I'm convinced....it was all an act.

**againstthewind** · 09.11.06, 06:14 PM

A lot of folks around this place are wondering what happened to that guy we saw on stage back in the 80's, hell even the 90's. You know, the guy that was always smiling like, "wow, I can't believe how much fun this is, and damn, I'm getting paid big time for it"!! That guy never IMO, never really existed, except onstage, it was just all showmanship, and I'll give the man credit, he sold it well, he played his part onstage well, and we all soaked it up, bought it, ....hook, line, and sinker. IMHO the guy has always been the same self centered, arrogant, self absorbed dick we see today, but he knew how to sell his act onstage.

Hell, I spoke to another Linker a few months back, and he told me, that he met Ed when he was fifteen, around mid 80's. He, (the linker) sat outside Ed's hotel for hours just to get the chance to meet him. When Ed finally came out, he said.....hey Ed....the response...."go fuck yourself"!!

I saw Ed in GR MI on the 04 tour, and he basically said the same thing to all of us 5 star people that were there. All the guy had to do was smile, shake a few hands, and he could have been a hero to his most hardcore fans who had paid 400$ a pop to see his ass, but no, that was too much trouble for him. Instead, the guy just sat onstage like an arrogant prick, ignored all of his hardcore fans who were there, and constantly bitched about his sound system.

Yes luckily for me, later on the 04 tour I caught his majesty in a good mood at another 5 star, shook his hand, and he was in a decent mood. The bummer is....I feel bad for those folks in GR who had to deal with that bad taste in their mouths of seeing their hero being an ass like that.

My whole point is, the Ed we are seeing today, is the Ed who has always existed. He is the same guy who drove Dave to leave the band, drove Sam to "exit" the band, the same guy who wanted to exit Mike from the band, the same guy who hand picked Cherone, and when that didn't work out, said the door is to your right.... and the same angry, arrogant prick we see today.

The EVH, we all thought existed, the humble nice guy, never was. He never existed, it was all just a persona he created and sold. We have all been duped.

**Jape Man** · 09.11.06, 06:53 PM

Nope, that's bullshit.

People change -- especially after drugs, divorce, and disease take their toll.

I've met Ed a few times (one time speaking with him for 40 minutes uniterrupted, and he was completely cool each time).

**Turbo** · 09.11.06, 06:55 PM

You know, it's unfortunate, but this happens a lot. I've been lucky enough to meet a few celebrities and most of them have been really great, but a few of them have been assholes. I think fame at an early age does things to some people and I also think that it's true that really creative people are always a little bit out there to begin with. I've never met Ed but I think his state of mind in past few years hasn't been what it's been in the past. Maybe the guy that met him in the 80's caught him on a bad day, I don't know, but I remember reading back in the day that he was pretty cordial in person. Obviously, things are different now.

I'm OK these days with appreciating artists for their work and that's as far as it goes.

**AJW** · 09.11.06, 06:59 PM

Originally Posted by Turbo

I'm OK these days with appreciating artists for their work and that's as far as it goes.

Bingo. That's how I feel as well.

**fast98dodge** · 09.11.06, 07:05 PM

Kind of reminds me of a story...

I was friends with a chef at a local country club. Ken Griffey Jr. and Jay Buhner were there playing golf. The chef recognized Griffey and Buhner and asked for their autographs. Buhner (which has always been known as friendly) obliged and signed for him. Griffey's response was, "I normally charge but I'll do it free this one time." Why did he even have to go there? He should've just signed and been done with it...

I understand a lot of famous people get bugged, but without the fans, would they be making millions? I think not...

**scs5150** · 09.11.06, 07:08 PM

At some point, you just gotta get tired of people coming up to you all the time constanly wanting something from you, a handshake, an autograph, a pick, a photo, whatever. And people are relentless and tactless when it comes to celebrities. Eddie's attitude has changed from years past. But hasn't yours? I certainly don't put up with the bullshit or nonsense that I used to. It's not uncommon to see an old man or lady that seems crotchedy(?). They have obviously been through a lot in their lives. So has Ed.

**bullitt** · 09.11.06, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by againstthewind

A lot of folks around this place are wondering what happened to that guy we saw on stage back in the 80's, hell even the 90's. You know, the guy that was always smiling like, "wow, I can't believe how much fun this is, and damn, I'm getting paid big time for it"!! That guy never IMO, never really existed, except onstage, it was just all showmanship, and I'll give the man credit, he sold it well, he played his part onstage well, and we all soaked it up, bought it, ....hook, line, and sinker. IMHO the guy has always been the same self centered, arrogant, self absorbed dick we see today, but he knew how to sell his act onstage.

Hell, I spoke to another Linker a few months back, and he told me, that he met Ed when he was fifteen, around mid 80's. He, (the linker) sat outside Ed's hotel for hours just to get the chance to meet him. When Ed finally came out, he said.....hey Ed....the response...."go fuck yourself"!!

I saw Ed in GR MI on the 04 tour, and he basically said the same thing to all of us 5 star people that were there. All the guy had to do was smile, shake a few hands, and he could have been a hero to his most hardcore fans who had paid 400$ a pop to see his ass, but no, that was too much trouble for him. Instead, the guy just sat onstage like an arrogant prick, ignored all of his hardcore fans who were there, and constantly bitched about his sound system.

