Van Halen's realistic comeback choices

[D]

Van Halen has backed themselves into a corner. If they wish to continue one day with a successful career, what route should they take?
Here are my comeback choices.

1) Get it together with David Lee Roth. Record a killer album (not some rehashed 80's sounding shit). Follow the album up with a well produced North American tour. I could care less if Dave performed Sammy era songs. I would hope that he wouldn't. Release a double live album of this reunion tour featuring a multitude of the Van Halen back catalog.

2) Same as choice #1 except with Sammy Hagar minus the live album. It was somewhat already done with "Right Here, Right Now".

3) Record a multi-vocalist album featuring hip singers. No washed up 80's singers from half ass cheese bands. No boy band chumps. For example, Robert Plant - Good; Ricky Martin - Bad. Dave Matthews - Good; Jani Lane - Bad. Wes Scantlin (singer from Puddle of Mudd) - Good; Justin Timberlake (singer from N*Stink) - Bad. You get my drift. No tour should follow this album unless all the singers featured are willing to tour.

4) Attempt to lure a singer from a popular newer band. Record an album with him. Tour, but rely heavily on the new material. Some bands off the top of my head with a singer that may work well with Van Halen - Jimmy Eat World, P.O.D., Disturbed, Incubus, Puddle of Mudd, Stained. This is the most unlikely choice of the 4. No dude is going to work his ass off getting himself positioned in a successful rock career only to dump it all and join Van Halen. Yeah, Sammy did it but that was in the mid 80's when Van Halen was a hard rock powerhouse.

Well, there's my take on the comeback choices that would work and not bury the band into obscurity. I would like to hear your take on what you think would work.

[wip5150]

Good post, but I think only choices 1 or 2 are realistic at this point. The combustible nature of the Dave/Ed chemistry might produce some interesting music, but I think VH would be in the same boat (lack of lead singer) in a few years.

Sammy rejoining the band would be met with a collective yawn by the music industry but I think this combination would have a better chance at long term survival. Frankly, when Sam was in the band, the band was growing and evolving - something a lot of people on this board have a difficult time with.

A hip singer album would be interesting. Again, no long term possibility here and how would you tour with this? Interesting concept on paper, I just don't see the execution of the idea working.

Luring a popular 4th singer would, in my opinion, be the final nail in the coffin. Lightning very rarely strikes once (Sam) and almost NEVER strikes twice (it sure didn't with Gary). I'd rather see a full blown jazz exploration from Van Halen than a 4th singer.

[ July 31, 2002, 06:11 AM: Message edited by: wip5150 ]

[Carbo21]

I think Sammy is really the only option at this point. Dave had his window of opportunity to get back in the band, but it fell apart at least two times that we know of.
I hate to say this, but the fact is Sammy is more of a current viable artist than DLR is (Sammy's released 3 solo albums over the past five years, while Dave is doing techno remakes of VH classics?????)

[Raldo]

Good choices D! Unfortunately, us fans have been waiting for a long time for Eddie and Alex to decide which option.

[DLR'sCock]

Dave or the grave.

[DanHalen]

I agree with DLR'sCock, option number one or their done.

[MAX]

Dave. End of story. OUT!!!!!!!!!!

[mistere]

I would characterize the Sammy era as more
of a de-evolution than evolution. The original
era contained some of the most progressive
and innovative guitar work Ed has ever produced. Conversely, the Hagar era was
distinctive only because of its downward creative trajectory, both musically and lyrically.
"Wham Bam", "Big Fat Money" ? Please...

[ July 31, 2002, 11:31 AM: Message edited by: mistere ]

[Rod Dangle]

I don't like #3 or #4 at all.

If they can't get back with Dave or Sam, not both, they should run as a 3 piece....Go back to the Cream style jams they used to play before Dave joined.

Kill the name Van Halen, so there isn't constant comparison to VH. Go the instrumental route, sort of like Satriani and Vai but more bluesy, HEAVY BLUES. [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

I would suggest Mike sing lead but I know he doesn't want to be a lead singer but he could do 2 or 3 on an album. In concert they could do a few VH tunes, Mike could pretty much do anything from all 3 era's. Also start playing some smaller venues. I'd rather see them up close and personal and blowing my fuckin' head off in a 2,000 to 3,000 seater rather than seeing them in a 20,000 seat venue.

