Okay, rather than risk pissing someone off or coming off wrong in another thread I've decided to post my thoughts here. Let's not make this a shit show because I'm sure some people will disagree, but I just want to get this off my chest....

Wolfgang has done a pretty good job singing minus the inevitable voice cracks of a maturing 16 year old. But after watching the clips of Beautiful Girls, Everybody Want Some!! and a few others, I have admitted and now accept that Van Halen has completely lost their original sound without Mike. Every chorus when we expect to hear that voice, for that instant they sound like a cover band. It's just discouraging, and I have to say I find that vocal absence more absent and a bigger issue then I ever imagined. Please remember I'm not bashing Wolfgang here, just think of replacing EVH with an equal guitar talent (let's be honest, there are quite a few), it won't sound right. They just don't sound right at all, and these rehearsals just reminded me of why I'm not going. I hope this topic isn't redundant (hence it's placement here), but I'll just listen to my poor quality bootlegs over this cover band any day.

Okay, rather than risk pissing someone off or coming off wrong in another thread I've decided to post my thoughts here. Let's not make this a shit show because I'm sure some people will disagree, but I just want to get this off my chest....

Wolfgang has done a pretty good job singing minus the inevitable voice cracks of a maturing 16 year old. But after watching the clips of Beautiful Girls, Everybody Want Some!! and a few others, I have admitted and now accept that Van Halen has completely lost their original sound without Mike. Every chorus when we expect to hear that voice, for that instant they sound like a cover band. It's just discouraging, and I have to say I find that vocal absence more absent and a bigger issue then I ever imagined. Please remember I'm not bashing Wolfgang here, just think of replacing EVH with an equal guitar talent (let's be honest, there are quite a few), it won't sound right. They just don't sound right at all, and these rehearsals just reminded me of why I'm not going. I hope this topic isn't redundant (hence it's placement here), but I'll just listen to my poor quality bootlegs over this cover band any day.


i understand where you're coming from but replacing a bass player while leaving 3/4 of the band intact does not a cover band make.

i understand where you're coming from but replacing a bass player while leaving 3/4 of the band intact does not a cover band make.

YEP! It's a new band!

2/4 of a band does not a cover band make either, tell Edward that.

So it's a new band performing another band's material? I won't pester you with that.

2/4 of a band does not a cover band make either, tell Edward that.

So it's a new band performing another band's material? I won't pester you with that.

It makes a huge difference when members of the new band wrote all of the music.

Okay, rather than risk pissing someone off or coming off wrong in another thread I've decided to post my thoughts here. Let's not make this a shit show because I'm sure some people will disagree, but I just want to get this off my chest....

Wolfgang has done a pretty good job singing minus the inevitable voice cracks of a maturing 16 year old. But after watching the clips of Beautiful Girls, Everybody Want Some!! and a few others, I have admitted and now accept that Van Halen has completely lost their original sound without Mike. Every chorus when we expect to hear that voice, for that instant they sound like a cover band. It's just discouraging, and I have to say I find that vocal absence more absent and a bigger issue then I ever imagined. Please remember I'm not bashing Wolfgang here, just think of replacing EVH with an equal guitar talent (let's be honest, there are quite a few), it won't sound right. They just don't sound right at all, and these rehearsals just reminded me of why I'm not going. I hope this topic isn't redundant (hence it's placement here), but I'll just listen to my poor quality bootlegs over this cover band any day.

Do what feels right to you. For me, Its all about Ed, and Dave. That is really it. I love Mike, and I love Al, but I don't care if they aren't there frankly. I just want to see ED and Dave once live. Did you go an see Solo Dave at all since 1983??? If so what was your opinion on the backing vocals of all the VH tracks he played???

if this topic is about how mike is missed, then after watching those youtuber's... ya, its pretty obvious, kiddo doesnt have ( hasnt learned ) stage pressence..I dont care about the sound, Jr has nadda moxie...

but hey, like everyone else, I am going to watch the dave & ed show..Al who?

Sounds ok to me....Of course Dave ain't gonna sound like he did 25 yrs. ago though....Wolfie's fine, he's actually good....


You're just nitpicking ATBL....Get a few shots of your new bottle of Cabo and enjoy what we got...:thumb: :thumb: :drunk:

I have a bunch of Roth bootlegs, but I never cared a whole lot because it was a cover band really, with just Roth. The bottle of Cabo is about 5/8 gone unfortunately, and I don't have another $96 for one right now, haha.

