary to give this stuff a listen, try either 5150 - (half the songs [the rock ones] were written for David Lee Roth - or Balance (the best sounding of the Hagar albums).

The last studio effort from Van Halen gets a lot of hate from the fans. It featured Gary Cherone of Extreme on vocals, and I consider him the Tony Martin of Van Halen. He had a better vocal range than Roth or Hagar, and had no problem with singing songs from every album in the VH discography. But most VH fans didn't care, as they wanted either macho attitude or sappy keyboard ballads from the band, and with Cherone they got neither. The album itself - Van Halen III - is closer to an Eddie Van Halen solo album than a band effort. He wrote the most of the lyrics, and played bass on all but three tracks. It's the only album that he's been 100% sober for, and you can really hear it in his guitar playing - it's fantastic. Sadly, the rest of the instruments don't sound so great. Cherone is pretty hoarse, the bass is underwater, and the drums sound like a limp dick beating against cardboard.

If I had to recommend three albums, I'd go with:

Van Halen (1978 - a great, firey debut album)

Fair Warning (1981 - a bit darker than the rest of the Roth stuff, and some incredible solos)

Van Halen III (1998 - you'll either love it or hate it. I happen to really enjoy it, in spite of the terrible production.)

[Rover]

Thanks mate, I might give this band a listen... after I'm through sorting all the Alice Cooper albums.

[Niklas]

I really admire Edward Van Halens playing. He's one of the reasons I play guitar today.

[Cosmiceddie]

Top ten Van Halen songs:

1. Mean Street
2. Hear About It Later
3. Unchained
4. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
5. You Really Got Me
6. Dreams
7. Panama
8. I'll Wait
9. D.O.A.
10. Runnin' With The Devil

[Franklin]

Cosmiceddie, nice list. It's not a perfect match with how I would structure a top ten, but there are some key similarities, i.e. all Roth era. I would probably have fit Somebody Get Me A Doctor in somewhere. I love that song. Also, Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love is numero uno (#1) on my list.

[soonerfan28]

Top Ten Van Halen Songs.... (Roth)

1. Aint talking bout love
2. Unchained
3. Atomic Punk
4. D.O.A.
5. And the Cradle Will Rock
6. Hear About It Later
7. Dance The Night Away
8. Mean Street
9. I'll Wait
10. Panama

Not in that order exactly. That would be just too hard.

[Ashley Dalby]

Top ten Van Halen songs:

1. Mean Street
2. Fools
3. Dirty Movies
4. Hear About It Later
5. On Fire
6. Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do)
7. I'll Wait
8. Dancing in the Street
9. Take Your Whiskey Home
10. Poundcake

[VikingChrist]

Originally Posted By: Rover Never heard this band - well, the music world is so huge I can't ever hope to measure it! Any advice for a beginner?

Advice for the beginner:

Start with the first album, then proceed forward. Skip any "Greatest Hits" nonsense.

[8bit Fighter]

Originally Posted By: VikingChrist Advice for the beginner:

Start with the first album, then proceed forward. Skip any "Greatest Hits" nonsense.

While this is true, I like to add that VH Volume 1 (Greatest Hits Album) and The Best Of Both Worlds (GH) album has 6 tracks worth getting, it's like the Ozzy and Dio situation with extra studio tracks only with Hagar he did 4 and Roth did 2.

[8bit Fighter]

US Tour Dates Announced (Van-Halen.com):

Thu 09.27 Charlotte, NC Charlotte Bobcats Arena
Sat 09.29 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum
Mon 10.01 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center
Sun 10.07 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
Wed 10.10 Cleveland, OH Quicken Loans Arena
Sun 10.14 Indianapolis, IN Conseco Field House
Tue 10.16 Chicago, IL Allstate Arena
Thu 10.18 Chicago, IL United Center
Mon 10.22 Auburn Hills, MI Palace of Auburn Hills
Wed 10.24 Minneapolis, MN Target Center
Fri 10.26 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
Sun 10.28 St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center
Tue 10.30 Boston, MA TD Banknorth Garden
Sat 11.03 E. Rutherford, NJ Continental Airlines Arena
Tue 11.13 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
Tue 11.20 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
Fri 11.23 Glendale, AZ Jobing.Com Arena
Sun 11.25 San Diego, CA Cox Arena
Tue 11.27 Sacramento, CA Arco Arena
Thu 11.29 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion at San Jose
Sat 12.01 Portland, OR Rose Garden
Mon 12.03 Seattle, WA Key Arena
Wed 12.05 Vancouver, BC General Motors Place
Sun 12.09 Edmonton, AB Rexall Place
Tue 12.11 Calgary, AB Pengrowth Saddledome

[Ashley Dalby]

Figures they would not visit Florida or Worcester in Mass, seeing as how I have seen almost all concerts I've been to have been in those two states. Oh well, perhaps they will add more dates at a later time.

