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

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…


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.”

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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 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

"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.

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...

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

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b14/Dutchie5150/DavidLeeRothVideos.jpg

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.

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.

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

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b14/Dutchie5150/DavidLeeRothVideos.jpg

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.

Yeah, I have that on VHS and Dave says something like, "Billy opened for the old band and was so good I kept his number".

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.

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.

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...

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

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

"Cabo Wabo" being a good example of this arrangement. Sammy even mentioned this in an interview several years ago.

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

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.

I'm don't believe much of anything Ed says. But comments made by other people that corroborate what Ed has stated certainly are more believable, are they not?

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...

I was thinking exactly the same thing.

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.


Before the '96 VMA fiasco, I believe most of it....Post '96 VMA fiasco, not so much.

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.

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.


DOES THIS MEAN THAT MIKE DIDN'T WRITE HIS OWN BASS PARTS?

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.

EDDIE DECIDED AGAINST IT, OR SHEEHAN WOULDN'T GO ALONG?

We went into this in detail in another thread, but I can't remember it well enough. Others described how there are certain parts of contributing to a song that determine whether you are legally entitled to a writing credit. If I remember correctly the drums is not one of them. For example, for most Led Zeppelin songs, John Bonham does not get a writing credit, and I am sure that he came up with the drum part.

I am sure Brett, ATDT, Broken and others here who publish can answer.

There are pictures on this site of Ed playing bass in the studio, some of them old VH era, early 80's.

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.

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.

I've thought this for years. Anyone know if this is true?

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.

I've heard what you are saying about Valerie, Dave supposidly said he couldnt believe he married a model before him or something of the like. I just can't believe Ed flipped after Mike stayed with them in 85 and 86. Like a family member. I dont think there's a reason he could give to justify it.

VH happened.

And until the 2007/2008 tour, it happened with Michael Anthony on bass guitar.

Bottom line.

I've heard what you are saying about Valerie, Dave supposidly said he couldnt believe he married a model before him or something of the like. I just can't believe Ed flipped after Mike stayed with them in 85 and 86. Like a family member. I dont think there's a reason he could give to justify it.

while I agree with you about the loyalty aspect, perhaps MA didn't really have a choice, unless he went out and did his own thing, which, let's be honest, wouldn't have had much success. One thing I'll give MA is that he knows his place in a band. He's a contributor, not a leader. If DLR wanted Billy Sheehan the whole time, there is no way he would have considered Mike unless Sheehan said "No" again to DLR.

What you've got to understand is life is full of attention hores who will allways brag about shit that never happened,yet will try and exploit the situation for all it's worth.
Mike is and forever shall be the back ground vocals of classic Van Halen enough said.

I really wish Mike would be back but thinking of the whole situation, I can't really blame Eddie for being a bit upset with the writing credits. However its his fault if he never tried to change it since he most indoubtly had artistic grounds for his argument (if its the cause). Like somebody said a manager should have realized the tension caused by this and worked something out. Hell if Mike is the great guy that everybody says he is, he could have even volunteered to remove himself from writing credits....if he indeed did not really contribute anything to a paticular song or what not. Then again millions of dollars can change everything.

Eddie is a liar that much is true however I do not doubt he most likely has contributed bass line ideas to Mike over the years. Most guitarists if they have access to a bass guitar will lay down a bass line for their ideas. I would think since 5150 was built, this has happened quite a bit. Maybe he gave Mike freedom to do what he wanted.....who really knows.

One thing that would be interesting (to prove or disprove) is if somebody had access to the snippets of songs on The Wild Life that made it to future VH albums. I believe Eddie played bass and drums on those songs so if they match what ended up as Good Enough, Sucker in a 3 Piece and Right Now, well chances are he told Mike what to play for those paticular songs.

All I know is that I am glad Billy didn't join the band because it would not have worked and we would be on bass player number 5 by now. Alex Jon Suck may be the current bass player.

Well in my band, when we started it (not that what a bunch of garage band tools are doing matters), the singer and I agreed that every song would be 50/50 no matter who brought it in, him or I. That was the deal. Our bass player has been there since the beginning but he knows the deal, and we rarely tell him what to play. He helps arrange songs, helps work out the vocals and such, we all do, but the writing credit is the singer and myself...unless he brings in something himself, which he has. He gets complete credit for that. But we're talking like a 10:1 ratio in our favor.