Anyways, I just started this to see if anyone else is as unimpressed as me. I'd be just as happy with nothing unless they actually release some f'n music.

Yeah, I'm just messin' 'round....:thumb:


I thought it was a joke when I heard Wolf was in too,and couldn't believe Mike was gone,but nothing surprises me now....

So I'm takin' what they're giving I guess....I already got tickets...:sssh:

Enjoy the rest of the bottle mate....:thumb:

Okay, rather than risk pissing someone off or coming off wrong in another thread I've decided to post my thoughts here. Let's not make this a shit show because I'm sure some people will disagree, but I just want to get this off my chest....

Wolfgang has done a pretty good job singing minus the inevitable voice cracks of a maturing 16 year old. But after watching the clips of Beautiful Girls, Everybody Want Some!! and a few others, I have admitted and now accept that Van Halen has completely lost their original sound without Mike. Every chorus when we expect to hear that voice, for that instant they sound like a cover band. It's just discouraging, and I have to say I find that vocal absence more absent and a bigger issue then I ever imagined. Please remember I'm not bashing Wolfgang here, just think of replacing EVH with an equal guitar talent (let's be honest, there are quite a few), it won't sound right. They just don't sound right at all, and these rehearsals just reminded me of why I'm not going. I hope this topic isn't redundant (hence it's placement here), but I'll just listen to my poor quality bootlegs over this cover band any day.

i feel your pain.....

Do what feels right to you. For me, Its all about Ed, and Dave. That is really it. I love Mike, and I love Al, but I don't care if they aren't there frankly. I just want to see ED and Dave once live. Did you go an see Solo Dave at all since 1983??? If so what was your opinion on the backing vocals of all the VH tracks he played???

Everyone's opinion counts for them...that's what make opinions great. I personally did not see Dave solo and I have also not seen Sammy solo. I had the opportunity but I just didn't feel like going. I love Ed, Sammy, Dave, Al, and Mikey. I would love to see my BAND together playing. I'm not even sure I would go see Ed and Al play an instrumental show. I saw Sammy and Van Halen twice in 2004, twice in 1995, twice in 1993, and twice in 1991. I have never seen Van Halen with Dave and I would love to someday. I just don't want to see Ed with Dave if you know what I mean. I wouldn't pay as much money as they are asking just to see Van Halen Lite.

Do what feels right to you. For me, Its all about Ed, and Dave. That is really it.?

Ahh....spoken like a true casual fan....

Yep, but at least he's honest about it.....That's cool too....:thumb:

Okay, rather than risk pissing someone off or coming off wrong in another thread I've decided to post my thoughts here. Let's not make this a shit show because I'm sure some people will disagree, but I just want to get this off my chest....

Wolfgang has done a pretty good job singing minus the inevitable voice cracks of a maturing 16 year old. But after watching the clips of Beautiful Girls, Everybody Want Some!! and a few others, I have admitted and now accept that Van Halen has completely lost their original sound without Mike. Every chorus when we expect to hear that voice, for that instant they sound like a cover band. It's just discouraging, and I have to say I find that vocal absence more absent and a bigger issue then I ever imagined. Please remember I'm not bashing Wolfgang here, just think of replacing EVH with an equal guitar talent (let's be honest, there are quite a few), it won't sound right. They just don't sound right at all, and these rehearsals just reminded me of why I'm not going. I hope this topic isn't redundant (hence it's placement here), but I'll just listen to my poor quality bootlegs over this cover band any day.

hold on a minute,,,, where's this everbody wants some?????????
can you post a link i dont see that on the you tube one's

meet us in the future, not the pasture... which is different from the fixture in nature which you have to nurture with the moisture while eating your, errr, uh... oyster, which leads to self-torture of your vulture, if you follow my "big train" of thought, ladies and gentlemen... aw-right... next question...

:D

Everyone's opinion counts for them...that's what make opinions great. I personally did not see Dave solo and I have also not seen Sammy solo. I had the opportunity but I just didn't feel like going. I love Ed, Sammy, Dave, Al, and Mikey. I would love to see my BAND together playing. I'm not even sure I would go see Ed and Al play an instrumental show. I saw Sammy and Van Halen twice in 2004, twice in 1995, twice in 1993, and twice in 1991. I have never seen Van Halen with Dave and I would love to someday. I just don't want to see Ed with Dave if you know what I mean. I wouldn't pay as much money as they are asking just to see Van Halen Lite.


