Originally Posted by Dutchie5150

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.

Originally Posted by EAS

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.

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...

Originally Posted by TOM_5150

Eddie has made several comments in the past that Alex helps him arrange key parts of many songs.

Originally Posted by TOM_5150

Eddie has made several comments in the past that Alex helps him arrange key parts of many songs.

Originally Posted by Ian Sane

Sure, but Eddie's said a lot of things over the years. I'm not suggesting Alex wasn't involved, but I wouldn't put it past Eddie to exaggerate about Alex's input while downplaying Mike's...

Originally Posted by Brett

I think it's funny you guys still believe anything Ed has said over the years. I am not sure he'd know the truth if it fell on him.

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.

Originally Posted by Little Dreamer

I don't think Mike was ever close to Dave. In the old CVH days, it was Alex who was hanging out with Dave the most.

Alex's place in VH was always secured because of his last name.

But there are some new facts in this interview, mainly that EVH talked to Billy Sheehan before the Cherone thing, as well as around 1984. However let's remember that he considered Sheehan... and then decided AGAINST it. The only thing that can be held against Ed is 2007, when he went ahead and got the kid instead of Mike. The rest doesn't count.

Originally Posted by Dave's Dreidel

Once they started using 5150 and Ed has all the time in the world to tinker with songs, it wouldn't surprise me in the least that some of the bass lines are him instead of Mike.

Originally Posted by SLEEPER5150

I'd heard that Dave actually really dug Sheehan years ago too and Mike would be the only guy to truly answer the question, but I remember someone posting a supposed exerpt from a foreign mag article (Burn?) which stated that Ed had very bad issues with Mike around Fair Warning. It came about when Ed felt that Mike was bolstering Roth somehow, and that he was a spineless wonder who sided with Roth out of spite toward the brothers over small critisisms. There was a nasty battle between Ed and Dave over Valerie, among other things, like Roth felt Eddie was upstaging him. Stupid ego shit, and hurt feelings. Then over at Eddietrunk, a couple years ago there was a comment about Mike's closeness to Sammy. I think at that point it was just Eddie being paranoid, but obviously there's been bad blood for some time. Again only Mike knows the true reason, but those are a few of the more "factual" rumours that have circulated. Mike seems like a pretty easy going dude to me, but people don't always get along. Too bad. Really miss him in the lineup. Just not the same. Too me it just kinda seems that Mike got in the middle of things and ended up being the odd man out. On one side, you got the brothers who are united, and on the other an outspoken over the top personality. Not many options there.