I think it's pretty shitty that VH had a different deal and Ed decided to change it up in 1984 because he thought Mike didn't contribute enough...that's a dick to me. If he didn't want to give Mike credit, then he shouldn't have from the beginning. However Mike's quite a competent player and surely doesn't need his hand held on how to play in the context of a song, I am sure he did what he wanted for the most part. Shit all of us in bands collaborate, I take suggestions all the time on what to play from EVERYONE...and I am pretty confident Ed, Al, Mike, Dave, Sam all did likewise. Do you think our drummer knows how to play guitar? No but sometimes he'll have a cool idea on something I can do, that doesn't make him a songwriter. However, I do believe Mike had a much bigger hand in VH's music than that, PLUS he had publishing rights originally. Our drummer and bassist never have.

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.

Hell I don't even think anyone here can say they believe anything EVH has said over the years because just about every quote begins with, "I think I remember Eddie saying" or " I thought I heard in an interview" EVH hasn't really done any interviews since 1998 about the band and like Brett said at this point who knows how much of past interviews was wasted bullshit or reckless fable.

...
One thing that would be interesting (to prove or disprove) is if somebody had access to the snippets of songs on The Wild Life that made it to future VH albums. I believe Eddie played bass and drums on those songs so if they match what ended up as Good Enough, Sucker in a 3 Piece and Right Now, well chances are he told Mike what to play for those paticular songs. ...


Yeah, I've actually kind of tried to listen to Sammy's album where Eddie played bass and see if I could pick out any stylistic components of his playing that would match up with VH songs. Pretty inconclusive so far.

Yeah, I've actually kind of tried to listen to Sammy's album where Eddie played bass and see if I could pick out any stylistic components of his playing that would match up with VH songs. Pretty inconclusive so far.

His bassplaying is pretty generic.

Yeah, I've actually kind of tried to listen to Sammy's album where Eddie played bass and see if I could pick out any stylistic components of his playing that would match up with VH songs. Pretty inconclusive so far.

Actually I did that when VH3 came out and was fairly convinced that Mike played little on the album. I remember a thread a few years back where I mentioned that and got flamed. Then Mike did that interview where he said he only played on four songs.

Honestly just from that Sammy album and VH3, I can pick out a style that is different than Mike. However its not fool proof because to my ears, the bass in Not Enough sounds like something Eddie would play but Mike said he played it on a fretless bass. I believe Mike more than my ears.

When Eddie plays bass it sounds like a guitarist playing bass. When Mike plays it sounds like a bass player.

When Eddie plays bass it sounds like a guitarist playing bass. When Mike plays it sounds like a bass player.

Exactly and there is nothing special about Ed's bass playing...nothing.

Exactly and there is nothing special about Ed's bass playing...nothing.
Ditto for his kid...

Hell I don't even think anyone here can say they believe anything EVH has said over the years because just about every quote begins with, "I think I remember Eddie saying" or " I thought I heard in an interview" EVH hasn't really done any interviews since 1998 about the band and like Brett said at this point who knows how much of past interviews was wasted bullshit or reckless fable.

does anyone else remember the back and forth for three or four issues with Sammy Hagar through "Guitar For the Practicing Musician" magazine? I guess that was around '97 or '98.

Another mystery in the land of Van Halen. ;)

Another mystery in the land of Van Halen. ;)

The "mystery" of VH will keep their legacy alive!! (LOL).

Exactly and there is nothing special about Ed's bass playing...nothing.



I agree. Ed seems to noodle within his own guitar structures as opposed to laying the root notes down or any solid line. I call it "stepping on his own dick". While I love VH III, some of the bass playing on it (which is obvious to me) is a mess.....in without you? man he's all over the place. It was even more strange to see Michael play it live because it's was clearly not his style........ The new sammy stuff from 2004.....all over the place.



Carry on.....

Just something to think about but I have a tendancy to pull one of my hundreds of guitar mags for reading material in my bathroom. Anyway pulled one from 2006 which had the unedited Fair Warning interview. This was back when Eddie seemed cool, goofy, trustworthy, etc. Before lead singer changes, How Many Say I, porn tracks and Smooking Loon. Anyway one thing I did pick up from it is he did mentioned his personal demos for Fair Warning, you can hear the bass but on the album you can't hear Mike. Specifically when Eddie wrote songs for Fair Warning, he recorded his own bass lines to whatever he came up with. Whether Mike totally came up with something different or he "borrowed" what Eddie wrote remains to be seen.