Yes luckily for me, later on the 04 tour I caught his majesty in a good mood at another 5 star, shook his hand, and he was in a decent mood. The bummer is....I feel bad for those folks in GR who had to deal with that bad taste in their mouths of seeing their hero being an ass like that.

My whole point is, the Ed we are seeing today, is the Ed who has always existed. He is the same guy who drove Dave to leave the band, drove Sam to "exit" the band, the same guy who wanted to exit Mike from the band, the same guy who hand picked Cherone, and when that didn't work out, said the door is to your right.... and the same angry, arrogant prick we see today.

The EVH, we all thought existed, the humble nice guy, never was. He never existed, it was all just a persona he created and sold. We have all been duped.

K...like so many other Ed bash posts. You said your two cents and it only makes sense that you no longer wish to follow the music of the man you just described.
I fully understand that some of you are disappointed in EVH, I'm not too thrilled with his porn affiliation either. I do like his work, past and present, and will not pick it apart nor the man himself. If you don't like what you see....don't look. No need to post here any longer!

Maybe it's just frustration with the situation in which you should realize that for what it is and leave the personal attacks untyped and in your finger tips. I don't think there are too many here who know on a personal level EVH or the rest of the guys in this band. You read interviews and read what you want into them, and make judgement. Bah....I don't need that negativity and I'm sure Ed doesn't need anymore either. Let the poor bastage deal with what he's doin and like it or leave it.

All I can say is adios....if you don't like what ya see here get the funk out!

**DoHalen5150** · 09.11.06, 08:27 PM

Lets face it the majority of the people in the world are pricks.

**It's Mike** · 09.11.06, 08:52 PM

I think we should all just give Ed a break. It seems no matter what he does we rip on the guy. If he stays out of the spotlight, we rip him and call him a hermit. When he plays live with a friend, we rip on his playing and question why he would do that. The guy has had a tough time of it recently. He has seen his once multi-platinum band fall apart, he has fought through cancer, he's had his marriage of over 20 years fall apart, and he's a drunk. And we're surprised he's not Mr. Happy, come on guys. If you went through similar problems you'd be a prick too.

**VanHalen2079** · 09.11.06, 08:55 PM

Thats the problem with hte world...Everyones forgotten how to be a prick.

**lal5150** · 09.11.06, 09:50 PM

maybe evh's venture into the porn business will make him a nicer guy.

**Darby** · 09.12.06, 12:03 AM

Originally Posted by againstthewind

A lot of folks around this place are wondering what happened to that guy we saw on stage back in the 80's, hell even the 90's. You know, the guy that was always smiling like, "wow, I can't believe how much fun this is, and damn, I'm getting paid big time for it"!! That guy never IMO, never really existed, except onstage, it was just all showmanship, and I'll give the man credit, he sold it well, he played his part onstage well, and we all soaked it up, bought it, ....hook, line, and sinker. IMHO the guy has always been the same self centered, arrogant, self absorbed dick we see today, but he knew how to sell his act onstage.

The EVH, we all thought existed, the humble nice guy, never was. He never existed, it was all just a persona he created and sold. We have all been duped.

I agree 100%. You don't just turn into an asshole overnight. His recent attitude has been bubbling up since 1981. It bubbled over Friday.

**tommywho5150** · 09.12.06, 12:54 AM

i think most of the problems with ed's attitude lie with his recent battles with cancer and alcohol i have quite a bit of experience with both and the change people forever and never in a good way, my sister was once a quiet happy person until she started chemotherapy after that point she became a very different person quite nasty and pretty much unable to make rational descisions the same goes for my father-in-law once a brilliant engineer and really nice guy then chemo then total di%*most of the time
i have also seen many of my friends turn into oosers when they started to drink too much too often
lets face it with all ed's been through its not suprising to see he's become a little jaded i personaly love him for his work and having never met the guy cannot form an opinion of the man himself but i can make a guess that drink drugs illness and the cure for the illness (which is a massive poison that alters the body chemistry on a cellular level) have all had a part to play in what people are saying about ed.
on another note i think his porn contributions are a very shrewd idea he knows that the business is massive and making music for these films is gonna make him a ton of cash and let his fans know he hasnt done a "sid barrett" and disappeared forever i think its all part of a plan to take the rock world by storm once again....what i can dream cant i!

**ScottyBHarris** · 09.12.06, 05:56 AM

Originally Posted by AJW

Bingo. That's how I feel as well.

agreed. do you care if your dry cleaner is truly a happy guy when you walk in his place? or your butcher? no, you want their services or products. Its Ed's product that we want most, yea its nice if he truly is happy when he wakes up and brushes his teeth, but when he puts down the guitar who really cares?

**Model Citizen** · 09.12.06, 06:05 AM

Originally Posted by Jape Man

Nope, that's bullshit.

People change -- especially after drugs, divorce, and disease take their toll.

I've met Ed a few times (one time speaking with him for 40 minutes uniterrupted, and he was completely cool each time).

Agree 100% Ed's attitude and behavior are his lifestyle catching up with him. Coupled with all the personal difficulties he faced with.