What would you prefer?

**graeme** · 08.28.06, 12:36 PM

Since it does seem unlikely that VH will ever be a band again in the traditional sense of the word, if YOU could choose, how would you most like to see Ed finish his playing career....here's some ideas:

Go for the solo, recorded and produced efforts, like soundtracks eg Rise

Join a live rock/jazz fusion band, something akin to the house of petals jam

Do a true virtuoso type guitar thing

Leave the guitar and go strictly into composition, maybe piano or strings or whatever

Start a new rock band from scratch

Join an already existing band as the lead guitarist

Do a piano or whatever album

etc

I believe the guy has something very important to offer the world of music and would really love to see him do something heavyweight, not a big seller but more appreciated by musicians and a cult audience.
Like Andy Summers from the Police. He made his money from his pop career and now spends his time purely as a musician, doing soundtracks and his jazz influenced albums.
Any preferences out there?

**acs** · 08.28.06, 12:42 PM

Right now, I don't believe he could pull any of these off. Add a choice that says "get sober".

**graeme** · 08.28.06, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by acs

Right now, I don't believe he could pull any of these off. Add a choice that says "get sober".

I guess this should be a given. Good point though.

**graeme** · 08.28.06, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by acs

Right now, I don't believe he could pull any of these off. Add a choice that says "get sober".

I guess this should be a given. Good point though.

Sorry, doubled it.

**smithjc** · 08.28.06, 02:35 PM

Edward needs to take care of Edward. (emphasis added)

The rest will follow as Mother Nature intended.

Hopefully whilst we're all still relatively young tho.

**LOC** · 08.28.06, 02:49 PM

I'd like to, as a fan of his playing, see him do an album and a House Of Blues tour as "EVH & Friends" ...
or get his brother in drums....
a cat like Tony Levin on bass,
some cool singer....
and hit it up as The VH Bros Flying Circus

**vhin04** · 08.28.06, 02:54 PM

Like the other comments here, I would love to see Eddie get right again. Kick the booze, the smoking, take care of himself etc. Then I would prefer a solo cd at this point with some real crazy guitar stuff on it. I'd love to see the crazy shit and techniques Eddie might have come up with that we have never seen. For example, that tabletop guitar thing from 1984 had a lot of potential and I thought he would have taken it further but he just sort of dropped it. More acoustic guitar stuff, more piano-it's all good. I think the sustainer has run its course-I'd be happy not to hear that anymore, or at least used a lot more subtly. I wouldn't mind him bringing back the harmonizer, but again, just occasionally. Maybe a couple of pieces on Franky and his original Marshall. Maybe Eddie on a couple of oddball amps that we wouldn't normally associate him with. But definitely Eddie with just Alex, just instrumental stuff with no vocals.

**cam-5150** · 08.28.06, 02:59 PM

First and foremost, I want to see the man completely clean and sober. I want him to realize that he's such an amazingly talented human being, and that it would be a shame not to continue sharing his God-given gift with the world.

If Eddie doesn't want Van Halen as a band to exist anymore, than I'd like to see him release solo material. Possibly an instrumental album with stuff along the same lines as Baluchitherium. Then, hook up with Satch and Vai and do the G3 tour. That's a dream of mine.

**VAREB** · 08.28.06, 03:37 PM

Assuming Ed's clean & sober

.... A new rock band from scratch

**nothingisreal** · 08.28.06, 08:28 PM

Eddie back in shape, albums and tours with Dave and Sam, if it is in the cards. Actually, any new Van Halen that includes at least Ed, Al and Mike.

**willy4pres** · 08.28.06, 09:23 PM

If Ed got sober we would have Van Halen again. Forget about all the other crap, Ed is the hold up here.

**belikemike** · 08.28.06, 10:04 PM

Originally Posted by willy4pres

If Ed got sober we would have Van Halen again. Forget about all the other crap, Ed is the hold up here.

exactly

**Raldo** · 08.29.06, 04:54 AM

The only preference I have is for him to release some of the thousands of hours of music that he has in his studio. The man is too talented for his music to just be heard by him alone.

**Duck** · 08.29.06, 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by Raldo

The only preference I have is for him to release some of the thousands of hours of music that he has in his studio. The man is too talented for his music to just be heard by him alone.

While I'd like to agree, thinking that he must have some awesome stuff recorded, I'm worried that it won't be much more than endless hours of improvisation and squealing effects. Like the seemingly endless mid-section of "Rise."

I hope I'm wrong.

Still, maybe we get to hear the unreleased DLR fronted tracks someday. At least those are basically complete songs.

**steve mcqueen** · 09.01.06, 08:36 AM

What i really want is for Ed to do a solo record a la Santana.....branch out and explore the landscape with some of the newer artists that are out there now.....I truly feel that Van Halen the band (Dave/Sammy, Mike, Alex) has run it's course, and it is time that Ed has moved on....contrary to what many on these forums have expressed.....Ed has not lost it and has much more to give.....so many younger musicians have been influenced by VH they should jump at the chance to work with him.....be it country, rock, pop, or jazz.....a album with Ed working with a new bunch of artists might give him a fresh approach and at the same time introduce him to a whole new fan base....