Of course he was in an angry mood this day when he mentioned Roth's lack of range and Mike does not contribute anything to the band. He even mentioned that at least Dave carries his weight. Those were edited out of the original interview.

Anyway just further proof that Mike was not hightly thought of by Eddie since he thought more of Dave. Makes anything that Sheehan says to be more believable regarding how they were looking to get rid of Mike from early on.

Ditto for his kid...

You might be on to something there. Wolfgang became a bass player because Ed is the guitarist, his brother is the drummer, and Dave sells the tickets as the singer. Wolfgang was titled a bassist, he's probably a better guitarist or maybe even a better drummer.

At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter. Mike is the one in the band with a hit single (in Canada at least) and a new album coming out. Plus he's free of all the BS. At the end of the day he wins.

Something to keep in mind here?

Michael Anthony wasn't the first bassist for VH. That might have a wee bit to do with the 'angst' involved against Mikey.

Something to keep in mind here?

Michael Anthony wasn't the first bassist for VH. That might have a wee bit to do with the 'angst' involved against Mikey.

Did Mike kill the first bassist?

Did Mike kill the first bassist?

No, the first bassist was Mark 'Stoner' Stone, and had to leave due to an illness in the family. Of course, this is from the 'garage band' days....

Something to keep in mind here?

Michael Anthony wasn't the first bassist for VH. That might have a wee bit to do with the 'angst' involved against Mikey.

As much as I respect and hold Mike in a high place as part of what made CVH Mighty....I can kinda understand why ED had some frustration with the guy.

Consider a player like Page who had a JPJ to work with for one example. Their are many bands you could think of...what I'm getting at is as great a bass player and amazing BG singer Mike is...it appears he didn't bring much of his own music into the band. Maybe he's not a writer..It would be interesting to know what little riffs or bass parts Mike played that maybe helped inspire a composition if any?

With a band like Zeppelin JPJ would bring song ideas in. They might not all have been used but they were brought in. Not only did Mike not do this reportedly but even his Bass solo's were somewhat dependent on Ed's talent.
Copying his hammer pull offs, copying Sunday Afternoon In the Park, copying his volume swell of cathedral. All integrated into his bass solo.

Say what you want and hate Ed for the last 10 years etc but he's a creative guy and the main musical force behind the band. It's gotta be hard to be the main person for 30 years having to come up with the music with little outside help and collaboration(it is supposed to be a band). So maybe that was a part of Ed's early issues with MA? With his talent maybe he wanted someone else closer to his level he could write tunes with? Maybe thats why he liked Sheenan so much?

It's not fair to say MA is a mediocre at best player though. He's a great player, amazing bg singer and even since the early days is a high powered showman. He added a lot to VH's sound and performance...just maybe not much to the song writing and musical collaboration.

I'm just thinking"out loud" and guessing why Ed would have wanted to replace him so bad and so early on. As far as a bass player, showman and singer MA seemed like the perfect band mate. I wonder if anyone knows the real deal besides just saying something derogatory about Ed.

I would bet bands like Zep and Iron Maiden (where Steve Harris comes up with some amazing lyrics and tunes) are more the exception than the norm, as far as songwriting contributions. And didnt Page & Plant basically slag all of JPJ's stuff up to "In Through The Out Door"?
IMHO, this was purely about money, nothing else.

I would bet bands like Zep and Iron Maiden (where Steve Harris comes up with some amazing lyrics and tunes) are more the exception than the norm, as far as songwriting contributions. And didnt Page & Plant basically slag all of JPJ's stuff up to "In Through The Out Door"?
IMHO, this was purely about money, nothing else.

Could be about money. Yeah I have read that Page was so fked up by the time they did ITTOD that they relied on JPJ's input/ideas more than b4 . They still used his collaborative efforts and some of his ideas prior to this though. Also this is just an example. You could be right, bands like that are an exception to the rule. Just wondering why Ed wanted to replace him so bad and so early on. Really I'm surprised he contacted Sheenan so many times and so early.

Just wondering why Ed wanted to replace him so bad and so early on. Really I'm surprised he contacted Sheenan so many times and so early.

Because they could bring in Sheehan as a contract player, not give him any songwriting credits (remember, all the early VH songs were credited to all 4 members, which meant the songwriting royalties got split 4 ways), pay him a flat salary, and pocket the difference. That's pretty much what they did to MA before the 04 tour.
It wouldnt surprise me to learn that their plan was for EVH to handle all the bass during recording, and only use Sheehan live. Not saying that's what it was, but just my somewhat-informed speculation.
But then again, this is the same time period that EVH wanted to quit VH and join KISS, so who the hell knows??

But then again, this is the same time period that EVH wanted to quit VH and join KISS, so who the hell knows??

Seems like Ed spent (and is spending) a lot of his musical career being very unhappy, for one reason or another.

As I have said many times here but Eddie has always been a head case. You can read the earliest interviews and see the insecure musician even back in 79-80. However back in the era of Circus, Hit Parader, Guitar and Guitar for the Practicing Musician, everything was sugarcoated to make it look like the band were best friends.

I still remember what Eddie said of Randy Rhoads dying. Something like "he was good but everything he did, he got from me. However at least he acknowledge it." This was in 82 or 83. So when Eddie made comments about Clapton being better on heroin, I was not shocked. People blame the Loon but it's been there for awhile.

However all that being said, Eddie had a lot of responsibility in the band. Dave, Sammy and Eddie carried the band by writing the music while Alex and Mike somewhat coasted through. Mike is not related to Eddie so he got treated different. Not the first time that has happened in the world. I am curious to see if he has any writing credits on the Chickenfoot CD.

Just something to think about but I have a tendancy to pull one of my hundreds of guitar mags for reading material in my bathroom. Anyway pulled one from 2006 which had the unedited Fair Warning interview. This was back when Eddie seemed cool, goofy, trustworthy, etc. Before lead singer changes, How Many Say I, porn tracks and Smooking Loon. Anyway one thing I did pick up from it is he did mentioned his personal demos for Fair Warning, you can hear the bass but on the album you can't hear Mike. Specifically when Eddie wrote songs for Fair Warning, he recorded his own bass lines to whatever he came up with. Whether Mike totally came up with something different or he "borrowed" what Eddie wrote remains to be seen.

Of course he was in an angry mood this day when he mentioned Roth's lack of range and Mike does not contribute anything to the band. He even mentioned that at least Dave carries his weight. Those were edited out of the original interview.

Anyway just further proof that Mike was not hightly thought of by Eddie since he thought more of Dave. Makes anything that Sheehan says to be more believable regarding how they were looking to get rid of Mike from early on.

Does anyone know where I can find this interview??

Does anyone know where I can find this interview??

I remember the article as well.

I can remember Ed's quotes "Mike's driving Lamborghini's on songs I wrote", shit like that.

I also remember the aforementioned "at least Dave carry's his own weight" comment.

If I remember correctly, it was an interview from the early 80's that just got released lately, so maybe it is suspect, but I do remember it.

I remember the article as well.

I can remember Ed's quotes "Mike's driving Lamborghini's on songs I wrote", shit like that.

I also remember the aforementioned "at least Dave carry's his own weight" comment.

If I remember correctly, it was an interview from the early 80's that just got released lately, so maybe it is suspect, but I do remember it.

I am staring at the issue. Guitar One, May 2006. Could be 2008 since its very small print and my 40 eyes are no longer able to see detail like that. However its most likely 2006 because but I believe Guitar One went out of business before 2008. Too bad because it kicked the shit out of Guitar World. Formerly was Guitar for the Practicing Musician.

One more time....

From GW Feb 1990.

GW: Do you think Michael Anthony has gotten a short/shrift from the press?

EVH: Sure. Because he's not a showboat kind of guy. Part of the reason I stick out so much is that Mike doesn't steal the show. I mean, if he wanted to hog the show, so to speak, we'd be butting heads. And if we tried to do unison things, what would be the point?

And like I said the last time I posted this. Mike was exactly where Edward asked him to be.

Does anyone really think Billy would have been?

I remember the article as well.

I can remember Ed's quotes "Mike's driving Lamborghini's on songs I wrote", shit like that.

I also remember the aforementioned "at least Dave carry's his own weight" comment.

If I remember correctly, it was an interview from the early 80's that just got released lately, so maybe it is suspect, but I do remember it.

Not positive, but this sounds like the interview he did with Jas Obrecht (sp?) back then. It was early 80's too.

One more time....

From GW Feb 1990.

GW: Do you think Michael Anthony has gotten a short/shrift from the press?

EVH: Sure. Because he's not a showboat kind of guy. Part of the reason I stick out so much is that Mike doesn't steal the show. I mean, if he wanted to hog the show, so to speak, we'd be butting heads. And if we tried to do unison things, what would be the point?

And like I said the last time I posted this. Mike was exactly where Edward asked him to be.

Does anyone really think Billy would have been?

Exactumuendo! Thanks for posting that.:thumb:

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


Arranging isn't songwriting. If it was then we could consider some felcher like John Kaloder a songwriter and it's clear the guy is not.


Songwriting is one of two parts

1-coming up with a chord progression, changes or even riffs

2-lyrics and melody which usually come from the same person

The only way I would ever give Al credit as a songwriter is on HTF if he came up with that opening drum riff first which inspired Ed to come up with the opening tapping part.

I think it's plain fucking dumb that Mike gets so much shit about this issue. Since both Al and Dave got credits along with Mike on shit they clearly had no part in like Eruption, Spanish Fly and Cathedral

Like someone else said on here. Mike was the "odd man out" and I doubt was real welcomed in bringing in song ideas if he even had any. That scene at the end of the movie Rock Star reaks of what probably went on behind closed doors in the VH camp for years.

Ed's nothing but a miserable, bipolar, drunk with extremely bad bass lines...yes I've listened to Ed's playing on Sam's I Never Said Goodbye. Ed sucks on bass thus most of the bass on Van Hagar albums sucks and why the basslines on 1984 suck. Cause Ed was playing them.

Also Ed's comment in the 1990 interview about Mike not being a glory hound or else they would be butting heads just confirms my thoughts that both Ed and Dave had a hand in reigning in both Mike's playing live as well as more vocals from Mike.

Dave and Ed were some real insecure motherfuckers

One more time....

From GW Feb 1990.

GW: Do you think Michael Anthony has gotten a short/shrift from the press?

EVH: Sure. Because he's not a showboat kind of guy. Part of the reason I stick out so much is that Mike doesn't steal the show. I mean, if he wanted to hog the show, so to speak, we'd be butting heads. And if we tried to do unison things, what would be the point?

And like I said the last time I posted this. Mike was exactly where Edward asked him to be.

Does anyone really think Billy would have been?


Nope, and thanks for posting that. I have had this discussion with other VH fans before. Mike new his role and played it to a T. Eddie was interivewed right before the Balance tour on MTV and said "Mike is the subsonic foundation Al and I play on", or something close to that. So I always found it interesting that Ed would publicly bash Mike about his "not contributing" when he was doing exactly what Ed wanted. Now maybe Ed was talking about songwriting ideas but I think, and maybe I am wrong, Ed got exactly what he wanted. A band where HIS ideas and songs were the only priority. He always said why do a solo album when I have no problem expressing myself in the band. Now Billy Sheehan is a totally different type of musician. He is a great Bass player, no doubt, but he is also a song-writer. And if it was such a good idea why did they never pull the trigger and get together? Who knows, but if I had to guess, Ed simply said, no. After jamming together as BS said they did, Ed may have realized the importance of the way Mike supported his playing and not trying to be out front as Sheehan surely would have.

One more time....

From GW Feb 1990.

GW: Do you think Michael Anthony has gotten a short/shrift from the press?

EVH: Sure. Because he's not a showboat kind of guy. Part of the reason I stick out so much is that Mike doesn't steal the show. I mean, if he wanted to hog the show, so to speak, we'd be butting heads. And if we tried to do unison things, what would be the point?

And like I said the last time I posted this. Mike was exactly where Edward asked him to be.

Does anyone really think Billy would have been?


Where would and has been VH without Mikey. No real attempt at new music in 12 plus years other than a few rushed tracks for best hit records. Mikey was and always will be a key part of VH. Without Mikey they have done squat.

As for Billy Sheehan, he can play but he is a contract/session player because he could not form a real band or write music that anyone would listen to. Comparing Billy S to Mikey is like comparing a test driver for Ford to a Nascar driver. The test driver(Billy) can drive a car around a track and be "technically better" while the Nascar driver competes on a track(the Rock marketplace) with other cars with fans watching while competing and winning races.

Where would and has been VH without Mikey. No real attempt at new music in 12 plus years other than a few rushed tracks for best hit records. Mikey was and always will be a key part of VH. Without Mikey they have done squat.

