Sheehan on Mike

PassingBy · 04.19.09, 10:52 AM

From http://www.bigmusicgeek.com/BillySheehan1.html

Quote:

Todd: Any truth to the rumors that you were approached regarding replacing Michael Anthony in Van Halen? In hindsight, it’s a seemingly logical move considering your connection to David Lee Roth as a solo artist…

Quote:

Billy: “Yeah, I was. For a long time, I denied it because (former Van Halen bassist) Michael (Anthony) is a dear friend of mine. I love him so much. I was kinda caught in the middle. …It’s happened several times. Once right after we (Talas) toured with them in 1980, it happened again in ’82 after the Diver Down record, it happened again just before Dave called me…and then, when I was out of Mr. Big before the Gary Cherone thing (i.e. 1998’s abysmal Van Halen III) happened, I spoke with them and then I spoke with them again after that as well. So it’s happened a bunch of times. We’ve always been toying with it (laughs). I went over to Ed’s a couple of times and we jammed and talked about stuff. He’s such a wonderful guy. I would love to go out with just Ed and a drummer, ya know? …As much as I would have liked to be in the band, I didn’t want the band to change because I’m a fan of Van Halen. If Michael ain’t up there, it ain’t the same band, even if it’s me, ya know? But I’m sure if the opportunity would have gone further, I would have taken it. We talked about it seriously a couple of different times as several different points, but it never actually materialized. When they got back together with Dave and went out without Michael, I was kinda sad about it. So I’m very honored and I love all of those guys. …Alex, Eddie, Dave and Michael, I love them all completely and I wish they were all together again. At least Dave and Eddie are back together again. I’m happy about that, ya know? That’s how it goes. …Who knows what tomorrow will bring. I’m just glad they’re back together and hope they’re happy. I love Van Halen. I love all four of the Van Halens and they’ve all been a great, great influence on me.”

MF5150 · 04.19.09, 12:58 PM

Always nice to hear that SOME people are based in reality and they understand a situation.

Billy is one cool cat and a stand-up guy. Not just because of this snippet but in every interview I have seen of him he is always a class act.

At0micPunk · 04.19.09, 01:20 PM

A very cool read. I had heard/read that EVH had interest in him from way back but never heard so much detail on it. Billy is a standup dude it seems.

edwardv · 04.19.09, 01:52 PM

Met him after a B-3 gig and hes the real deal on and off stage.

Bigdaddy_14 · 04.19.09, 03:33 PM

i remember seeing billy for the first time at a G3 concert in atlanta...the real deal on stage. I remember emailing billy after the show at his website to tell him how impressed i was and he actually emailed me back saying thank you and to look for him again in atl sometime(at least i think it was him emailing me) class act all the way

Naked Wake · 04.19.09, 09:03 PM

while this has nothing to do with Billy's comments, I'm actually disappointed to hear that Eddie had been pursuing him for all those years. Yes, it would have made for some cool dueling onstage, I just never realized that VH was so disgruntled with MA's services.

On a totally separate note, I really wish that the DLR band featuring Billy and Steve Vai had worked out and turned into more than one and a half albums. If that had gone on for ten-fifteen years, I would have been really pleased. Hopefully Chickenfoot does.

EAS · 04.20.09, 12:16 PM

What was the issue he had with Mike Anthony? Was it musical differences, personality differences? Billy Sheehan said Ed is "such a wonderful guy" but it doesn't seem cool to me that he was looking to get rid of Mike unless there's something we don't know about Mike.

VanHalenRules · 04.20.09, 12:20 PM

The only guy who probably knows the true answer to the whole deal is Mike himself, and the dude has way too much class to just come out and say anything.

brownnation · 04.20.09, 12:39 PM

Wow, I just posted a ridiculously long rant about Eddie's lack of integrity on another page and then I read this. Thanks for bolstering my argument yet again, Ed!

Dave's Dreidel · 04.20.09, 01:20 PM

Since Mike doesn't write tunes, Ed has always felt that he is riding on his coat tails, got rich because of Ed, etc. etc.