Ed always says that he wants to grow and not be a nostalgia act but he isn't growing sitting in 5150 and pouting. At least do something for the time being. If it's not going to happen with Dave or Sam right now at least make some music and maybe down the road when they ALL and I mean ALL grow up they can make it happen.

We'll see.......you just never know what's going to happen in this wacky world of VH.

[img]graemlins/yell.gif[/img] MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!! [img]graemlins/yell.gif[/img]

[Rikk]

Originally posted by mistere:
I would characterize the Sammy era as more
of a de-evolution than evolution. The original
era contained some of the most progressive
and innovative guitar work Ed has ever produced. Conversely, the Hagar era was
distinctive only because of its downward creative trajectory, both musically and lyrically.
"Wham Bam", "Big Fat Money" ? Please...

I agree. It was not really growing...they started sounding more like other bands. That was the so-called evolution. Bands can do that to survive if they're not progressive enough, and that's what VH had to do. With Dave, they were unique.

It's funny, and it's totally biased. All the Sam fans say that Sam is the more realistic choice. The Dave fans say that Dave is the ONLY choice. This will never be settled by us. Only the band can make the decision. But I know how much I'll laugh and be disgusted if they get Hagar back. It's not just a matter of Dave or the grave for me...I never liked their choice of Hagar in the first place.

The one thing the Dave fans have on their side is popularity and the media. That will be a factor, no matter what Sam fans like to think. And the truth is, a Dave reunion would be much bigger. As for the longevity arguments, you guys are pretty sure that Sam is so easy to get along with and such a long-term proposition. Well, if that were true, Eddie wouldn't have stated that 5150 was the only really happy album they did with Sam. It was stated that Sam was truly never a "team player," and there are still those huge rumors that Eddie was rumored to be kicking Sam out and re-instating Dave in 1990. God, I wish that had happened.

Sam and Eddie fight too. It obviously wouldn't be a longevity guarantee, because if it was, Sam wouldn't have left ten years after he joined, just like Dave. And if Sam is the obvious answer, how come he's said more anti-VH comments recently ("VH is dead") than Dave has? And how come the band has seemed more interested the last few years in getting Dave back, and not Sam?

The cancer is probably what broke them up again in 2000...but there was probably the same lack of communication to Dave, which pissed him off.

If there's a reunion, I think it will be Dave. Sam sounds just as difficult, but I've never heard Eddie insult Dave's work ethic or creativity. I have heard him insult Sam's a lot. He sure bitched about enough lyrics.

[DanHalen]

Originally posted by Rikk:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by mistere:
I would characterize the Sammy era as more
of a de-evolution than evolution. The original
era contained some of the most progressive
and innovative guitar work Ed has ever produced. Conversely, the Hagar era was
distinctive only because of its downward creative trajectory, both musically and lyrically.
"Wham Bam", "Big Fat Money" ? Please...

I agree. It was not really growing...they started sounding more like other bands. That was the so-called evolution. Bands can do that to survive if they're not progressive enough, and that's what VH had to do. With Dave, they were unique.

It's funny, and it's totally biased. All the Sam fans say that Sam is the more realistic choice. The Dave fans say that Dave is the ONLY choice. This will never be settled by us. Only the band can make the decision. But I know how much I'll laugh and be disgusted if they get Hagar back. It's not just a matter of Dave or the grave for me...I never liked their choice of Hagar in the first place.

The one thing the Dave fans have on their side is popularity and the media. That will be a factor, no matter what Sam fans like to think. And the truth is, a Dave reunion would be much bigger. As for the longevity arguments, you guys are pretty sure that Sam is so easy to get along with and such a long-term proposition. Well, if that were true, Eddie wouldn't have stated that 5150 was the only really happy album they did with Sam. It was stated that Sam was truly never a "team player," and there are still those huge rumors that Eddie was rumored to be kicking Sam out and re-instating Dave in 1990. God, I wish that had happened.

Sam and Eddie fight too. It obviously wouldn't be a longevity guarantee, because if it was, Sam wouldn't have left ten years after he joined, just like Dave. And if Sam is the obvious answer, how come he's said more anti-VH comments recently ("VH is dead") than Dave has? And how come the band has seemed more interested the last few years in getting Dave back, and not Sam?

The cancer is probably what broke them up again in 2000...but there was probably the same lack of communication to Dave, which pissed him off.

