Why Gary Left and the circumstances...no rumors...just truth

[Hooligan on a Holiday]

I just took a look at an interview Gary did on 11/18/00. It's on VHND.com under interviews. Source: Boston Phoenix. It says that by November, the followup to VH3 was practically finished. There were about 9-11 tracks.
Basically, Gary was not digging the situation. He had really been hit hard by the Dave and Sammy comparisons and the bashing he and the album received. The pressure to create a followup to VH3 and win over the fans was too much. Eddie, Alex, and Mike saw this. They had a discussion and Gary left.

If all of this is true, that really sucks. By now we'd have a (hopefully) kick ass album and tour. I'm sure Gary would be singing back in his range again, Alex and Mikey would have contributed more to the album. Hell, Mike was talking about having his own song on the album. And the cello thing with Ed.

I just hope old Diamond Dave can deliver with an awesome new album. I totally understand what Eddie was talking about when he said he always wants to move forward. If there is anything I don't want, it's a sell out reunion nostalgia tour. Kiss anyone? Just as long as Dave did something with his scarecrow du and those hideous jumpsuits he wore on his last tour and has got his pipes going, I'm sure we won't have to worry.

[Eyes of the Night]

Nice post there HOAH, yah I didn't know there were that many songs on the follow-up? Cool but shity and to think that alblum was suppose to sound like a mix of both 84' and F.u.c.k.. lol ...



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Broken down n' dirty dressed in rags

Well let me roll up onto the sidewalk and take a look kids!? Woah!!!

www.freedrive.com under No Bozo's "scents". Username and password are vhlinks.

[dooberdober]

I hope they do something like Roth's "Black Sand" from his last cd. I can see them moving "forward" with Roth.

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"I don't need no stinking click"

[dooberdober]

.....or look at Roth's SKYSCRAPER album, Roth and Ed will make an awesome new album together!

[AVHMachIII]

Hopefully the nostalgia aspect of the reunion will have a positive affect on VH - as in bringing in old and new fans to see what all the hubbub is about. HOWEVER, Vh needs to move foward - they can get back to their rockin roots and still put out a kick ass rocking NEW sounding album too.
As far as Gary went, I think the main problem is that Ed, Al, and Mike, while loving Gary as a person, did feel the pressure to bring back Dave from both WB and the fans. Also, in an Inside magazine interview from the end of 98/early 99 Gary is saying something like "if people think From Afar and Once were out there, wait till they hear some of the newer stuff" or something like that...not a direct quote, but you get the idea. I think VH wanted to keep Gary but move back to their roots...Gary was still trying to "progressivize" Van Halen - and it didnt jive, so they called it quits. At least it was a clean break up. Here's hoping to new music from both VH and Gary this year - 2 COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ANIMALS.

[Hal Apeno]

Gary is and will always be a class act.


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Don't get that pepper in your eye!

[JWS_5150]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by AVHMachIII:
2 COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ANIMALS.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

You hit the nail on the head. Excellent point on why III didn't work out so well.

But I'd be interested to hear the followup.

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"ceasar got too big and powerful- just like these bubblegum bands and rappers.....
the ides of march marked his demise!"
--VanEdge, on how Van Halen will whip music into shape

Dirty Faced Kid - looks like I need a shave

Strange is even more beautiful.

[Down In Flames]

Hey, look on the bright side - All those tracks that were finished with Gary are just more Halen to look forward to in the ultimate "Box Set."

Right, Glenn?

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"Hey Down, my brotha, never ever forget your priorities... Beer first, trash second." - A life lesson, courtesy of track 5

Official Bartender Of VHForums

[Bru87tr]

the word nostalgia i believe has been thrown around this site a bit too much when speaking about roth.

what to get together with sammy wouldnt be?

besides if its new music i dont see whats so nostalgia about it.

if nostalgia is a crime then im guilty cause id rather see nothing but a reunion and see the boys play the old stuff.

[Glenn]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Down In Flames:
Hey, look on the bright side - All those tracks that were finished with Gary are just more Halen to look forward to in the ultimate "Box Set."

Right, Glenn?

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>No arguement here.



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The Michael Jordan of Van Halen websites!!!
www.vhlinks.com

[mkrltr]

How about this reason that it didn't wotk out: The Album Sucked!! And I'm sure the songs they had finished sucked too. If it was gonna be a kick ass album, which was alluded too, they would have released it. But the boys knew damn well that another sales poor album with Gary would have been the death of VH. I agree that Gary is a stand up guy, but truth be told, the album was awful.

[Hal Apeno]

truth be told Gary got sick of being Ed's puppet

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Don't get that pepper in your eye!

[George M]

Gary wasn't Ed's puppet. I think the article that the original post was based on actually says that Gary had a good deal of control, and, believe it or not, had control of what songs they played live on the III tour.

Yes, that means "Dreams" was his idea.....I think most of you probably saw the live footage of that on VHND or on tour....not good.

And by the way.......new songs on tour with Dave would be much less of a nostalgia act than doing "Dreams" with Gary.

I do have one request......that they play a good deal of the new album. Motley Crue's 2 songs from the new album was REALLY sad on their last tour in the summer. And then the day after my show they kicked Anthrax off the tour claiming they didn't get to play enough old stuff.

Since Eddie talked about not cashing in on a nostalgia tour during the ill-fated MTV Awards appearance (ironically the only 5 minutes we might have truly ever had a reunion so far), well.......he'd better not.

And I expect a real openner on this tour, not just a Journey. And heck, I like Journey, but it better be Journey AND A Perfect Circle or something.

Just my 2 cents.

[Mario VH]

I think both Gary and VH could see the writing on the wall. VH3 didn't make a favourable impression with VH's fanbase and based on the disappointing numbers in terms of albums sold and on tour VH couldn't afford to have another flop on their hands ie-the follow up to VH3. You only get to make a 1st impression once and VH with Gary just didn't get it done. It would have been an uphill battle for VH to recapture their fanbase with Gary still as their frontman. All that being said I still wish we could have heard what they were cooking up with Gary.

[madden]

Curiosity killed the cat.Peace out Mario VH.