Agreed. But, I MIGHT have went to this lineup had they done a new album and toured in support of the new music. This is a greatest hits tour minus Mike. No thanks. IMO, the core sound comes from Ed, Al and Mike. No substitutions.

If they had new music, then it would be a NEW band with new music and I'd give it a shot if the album was good. New music ALWAYS trumps a tour.

Other people feel Mike has zero input and makes no difference. Good for them, enjoy this tour.

i understand where you're coming from but replacing a bass player while leaving 3/4 of the band intact does not a cover band make.

So just to be difficult for a moment and just to point out one of the many many contradictions Van Halen has made over the years they say they are a "new band." I could be wrong here but I think they are the first "new band" that has ever toured without making a cd or (at least releasing a new song that could be downloaded on I tunes.) If Ed calls "The Other Half" a cover band well then to some degree the "new" Van Halen is in some ways a cover band as well. I know they wrote the music but so did Sam and Mike for the Other Half. (Van Hagar era) I guess my argument is "New" Van Halen needs new music! I wish them all the best and I really hope this is not a one time deal but looking back at history....Al in 85 "Sam is a tooth with a gold cap on it"
Ed and Al in 96 : Van Halen is not a nostalgia band. The Dave of 84 is not the Dave of 1996"
Ed 1999 "Gary is my soulmate once this band breaks up Van Halen is finished."
Not trying to bash anyone because I absolutley love all of these guys and have and will take any VH I can get....I still just feel burned and scrared from 2004 and dont want this "New" band to be one tour and done with nothing to show for it except for 22 - 28 year old songs. Everyone have fun on this tour, it should be spectacular!!!!:headbang:

Okay, rather than risk pissing someone off or coming off wrong in another thread I've decided to post my thoughts here. Let's not make this a shit show because I'm sure some people will disagree, but I just want to get this off my chest....

Wolfgang has done a pretty good job singing minus the inevitable voice cracks of a maturing 16 year old. But after watching the clips of Beautiful Girls, Everybody Want Some!! and a few others, I have admitted and now accept that Van Halen has completely lost their original sound without Mike. Every chorus when we expect to hear that voice, for that instant they sound like a cover band. It's just discouraging, and I have to say I find that vocal absence more absent and a bigger issue then I ever imagined. Please remember I'm not bashing Wolfgang here, just think of replacing EVH with an equal guitar talent (let's be honest, there are quite a few), it won't sound right. They just don't sound right at all, and these rehearsals just reminded me of why I'm not going. I hope this topic isn't redundant (hence it's placement here), but I'll just listen to my poor quality bootlegs over this cover band any day.


What about having Sammy as singer in the band singing old VH stuff. Was that an original sound? It wasnt to me but it was still bad ass because Eddie played it . Same with Gary. In fact Mach 3 live was the best Id ever seen Eddie play and that sure as hell wasnt the original sound.

What about having Sammy as singer in the band singing old VH stuff. Was that an original sound? It wasnt to me but it was still bad ass because Eddie played it . Same with Gary. In fact Mach 3 live was the best Id ever seen Eddie play and that sure as hell wasnt the original sound.


Those two examples included a NEW Van Halen playing NEW music on thier tours not ONLY old stuff like with this tour.

People are excited about the tour.....I understand that, its all good. But for me, Mike was always a vital part of the CVH sound that can't really be replaced in my book.

I saw Dave on the sam and dave tour, and while I enjoyed his set, I couldn't help but notice something missing, and yeah....it was Mike's BGV.

Same thing with the cover band the Atomic Punks. For me this band is able to duplicate CVH almost to a T, except one thing.....yup, Mike.

So for this fan, although Ed and WVH are doing their best to sing Mike's BGV, whether they're piped in or not, :rolleyes: will never replace Mike's. On top of this fact, throw in all the negative shit Ed has said about Mike over the year's is enough for me to skip this tour all together. Its just to fake for me now...that's part of what made VH so great....4 guys jamming and having a blast at the same time. Now, who knows what their real motive is, but when they throw out the coolest most down to earth member, it kinda of ruined my image of what VH ever was.