I've always thought that Quicken Loans was a stupid name, Cleveland should have kept it as the Gund Area.

[8bit Fighter]

It's going to rock, can't wait to see them.

[RLP4ever]

I just heard all about it on the radio while doing a rather tough work-out at home, late yesterday evening. I swear 8-bit, my breathing went out of whack cos this has gotta be the most sensational news coming my way all this year. 8-bit, thanks for updating us all with the tour info. You sure know what VH and Dave mean to me and like you, I'd do anything to watch and hear them live anywhere on this planet. After all the heartbreak, cynicism and let-downs of the past, this official date-roll of events makes (for at least this manic CVH fan) a line like 'can't wait to see them' look and sound like the understatement of the year.

[8bit Fighter]

Van Halen Press Conference

Comments: Never in my life time would I ever thought that I would have an awesomely rocking retro Hard Rock/Heavy Metal experience, but HAH and Megadeth proved me wrong back in May. And now that Mk 4 Van Halen is in the fold, I finally in my age get to finally see all my top three guitar gods in less than a year. Not sure everyone has saw this press conference, but this was very funny.

[Eternal Idol]

Originally Posted By: 8bit Fighter Van Halen Press Conference

Comments: Never in my life time would I ever thought that I would have an awesomely rocking retro Hard Rock/Heavy Metal experience, but HAH and Megadeth proved me wrong back in May. And now that Mk 4 Van Halen is in the fold, I finally in my age get to finally see all my top three guitar gods in less than a year. Not sure everyone has saw this press conference, but this was very funny.

Top 3 guitar gods ? Iommi, VH and whos the 3rd ????

[8bit Fighter]

Dave Mustaine

[devilmaycare]

I guess the concert will go something along the lines of this (with my activity in brackets (I got a free ticket)

Song
DLR bullshit for 10 minutes
song
drum solo (beer)
song
DLR bs
song
guitar solo (toilet break)
song
DLR bs
song
song
DLR bs
song
guitar solo (beer)
song
DLR bs
bass solo (quick nap)
song
drum solo (toilet break)
song
dlr bs
song

encore
song
DLR bs
Jump

Should be thrilling!

[8bit Fighter]

Originally Posted By: devilmaycare Should be thrilling!

^All in matter of OPINION. So nice try and keep off trashing my topic.

[8bit Fighter]

Originally Posted By: devilmaycare Should be thrilling!

^All in matter of OPINION. So nice try and keep off trashing my topic.

[devilmaycare]

Originally Posted By: 8bit Fighter

Originally Posted By: devilmaycare Should be thrilling!

^All in matter of OPINION. So nice try and keep off trashing my topic.

WTF?

Scroll up a bit & read my other post before you start bitching... I'm a fan of the band... but Roth is an embarrassment now & the odds are the new shows'll be shit... Roth was shit a ouple of years ago & he ain't gonna get any better!

And you're right, it's opinion, so stop being so fucking PRECIOUS! Get a sense of humour... If you'd ever actually SEEN the band... you'd know my setlist is actually eerily close to the truth!

[devilmaycare]

Originally Posted By: 8bit Fighter

Originally Posted By: devilmaycare Should be thrilling!

^All in matter of OPINION. So nice try and keep off trashing my topic.

WTF?

Scroll up a bit & read my other post before you start bitching... I'm a fan of the band... but Roth is an embarrassment now & the odds are the new shows'll be shit... Roth was shit a ouple of years ago & he ain't gonna get any better!

And you're right, it's opinion, so stop being so fucking PRECIOUS! Get a sense of humour... If you'd ever actually SEEN the band... you'd know my setlist is actually eerily close to the truth!

[8bit Fighter]

Whatever you say.

PS Thanks for the bumping, though not necessary.