Whether that is true or not, I find it ironic that he doesn't mind that Al doesn't really write either.

johnnybeane · 04.20.09, 01:23 PM

I met Billy in 1992 when Mr Big came to Lincoln, NE to play a show for a radio DJ that had put that song "To be with you" on the map.

VH was gonna be in Omaha the next month and i asked Billy if he could help get me backstage but he said he couldn't.

Have e-mailed him @ his site too over the years and he does write back.
JB

gageroo · 04.20.09, 01:35 PM

"I would love to go out with just Ed and a drummer, ya know?"

Yeah I've always thought that would be cool. Never understood why Ed wouldn't want to go out and just do his own thing...maybe play some keys too. No vocals needed. Give it a different name other than Van Halen and just go out and have fun in some smaller venues.

Ian Sane · 04.20.09, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave's Dreidel

Since Mike doesn't write tunes, Ed has always felt that he is riding on his coat tails, got rich because of Ed, etc. etc.

Whether that is true or not, I find it ironic that he doesn't mind that Al doesn't really write either.

I tend to agree with this theory.

A decent band manager could have sorted that out though. If Mike wasn't contributing an equal amount and was receiving an equal share financially, I can understand how Ed might be put out. That is not a good enough reason to boot him from the band though.

Every true VH fan knows what Mike brought to the table, certainly it wasn't as much as Ed or Dave, but it was still essential.

Perhaps management should have renegociated the band members contracts appropriately. What could Mike have done aside of writing contributions that could have been deemed worthwhile to the band's cause. Merchandising? Representing the band more frequently at charity events or smaller award ceremonies alone? Maybe he shouldn't have received writing credits for new material. Where does Alex fit in to the scheme of writing? Assuming Alex does contribute, by how much?

I'm sure Ed is inspired by random bits he hears Al play, but over the years Mike may not have been around as often as Alex.

I do believe Alex was involved with selecting band artwork etc, maybe that's where he was more efficient. Perhaps the band should have utilized Mike more in these other areas.

Management should have fixed this situation years before it reached the magnitude it did. Maybe if they had, we'd now have the original four back together and Van Halen Hot Sauce in place of Mad Anthony's brand. A little compromising from all involved is probably all it would have taken...

Dutchie5150 · 04.21.09, 06:51 AM

It wasn't just Ed who wanted Billy in the (CVH) band... Roth wanted him, too. He mentions it in his first home video....

I cant remember the exact quote, but Roth says they wanted him, couldn't get him, but he (Roth) kept his number. Billy was the first person Roth rang after he left VH.

chain · 04.21.09, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian Sane

I tend to agree with this theory.

A decent band manager could have sorted that out though. If Mike wasn't contributing an equal amount and was receiving an equal share financially, I can understand how Ed might be put out. That is not a good enough reason to boot him from the band though.

Every true VH fan knows what Mike brought to the table, certainly it wasn't as much as Ed or Dave, but it was still essential.

Perhaps management should have renegociated the band members contracts appropriately. What could Mike have done aside of writing contributions that could have been deemed worthwhile to the band's cause. Merchandising? Representing the band more frequently at charity events or smaller award ceremonies alone? Maybe he shouldn't have received writing credits for new material. Where does Alex fit in to the scheme of writing? Assuming Alex does contribute, by how much?

I'm sure Ed is inspired by random bits he hears Al play, but over the years Mike may not have been around as often as Alex.

I do believe Alex was involved with selecting band artwork etc, maybe that's where he was more efficient. Perhaps the band should have utilized Mike more in these other areas.

Management should have fixed this situation years before it reached the magnitude it did. Maybe if they had, we'd now have the original four back together and Van Halen Hot Sauce in place of Mad Anthony's brand. A little compromising from all involved is probably all it would have taken...

Rumor has it that management did change the situation. It's when Mike became a salaried musician and no longer a full member. Sammy refers to it in his unpublished book. It would seem there's much more to the story than anyone is saying. I still say Mike should have been part of the last reunion. Even if it was just for that one tour. But alas, he was sleeping with the enemy.