"Positive about the future?"

**SactoFan** · 04.19.01, 09:00 PM

At hard knocks website, there's another rumor that was news to me...These three new songs on an album of older live cuts featuring the original lineup...

With all the legal maneuvering and getting rid of RD, could a live/new track album from VH be the move? It would sport Mikey's "classic sound" and feature "someone we know" on vocals...

It would give Dave reason to be "positive about the future."

It would be the "new album" that Ed would tour behind...Figure this, friends...take these three new songs, PLUS MWM and CGTSNM...that's half an album of material that VH has with Roth that has NEVER BEEN HEARD LIVE!

AND, if VH is into WB for ten million, a new album featuring Roth era live tunes PLUS new music WOULD GO PLATINUM EASILY, thus erasing debt AND putting VH back on the map...

ANY tour featuring Dave will be a massive money-maker...

ANY tour with Dave will INSTANTLY restore VH's badly damaged street cred...

AND, a "combo album" gives VH breathing room to decide on the future...

I know this is speculation, but it seems appropriate to Main because of the news...

**Glenn** · 04.19.01, 09:07 PM

I disagree. I think this type of album would be yet another credibility hit for the band. Everyone knows they don't get along, so it'll look really bad that after all this time, they only release 3 new songs and then they prop up a tour on the strength of material that is 16 years old (or even older). Not to mention, don't make me pay for Me Wise Magic and Can't Get This Stuff No More again, I already paid that bill. With Eddie saying in 1996 that they couldn't tour without a new album, I think that that would get thrown back in his face constantly.

To me, if they can't get along enough to create a full album, end it. Just pull the plug, and soon. No reason to drag four bitter guys around the world who can't get along just to destroy the myth of what was so great about the original Van Halen. If it's over, it's over. We're not kids anymore.

**SactoFan** · 04.19.01, 09:12 PM

Glenn, you don't figure the thrill of a reunited VH would carry that much weight? If it's a plan for a one and out, I totally agree with you...If it's a way to get regrouped, I can live with it...

**Glenn** · 04.19.01, 09:20 PM

Sadly, I'm long since convinced that it's going to be one and out.

I'm just wondering what Eddie's definition of stunning music is. Dave says they wrote three amazing tunes, so if Eddie also thought they were that great, why didn't he continue writing with Dave. It's pretty obvious to anyone that Dave wants (and always has wanted) a reunited Van Halen more than Eddie. Maybe Eddie wasn't so impressed with these songs that Dave thinks were so earth shaking. Or maybe Eddie just can't stand working with Dave, no matter how good the songs they are able to create together.

I'm not as concerned with what they can do, I'm more concerned with what they should do. They are not in a position of strength when it comes to their image, so I think that it's imperative that they make a strong musical statement. And that means (to me anyway) proving that they are not in this for the quick, let's play the classics and run, reunion. Releasing old live material with a couple new songs, and then touring on it will totally make them a nostalgia project. Now, that may be somewhat inevitable anyway, but this type of album would just seal that deal with the devil (so to speak [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]).

**SactoFan** · 04.19.01, 09:23 PM

Shoot...maybe nostalgia is the ticket right now...this is so out of hand... [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img]

**Glenn** · 04.19.01, 09:29 PM

I guess the question is, do we want it to be flat out nostalgia or not? Does a new album even matter in the equation?

For me, I've never seen VH live with Dave, so there's the part of me that really would like to experience that, even though I know that 1984 can't be recreated. BUT, I really want VH to continue on as a developing band. Sure I want to hear all of those great VH songs live again, but I want it to be a current show (with new tunes I mean), not a Beach Boys show where we're sitting there trying to recreate a youth experience, hearing nothing but old material from a band who are comfortable with the fact that their best days are behind them.

A reunion tour without an album is, IMO, an admission that they can't get their egos together to write, but they're willing to cash in on the concert circuit and get one last handfull of money by coasting through the old material.

**Unchained Wolfie** · 04.19.01, 09:32 PM

You see how 45 seconds of talk can change everyone's views on the reunion, and start a huge stir at the boards! I'd hate to see The Pleasure Dome right about now! I'm too scared to even go check it out, and see how much of a mess it is, but I know this statement created a huge stir on the Links! [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img]

[ April 19, 2001 at 09:34 PM: Message edited by: Unchained Wolfie ]

**Glenn** · 04.19.01, 09:41 PM

Personally I'm glad for Dave making the statement. First off, there's been some great discussion here in Main about this. And second, this could help answer some questions, and one way or the other, that can't be a bad thing.

I'm not mad at anyone at all in this, I just think it's time to pull down the curtains and let some light in. The floor won't look any uglier by throwing some light on it. I can handle the truth. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

**Unchained Wolfie** · 04.19.01, 09:45 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Glenn:
Personally I'm glad for Dave making the statement. First off, there's been some great discussion here in Main about this. And second, this could help answer some questions, and one way or the other, that can't be a bad thing.

I'm not mad at anyone at all in this, I just think it's time to pull down the curtains and let some light in. The floor won't look any uglier by throwing some light on it. I can handle the truth. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Agreed

**SactoFan** · 04.19.01, 09:50 PM

Glenn, we talked about this months ago, but your posts are making me think about it again...The clock is definitely ticking here and we are in the fourth quarter...win or lose...I thought things would really go Aerosmith for VH, but now I'm not so sure...

**Glenn** · 04.19.01, 10:01 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by SactoFan:
I thought things would really go Aerosmith for VH, but now I'm not so sure...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>This is a bit off the original topic, but it brings something else to mind that has been on my mind lately.

WB isn't going to want to sink a lot of money into this just to sell a million albums, they are going to want to try to create a HUGE seller. Which will require both radio and MTV. So I wonder what kind of pressure VH will be under to make concessions to radio and video that we all believe that Aerosmith always makes. Will they feel pressured to release (or record initially) ballad type material, will they be pressured to edit singles for time reasons? Just some thoughts there. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]