There seems to be two brands (generally speaking) of current VH fans: The Dave/Ed fans, and the configure-four fans. For the Dave/Ed fans, it's about those two guys being on stage together, and little else matters. For the configure-four fans, it's the interaction of all four guys. As much as I love all the current and former members of VH as individual players, it was really the sum that I was a fan of. I didn't care for Gary's vocal style or stage presence (or politics), but he had a hell of a good attitude and was a damn nice guy; he respected the VH legacy, and for all those reasons I got behind VH v.3 (also because it meant a forward-moving VH). I understand why it means so much to Ed that he play with his kid, and Wolfgang seems to be hanging in there pretty good. I can get behind that to an extent. But what makes me extremely hesitant about VH v.4 is the nature of its inception: Mike was slowly-but-surely ousted via ultimatums, reduced pay, and public degradation (Ed's "hot sauce Sobelowski" comments), and Dave was FINALLY reinstated as lead vocalist after Sam left, again, because of Ed's drinking. The band literally had no other choice if they were to ever tour big again.

Was it exciting to see those YouTube rehearsal videos? Hell yeah. Did it feel like something was missing? Hell yeah.

I didn't think Dave would ever rejoin VH, so I finally went to see him solo last year.(Saw the EEAS tour too) Anyway, he sounded great and the band was very good, but it wasn't CVH by any means. Neither is Van Wolf, but it's pretty close, and probably the closest to CVH I'll ever get to see again.

I personally think there will be an album in the future, if not with Dave, then with Wolf singing.

I enjoyed the YouTube videos, but I miss Mike. That's just the way it is.

I definately tink there's something missing without Mike. The videos i've seen sound good ound good, Wolfie's doing a fine job on bass but there's a BIG difference between Mike's vocals and Wolfie's!!!!
To be honest though, it's been so long since Van Halen have been over to the UK that i'd go and watch them even if Ed was the new singer!!!

I miss Mike as well, just like I missed Dave. I really don't care too much about the bands inner politics. Only they were there, so who knows what really went down. But it is only a rock band, so what I am going to judge it on is how they sound. And on the rehearsal videos they sound damn good, better than that travesty I saw in 2004.

i understand where you're coming from but replacing a bass player while leaving 3/4 of the band intact does not a cover band make.

Yes Master Yoda...the Force is not to strong in that one....

I enjoyed the YouTube videos, but I miss Mike. That's just the way it is.
I have been working on getting to that point myself but just can't bring myself to do it. Mikey's departure isn't all of it either I just feel like I am growing away from VH, like all the solo's (though they sound good in the recent videos) sound redundant and bland to me anymore.

I think with all the changes they've made and the dictatorship of Ed the Hun have finally taken their toll on me. I'll always dig the shit they've done in their day though.

I think WG has been playing possumn, after tonights show.. you'll see.... ( nahh, just kiddin' )

Okay, rather than risk pissing someone off or coming off wrong in another thread I've decided to post my thoughts here. Let's not make this a shit show because I'm sure some people will disagree, but I just want to get this off my chest....

Wolfgang has done a pretty good job singing minus the inevitable voice cracks of a maturing 16 year old. But after watching the clips of Beautiful Girls, Everybody Want Some!! and a few others, I have admitted and now accept that Van Halen has completely lost their original sound without Mike. Every chorus when we expect to hear that voice, for that instant they sound like a cover band. It's just discouraging, and I have to say I find that vocal absence more absent and a bigger issue then I ever imagined. Please remember I'm not bashing Wolfgang here, just think of replacing EVH with an equal guitar talent (let's be honest, there are quite a few), it won't sound right. They just don't sound right at all, and these rehearsals just reminded me of why I'm not going. I hope this topic isn't redundant (hence it's placement here), but I'll just listen to my poor quality bootlegs over this cover band any day.


I agree, Mike is a big part of the original VH sound. Not only his backing vocals, but his BASS sound & feel. But I'll tell you what is worse, listening to Sammy and his bar band "Wabos" play VH stuff. I'm sorry, but Vic Johnson and David Lauser leave a lot to desire.

Do what feels right to you. For me, Its all about Ed, and Dave. That is really it. I love Mike, and I love Al, but I don't care if they aren't there frankly. I just want to see ED and Dave once live. Did you go an see Solo Dave at all since 1983??? If so what was your opinion on the backing vocals of all the VH tracks he played???



"1983"? :eek: