OFFICIAL DON`T GIVE A CRAP CHECK IN. SIGN IN HERE.

[VHGUY]

Just my opionion, which Im sure a lot will not share. Thats alright. Keep in mind, I was a VH DIEHARD. The guy was a God to me. My eyes are WIDE open now.
Got to see these guys one last time on the 04 tour, and that may have been enough for me. The DLR reunion should have been years ago. If it happens now it'll be like seeing Aerosmith. (New album soon titled Get Your Walkers Out). (But hey, at least they WORK right?)
Eddie & Alex don`t give a shit about you or me, and thats a FACT and they owe all of what they have to the fans.
To them we are a bunch of whining lowlifes. I have personally experienced the Eddie act, NAMM 2002, and it wasnt pretty.
The dramatic drop off on this board shows a lot of people feel the same way.
There comes a point where people have just had enough. I demand all VHLINKS posters get their head out of their ass and get a life. Go see a Rockin band that does it every night, like the Black Crowes. At least they tour.
I will not be buying any VH Merchandise anytime soon. Sure, someones got time to peddle hats, shirts and overpriced guitars these days and any other pin striped piece of gear than can come up with, but make a record?, tour? Nope cant do that.
and a final thought. Eddie, we don't give a shit about seeing your kid play either. Sure, we are happy for ya....
If you want the Kid to play, let him start his own band and you keep the F out it, and let em play some gigs. Let him learn how to communicate and get along with others in a group, unlike yourself. If the kid grows up thinking everyone owes him a nightly jam spot on stage and its his way or the highway, hows that gonna work out? Man, this kids gonna need therapy galore to deal with all this baggage.
I didn't pay $95 to go see your Kid Noodle (well actually I did I guess right?). If I were Sammy, that would have PISSED ME OFF TOO! Very unprofessional. He`s not very good. Sorry. Would have expected more from a VH prodigy & I sure as Hell don't want to EVER see him in VH!
I hope the guy & familiy is well, but as far pining for another VH comeback, thats a jones I am shaking right now. I think I just don`t care anymore.
In true VH form, I would like to only hear from people that agree. Everyone else can kiss my Rear End.


and don`t close it either BRETT. Let people VENT!

Maybe I have it all wrong? If I do, straighten me out a bit. Just make sense doing it.

President
FWYSU
Finish What Ya Started UNIV.
Had E. Nuffeready

[RevolutionMan]

can i join your club? i totally agree with you. the band was everything to me and eddie was the god and still could be if he played decent. people are mad about him improving the solos and that. who cares if anything that is better to hear him play different stuff but it sucks when he drinks!

ive had it long ago with this band.

[LLFHS]

Everytime one of these "I don't care anymore" threads pops up...God kills a kitten.

Think of the kitties.


ARMBI.

[RevolutionMan]

Everytime one of these "I don't care anymore" threads pops up...God kills a kitten.

Think of the kitties.


ARMBI.

someone other than myself who posts something pointless. amazing indeed.

[hatchetforce]

I didn't pay $95 to go see your Kid Noodle

gotta agree with ya there, Shine On!

[Van Squalen]

Demanding an anti-VH stance from all members on a VH tribute website.

Sorta like jerking off with a cheese grater.

FYI, if you were speaking in true VH form, you'd have no problem with dissention and differing opinions. True VH form ain't cookies and yes m'aam's. No, true VH form might be something like, oh, I dunno...

"Shut the fuck up, you whining bitch, relax and have a shot of tequila or whiskey, get yourself a fifty dollar blowjob, and cut the drama queen soap boxing."

[LLFHS]

someone other than myself who posts something pointless.

Yup....kinda like the thread itself. Zikes.....

[broken9500]

It's time for me to hop in on this one. This will be somewhat of an involved and perhaps lengthy post but it is a topic that is very important to me.

First off, let me say this: What I'm going to say basically applies to any artist or band, be they an author, poet, musician, rock band, painter, whatever. I'll use VH for two reasons: 1. Grammatically speaking using one specific noun is easier to read and write about than general pluralities. And 2. The most obvious this is a VH discussion group.

Now then, let me say this to the original poster and anyone that agrees with him: I completely understand your feelings and respect your position. Secondly, it is completely natural and logical that those feelings have developed. We've all invested of ourselves, on many different levels, in this band. We've bought the records. We've learned how to play the riffs. We've bought the merchandise. We've waited in lines to buy the tickets. We've suffered and celebrated with every up and down. We've argued and debated, we've hoped and dream for all sorts of things along the way. So, it's completely natural and logical that we begin to develop expectations of what Van Halen should do, and more specifically, what they OWE us. You buy a ticket to a show, spending a portion of our income on seeing them perform, and it is only natural that we walk in with the desire to get our money's worth.... and on a larger more cosmic level, we've invested parts of identity and soul, our emotions and our heart in this band and thusly, it is only natural and logical that we come to expect a return on our investment.

But here's the thing:

We're not dealing with a manufactured commodity. We're dealing with a musician whose product is derived from his inspiration and creative ambitions. Now I know, a bunch of you are going to start talking about commercialization and the inherent hypocrisy you see in bands that tour and charge ticket prices and sell merchandise etc...And in certain contexts, you may have a point. But, it doesn't negate the fact that Ed Van Halen is an artist. Yes, indeed, there is an undeniable and intrinsic aspect to what he does that is a BUSINESS. He does profit from his music. And yes, you can argue that because he profits from promoting and distributing his music he is thereby obligated to supply his clientele (fans) with the service they expect. This line of thinking places him in the same company as Best Buy, McDonald's, and Toyota. They are for-profit entities and thus it is incumbent upon them to provide services and products to the buying public which sustains their professional existence and the lifestyle it affords them. Makes complete sense. We pay for a ticket; we are thus entitled to hear an acceptable performance of our favourite songs. The money we've spent on Ed's guitars, amps, striped merchandise, albums, etc entitles us to MUSIC. It makes complete sense.... IF...we were talking about Toyota or McDonald's. Those are tangible manufactured goods that are mass-produced.

