Gary's Voice on III

**ross** · 07.18.02, 09:19 AM

I remember seeing a post on this message board a while back saying that there was an interview where Eddie said that he pushed Gary to sound the way he did on the III album. Does anyone know if he actually said that and if so where I can find that interview?

**Fast Eddie** · 07.18.02, 10:27 AM

I just read that! It's here at vhforums under interactive/band interviews. Click on EVH then "A Well Tempered Guitarist".

GW: A lot of people also thought Gary Cherone sounded a bit stiff, like he was nervous and trying too hard. In retrospect, is there some truth to that?

EVH: Yeah, he might have been a bit nervous. But if you feel there was any stiffness, then you really should blame me. Because he sang just about everything the way I asked him to. The fact that I was writing all the music and it wasn’t his own, and he had to learn it so quickly, probably made a difference, sure. Now we know each other a lot better. Gary’s working with me and writing some of the music himself, rather than just handing in lyrics. We’re all a lot looser, and the new record will reflect that. But I’m very proud of that record. When we moved on with Sammy [Hagar], I never looked back. And I’m not looking back now, because there ain’t no “back” to go to. [laughs]

[img]graemlins/sssh.gif[/img]

**ross** · 07.18.02, 11:32 AM

Thanks Man!

That's really interesting.

**Eddymon** · 07.18.02, 11:44 AM

I sure would have loved to heard the material for 3's follow-up.

I think our opinions on Gary and the musical direction the band was heading in would have changed drastically.

VH3 was like going to the beach and before jumping into the water, just wading up to your ankles. Once you were comfortable with how it felt, then take the total plunge.

VH3 was an experiment, if the music was as good as Eddie stated, I hope he uses it in some form in the future.

**JMJ** · 07.18.02, 11:56 AM

the whole prductions to III was horrible, including gary's voice.

i don't know how good the follow up the III was anyhow. if it was gonna be so good, why didn't they stick it out? gary and eddie obviously didn't think they had a winner so gary bolted, plain and simple

JMJ

**Rikk** · 07.18.02, 12:13 PM

Hey, it takes a pretty ballsy person to admit that he was the singer on such a horrible album like VH3. I guess his ego just couldn't take being responsible for another abomination.

**ross** · 07.18.02, 12:47 PM

I would have liked 3 alot more if it had the production of "Balance" and if Gary had performed like he did on the 2nd and 3rd Extreme albums.

**MAX** · 07.18.02, 01:09 PM

I think his voice sounded like he had a lisp(Not my intention to start the homo Gary shit again) and like he was singing with a wet sock pulled over his face. I know the sock thing was the production and recordings fault. Cherone just did not sound confident on the album. I know that he has a good voice. I think the follow up may have been a surprise after they had toured together and gotten to groove as a band. Also, after all of the criticism from the fans, maybe the followup would have had more of a VH feel? Who knows?

**JWS_5150** · 07.18.02, 01:41 PM

Keep in mind Gary was just coming off vocal surgery for polyps during the III sessions. That's not going to help his voice any, especially with Eddie pushing him to sound ilke a Sammy Hagar clone.

If you listen to some of the songs on "waiting for the punchline" you'll hear Gary's voice sound a little rougher due to the polyps.

**Rikk** · 07.18.02, 01:51 PM

You know, Eddie can make all the "Dave's voice is shot" arguments that he wants. But Gary definitely sang VH3 with a shot voice. He can't even stay in tune on all of the songs, and is voice gets a little scratchy or hollow at times (kind of like listening to some of Elvis's last recordings in the mid-70's). I'm not saying Gary doesn't have the potential to be better (I loved EXTREME III); I'm just saying that the voice wasn't Ed's problem. Ed just wanted a singer he could control (as he and Gary now admit), and the quality of his voice obviously wasn't the most important factor for Ed.

**Leprikawn7** · 07.18.02, 06:46 PM

I actually started to Have respect for Gary's singing.....

As soon as I heard the track of Eddie singing, [img]graemlins/scared.gif[/img] I concluded that Gary was Great....

Eddie's singing brought a new meaning to the word.....OOOOHHHFAAAAAAA!!!!!!! [img]graemlins/wtf.gif[/img]

I thought it was a joke at first......something Dave would do with his sick sense of humor.... then when I realized that Eddie was serious...
I backed away from the speakers about 10 feet, and slowly exited the room!

**The Van Baron** · 07.18.02, 08:18 PM

......I like Gary when he's being gary.......I dont know....maybe nuno had alot to do with those extreme records...he was 10 x better with extreme

**JMJ** · 07.18.02, 08:46 PM

2 things i wanna know...

1..why did they think it would work with gary cherone of all people, especially after he was just coming of vocal surgery

2...who were the other singers that auditioned that they have kept so quiet?

JMJ

**SteveDS90** · 07.18.02, 10:43 PM

Gary has an awesome voice, I think there were alot of factors that made III sound like shit. Production, rushed recording, Gary being told to sound like Hagar... and it goes on. But I think Gary has the better voice of the three (him, Sammy, and Dave that is.) It would be very interesting to listen to the tracks for the second album with Gary.