As for Billy Sheehan, he can play but he is a contract/session player because he could not form a real band or write music that anyone would listen to. Comparing Billy S to Mikey is like comparing a test driver for Ford to a Nascar driver. The test driver(Billy) can drive a car around a track and be "technically better" while the Nascar driver competes on a track(the Rock marketplace) with other cars with fans watching while competing and winning races.

Intersting comparson.

As for Billy Sheehan, he can play but he is a contract/session player because he could not form a real band or write music that anyone would listen to.

:funny:

Mr. Big (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Big_(band)).

*ZING*

hehehehe!

:funny:

Mr. Big (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Big_(band)).

Mr. Big, I rest my case.

I know some people really dig them, but I never cared for Mr. Big.

I know some people really dig them, but I never cared for Mr. Big.

+1

Never got it.

Mr. Big, I rest my case.

Ha!

True.

+1

Never got it.

they had a couple songs that I thought were pretty good and it was fun watching Sheehan and Gilbert go at it but they were never one of my favourite bands despite my having mad respect for them.

I still hope they get together with Extreme and do a tour. It makes WAY more sense for them to be together than it does for Extreme to be on the road with Ratt.

Sheehan let out some info here... the rumored and eventual Fire Mikey as well as the fact that Vai wasnt the 1st EEAS guitar guy but Stevey Stevens was...


good stuff...

Apparently the prerequisites for running a news desk these days do not include fact gathering, reading comprehension or literacy.

none of the above

Apparently the prerequisites for running a news desk these days do not include fact gathering, reading comprehension or literacy.

Apparently not. Seems it also helps to pick an individual about whom there's never any actual news. There's much less work that way. Which is why I'm starting:


http://www.abe-vigoda-newsdesk.com

This week's big scoop: "Yes, He's Still Alive".

abe vigoda news desk.

like that.... and that will soon evolve into a massive tribute site as we know his days are numbered...

Over the past decade or so, I still find myself asking..."is Fish still alive?"

At least once a year.

Over the past decade or so, I still find myself asking..."is Fish still alive?"

At least once a year.

Have some respect. The man was also in The Godfather.:D

Anyway, my point is that I was trying to come up with a a news desk that would actually be less work - if that's possible - than the DLR news desk. Lo and behold, Vigoda delivered! Abe or the grave, baby!

"Abe or the grave" baby!!!

Billy Sheehan is the best bass player on the planet to me. So I can't say I would've been upset if he joined Van Halen.

Billy Sheehan is the best bass player on the planet to me. So I can't say I would've been upset if he joined Van Halen.

there's a couple of mr. big songs and DLR songs where the bass is incredible, the begining of Take Cover by Mr. Big and when the bass comes in at the begining of Hina....wow. I don't know if EVH ever would have allowed that type of thing, I mean it's awfully funny how you can't hear any bass on 5150 or OU812 but when ed played on Sam's 87 solo disk the bass is way up in the mix...I just don't think Billy would have worked out long term with Ed and Al, it's already been proven that he couldn't work with Dave.

I don't think Sheehan couldn't work with Dave.

Maybe he is just being polite, but he is always very complimentary of DLR. He just didn't like the way the band was headed, and it also seemed that when it was first organized it was Dave and Billy's band, it started to become Dave and Steve's band, and then unfortunately it was just Dave's band.

I didn't like Skyscraper, but I wish that band had stuck together longer, lots of potential there.

I don't think Sheehan couldn't work with Dave.

Maybe he is just being polite, but he is always very complimentary of DLR. He just didn't like the way the band was headed, and it also seemed that when it was first organized it was Dave and Billy's band, it started to become Dave and Steve's band, and then unfortunately it was just Dave's band.

I didn't like Skyscraper, but I wish that band had stuck together longer, lots of potential there.

I remember right after Billy left Dave's band he did a bunch of interviews talking about how hard it was to actually work with dave long term, how he totally understood what Ed was talking about and all that jazz. I know there was talk of Dave and Billy working together in 97 and if fell through so...

I remember right after Billy left Dave's band he did a bunch of interviews talking about how hard it was to actually work with dave long term, how he totally understood what Ed was talking about and all that jazz. I know there was talk of Dave and Billy working together in 97 and if fell through so...

Yep, I remember reading the same interview. Billy was like "I can understand the stuff Ed & Al went through with Dave".