Music is not. Now there are two types of musicians. Musicians that at some point or from the start approach it as a business venture. They want simply to entertain an audience. They see a market that desires a service (entertainment, inspiration, connection etc) and thus they seek to provide said product. This HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ITS OR THEIR ARTISTIC MERIT OR INTEGRITY. There are more musicians making their living in this category than in the one I'm about to describe. They are the touring faceless/nameless backup bands; they work on cruise ships, bars, hotel lobbies, casinos, and studios. They work in advertising. They for companies that transcribe sheet music like Hal Leonard. These are great musicians and artists in every sense of the word. They provide a VERY important service.

BUT...

Then there is the other category. These are guys like what I believe Ed Van Halen to be. Other artists that fall into this category would be Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Pearl Jam, and plenty of others. These are artists that began doing what they do without regard for an audience. They began creating their "product" because it came naturally. It's just what they do. For a million reasons, what they were doing "connected" with a huge number of people. Then, these artists realized they could make a living, and a nice one at that, doing what they love! Then they find out about all the fringe benefits. The chicks, the cars, the adoration, the money, the whole thing. So they are going along doing what they've always done and everything is great. Audiences are happy. They are happy. The management company is happy. Everybody is happy. But what happens when you run out of ideas? What happens you change as a human being and you are no longer inspired to write and perform the same type of music you played a year ago? Two years ago? Ten years ago? 20 years ago? What happens when, for whatever reason, you no longer get along with your band mates? What happens when, for whatever reason, you decide to "go in a different direction?" You see where I'm getting at with this?

When the impetus for creating art is not profit or the intent to provide a service to a given market...When the initial motivation for writing songs is NOT to connect with an audience, provide them with a soundtrack for their lives, or to inspire a generation of guitar players...When all that happens as a bi-product, you as an artist are in quite a pickle. The conundrum is this: I can continue doing what I've always done, just do whatever I'm inspired to do and hope it satisfies my market share OR, I can stop doing what I've always done and begin working from the perspective of providing my audience with what they want. From the artist's perspective, the former is what made their audience happy so they shouldn't stop now. They weren't making music "for" anyone then, if they start now, chances they will defeat their own purpose. BUT, from the audience's perspective, we like and have come to expect a very specific product and level of perceived quality. Do you see the conflict? The artist feels that if they stop doing what they've always done, one of two things will happen: 1. The audience will be appeased but they as an individual will hate their job or 2. The audience will feel that they are being pandered to, and will criticize them for not "growing" or just releasing the "same record over and over again."

What I'm getting at is this, and I've said it time and time before and will continue to say it time and time again:

Ed Van Halen doesn't OWE us anything. It doesn't matter how much we feel entitled to a new record, or how much we think getting back with Sammy or Dave is the "right" or "best" thing to do. The fact that what he was doing resonated with us as much as it did is purely coincidental. It's illogical, unhealthy and unreasonable to place upon his shoulders the burden and responsibility of continuing to inspire, entertain and satisfy us.

I could be way off, but I'm willing to bet that when he was sitting on the edge of his bed developing his style he wasn't thinking, "Man, there's millions of people out there that will totally appreciate this." He was just like the rest of us in that he wanted to play guitar and write songs and maybe be in a band.

Would any of you REALLY be satisfied if Ed, Alex, Mike and Sammy and/or Dave just got together, threw some songs together and did a tour because that's what they felt we wanted to hear? I don't think so. And from the sound of it, that was made very clear with the '04 tour.

The only thing any of us should pine for is that Ed be inspired to release some new music because he, himself, is excited to do so.... not because he hears his "fans" clamouring for more.

You may feel very strong that he does indeed have an obligation to fulfill to his fans. One that if he didn't feel willing or able to fulfill that he should never have agreed to try. But WE as his audience have an obligation as well, and that's to respect the individual spirit and creative process in all its confusing and sometimes contradictory manifestations.

Get off the guy's back. Let him have some fucking time and space and the right to live a fucking life. I bet most of you all get pissed at people for stupid reasons, and quit your jobs, and fall short of what your friends and family feel is your full potential. You would never let anyone deny your inherent and intrinsic existence and all that comes with it. Give this guy the same dignity and leeway. He's not a fucking jukebox that we can put a quarter into and be placated.

[slanducci]

VH vs.The Black Crowes? Jeeze, are you kidding? What have the Crowes done for music?

[vistadelrey]

post

[Bugs Meanie]

At least we'll always have Fair Warning and 5150.

[EVHWolf]

I agree with you broken...we are owed nothing. Ed the band shared their work with the world...we chose to take it to the next level. I would whore myself out if the money rolled in, everyone here would. Ed did do that with his name, but did not with his music. He wrote what came to him and did what he wanted. He should continue to do that. Not to get deep, but you only live once....you need to do what makes and keeps you happy. Ed may be happy now. Watching his son grow up and following in his footsteps. And sorry, I think Wolfie did a damn good job for a 13 year old in front of crazed fans. I would love to hear new music, hear what ed has stored in 5150...I hope he shares it with us, but he does not have to.

[mannyroth]

Fuck it .

I've been waiting 21 years now, and it doesn't require any time or effort from me.

I'll keep pining away.

It'll be all the more sweeter when it finally happens.

Of course I may be wearing Depends by then.

[hain23x]

VH vs.The Black Crowes? Jeeze, are you kidding? What have the Crowes done for music?

see for yourself

[Scotty]