If there's a reunion, I think it will be Dave. Sam sounds just as difficult, but I've never heard Eddie insult Dave's work ethic or creativity. I have heard him insult Sam's a lot. He sure bitched about enough lyrics.</font>[/QUOTE]Great Post, I agree 100%. VH knows that a reunion with Dave would be a bigger spectacle than a reunion with Sam. Also, they are all hard to work with, they are Rockstars!!!! Everyone thinks they are right. Also, great point about the work ethic. I have never heard Eddie insult Daves work ethic either.

[Rikk]

You bet, DanHalen. In fact, he called Dave a trooper. Eddie will need Dave right now if he wants to jump back in the music. Dave has only one motto when it comes to VH: "Let's go." Sam is always extremely slow when it comes to getting things done within a band. Solo, hey, he's quick. But look at how long it took for VH to finish albums, etc., when Sam was around. And it obviously infuriated Eddie more than we knew at the time. Also, Sam would bitch (at the time) about touring. But when he became a solo artist, he was totally up for it. I think Sam has a lot of insecurity when it comes to Van Halen. And knowing that a lot of fans won't accept him back is what'll make things harder for him to rejoin...I mean, why do you think he only wanted a reunion if it were the "Sam and Dave" VH tour?

And frankly, Mike will ditch PLANET US if Eddie calls him up and says: "We're going to do it." It's funny how PLANET US is supposed to happen in the fall, but Mike keeps saying VH is possible in the fall. Now, he may be referring to a VH with Sam in the fall. But if Eddie chooses Dave, Mike won't quit VH to stay with PLANET US.

[hain23x]

I don't care what anybody says, the CLASSIC Van Halen is STILL respected today and they STILL get their props even after all the BS

case in point:

was reading a semi current issue of "Spin" the other day and they had a good VH reference in there. they were talking about concert riders but from a fan's point of view(and kinda funny)

I'm not sure the EXACT name of the article, but it DID say something about brown M&Ms "No Brown M&Ms"(??maybe??)

somewhere in the "rider" it stated that 'said artist will not wear headset microphone, if it wasn't cool enough for Diamond Dave, it's not cool enough for said artist"

something like that

on VH1, both 1981 AND 1984 "Behind the Music" pumped up VH! in the 81-something like "...and in 1981, NOBODY did it as good as LA's Van Halen!"(you can hear that VH1 guy's voice and "Unchained" from Oakland thumpin along... goose bumps bayybee! )

little clip of Dave talking doing that interview that ends with "we just wanna ROCK"

now guys, the Sammy era, to me, was ok. BUT the REAL CLASSIC VAN FUCKIN' HALEN was in a whole other ballpark.

more VH hype
go to Metal Sludge and read thru all of those 20 Questions interviews. When they mention Van Halen were do the props go to?
The CLASSIC years.

[hain23x]

PS-last year Spin Magazine top 20

somewhere on there was the album "Van Halen" with the line "it's amazing how well this record holds up after all these years"

they STILL matter! [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/bounce.gif[/img]

ROTH REUNION=CLIMACTIC
sammy reunion=anti climactic
BOTH reunion= [img]graemlins/wtf.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/yell.gif[/img]

[Rikk]

Originally posted by hain23x:
I don't care what anybody says, the CLASSIC Van Halen is STILL respected today and they STILL get their props even after all the BS

case in point:

was reading a semi current issue of "Spin" the other day and they had a good VH reference in there. they were talking about concert riders but from a fan's point of view(and kinda funny)

I'm not sure the EXACT name of the article, but it DID say something about brown M&Ms "No Brown M&Ms"(??maybe??)

somewhere in the "rider" it stated that 'said artist will not wear headset microphone, if it wasn't cool enough for Diamond Dave, it's not cool enough for said artist"

something like that

on VH1, both 1981 AND 1984 "Behind the Music" pumped up VH! in the 81-something like "...and in 1981, NOBODY did it as good as LA's Van Halen!"(you can hear that VH1 guy's voice and "Unchained" from Oakland thumpin along... goose bumps bayybee! )

little clip of Dave talking doing that interview that ends with "we just wanna ROCK"

now guys, the Sammy era, to me, was ok. BUT the REAL CLASSIC VAN FUCKIN' HALEN was in a whole other ballpark.

more VH hype
go to Metal Sludge and read thru all of those 20 Questions interviews. When they mention Van Halen were do the props go to?
The CLASSIC years.

Amazing post! I knew some of that shit, but not all of it.

CLASSIC VH. Doesn't get much better than that. No sirree!!!!!!!