Michael Anthony - Why MA is finally out!

[the_atomic_punks_rule]

My take on MA in VH...Ed is a control freak, but he was always intended or was getting ready to dump MA but VH's instablity always trumped his ambition.

I don't think Ed ever wanted MA in the band really. During the Early years he was just too busy and caught up in the moment to really care. Once things were in the groove production wise(make album, then tour), MA was always on his way out in Ed's mind. But throw in Roth's departure and WB probably said or more likely, Ed knew that one change was enough, and they had bigger fish to fry.

Going on through the Hagar years, which were very successful finacially, Ed's boner to remove MA from the band waned. Things were solid, and solid meant money. Fast forward to Sam's departure and I do believe MA had some words about Hagar leaving the band, and so Ed may have felt some loyalty towards MA or more likely, knew that they needed a new singer(again) and was back to square one with booting him out. He also knew that if, the attempt(s) to reunite with Roth were moving forward, he also needed MA to make the real payday. But that abortion III came out and so the band was right back to having no singer and then came the hiatus.

Getting itchy MA does the Sam and Dave tour, and has Hagar(the hated) become his new best friend. Oh did I mention that in Ed's head, that stage has 3 dudes he really really hates. Meanwhile, Ed has all sorts of personal issues during this time and to add to his burdens his money was probably not as piled high as he thought. Additionally, everytime he gets a royalty check, its just another dagger he sees MA sticking in his side. That 25% is HIS money he thinks.

Moving to 2004 and you have MA looking on the outside in before the tour. The VH bros obviously feel the general public will give 2 shits about MA being there, and more importantly Ed will have finally seen his fruition of say 20 years come to pass. But, Hagar throws his weight around, and in the process of getting MA in for the tour(not anywhere near full pay), Sammy ties up all the loose ends with the brothers rights to Cabo Wabo in exchange for a small pay cut on the tour. He also knows that having MA there will sell more tickets. EVH gets MA to sign over his rights to the band and any future royalties, as well as being excluded on the 3 songs on BOBW. But MA and Sammy are looking ahead too. Sammy encourages MA to start the Hot Sauce thing, with life after VH in mind.(ALos knows MA will have something to hock on the Buffet ours with SH) The "band" knows that this is probably the last time you will see VH together. But they all are making moves to secure their future and/or present interests, because in this business, and especially with this band you just never know, so you have to think ahead. They are probably done as a band is in all their heads before the tour even starts. The ironclad contract stating the financial penalties for a premature ending is just forshadowing the post-tour comments that would come to light through the media about how bad it was.

Now by throwing around all the post tour sour words by MA and SH they knew it would sell more tickets, Sauce, and of course tequila. I mean VH is VH even if its only the other half. They know its done. Point Zulu is now reached. Ed also knows its done and decides to basically fire MA on Stern. But these guys are pros at being vague and non-committing to anything. Ed is open to both Dave, Hagar, and MA(only break glass for emergency!) SH and MA both say if Ed shapes up they are so in. Christ, according to Ed he is cool with them all if they want back in, so I am expecting to Brad put up a pic with Roth, SH, MA, EVH, AVH, and WVH. (Cherone can take the picture)

We there you have it, if you read my drivel, I thank you, and if not, you can go the way fof Sauce Sobolewski, but you will ahve missed why MA is now finally out the band............................Or is he?????????

[servoguy101]

Or Ed looked over at his fat kid and thought he needed some exercise....

[ScottyBHarris]

Michael Anthony is a shitty bass player anyway. Talk to any accomplished bass player, when MA's name comes up they laugh. MA rode the coat tails of EVH for a long time and now the ride is over. I don't know what you guys are whining about, Mike was half the bass player he should have been playing with the greatest guitar player on the planet.

[jimmy]

Mike was half the bass player he should have been playing with the greatest guitar player on the planet.

I'm hoping you can expand on this last statement.

Unlike yourself, I don't talk to many "accomplished" bass players about Mike, but if you could, please share with all of us why Mike is such a shitty bass player.....thanks.

[meleboy]

Shitty bass player huh? Without Michael's backing vocals there would be no Classic Van Halen Sound. I think you and your "accomplished" bass player buddies can agree with that.

[ScottyBHarris]

Shitty bass player huh? Without Michael's backing vocals there would be no Classic Van Halen Sound. I think you and your "accomplished" bass player buddies can agree with that.

backing vocals? do you think in Roth's recent shows he had a hard time playing classic VH tunes w/o Mikey singing backing vocals?

Mike is a lazy bass player. I know 40 or so bass players that could BLOW MA off the stage. Name three VH songs where the bass is technically complicated...

[ScottyBHarris]

I'm hoping you can expand on this last statement.

Unlike yourself, I don't talk to many "accomplished" bass players about Mike, but if you could, please share with all of us why Mike is such a shitty bass player.....thanks.

Ed should be playing with the likes of Billy Sheehan or Tony McAlpine.

[WinterlessIceness]

Here's your Billy Sheehan again

[Genghis_John]

Ed should be playing with the likes of Billy Sheehan or Tony McAlpine.

I don't know. I have always thought that MA was a good fit for the band. With Ed's "activepicking", any aggressive bass playing would have made the band sound "busy". Better to let MA hold the bottom end, not get too fancy, and fill in the sound and vocals.

I think anything else would be asking for a train wreck.

Then again, I've always thought MA's bass solo was kind of silly. But it was still fun.

[servoguy101]

Here's your Billy Sheehan again

Billy is over hyped. Bass playing in VH doesnt have to be technical, its the backbone of the song and when Ed loses his place ( more times than we would like or he would admit to ), MA brings him back. MA IS the backing vocals.....

[Crown Royal]

Michael Anthony is a shitty bass player anyway. Talk to any accomplished bass player, when MA's name comes up they laugh. MA rode the coat tails of EVH for a long time and now the ride is over. I don't know what you guys are whining about, Mike was half the bass player he should have been playing with the greatest guitar player on the planet.

Not too sure what your point is........

Roth was a "shitty" singer, but it wouldn't have been Van Halen without him.

Same goes for Mikey. He may not be the greatest bass player, but without him, it's not Van Halen.

Regardless, it was ALWAYS about Eddie anyways......

[Roush5150]

Ed should be playing with the likes of Billy Sheehan or Tony McAlpine.

..don't forget Danny Partridge!

[willy4pres]

Michael Anthony is a shitty bass player anyway. Talk to any accomplished bass player, when MA's name comes up they laugh. MA rode the coat tails of EVH for a long time and now the ride is over. I don't know what you guys are whining about, Mike was half the bass player he should have been playing with the greatest guitar player on the planet.

I think I qualify as an "accomplished bass player" and I don't think Mike sucks at all. He's not Jaco but who is? The 16th note runs on Poundcake are a pain in the ass to pull off as clean as Mike does. You should check out that Youtube clip from the free Dallas show, that's completely live and he nails it clean. Fair Warning is all Mike and he lays down a nice thick groove, it's one of the better hard rock bass moments in history (that's not really saying a lot I know, but you get my point). This is a lot like the Rush thing, people always seem to talk about how Alex Lifeson sucks but I think that's crazy. He's obviously not the talent that Geddy and Neil are but he's far away from sucking (just like Mike).

I think if Ed has any frustration with Mike it's from a song writing standpoint. I doubt Mike pulls his weight much in the studio but who could when competing against Eddie Van Halen? Ed can write OUTSTANDING rock song's and I doubt he has much patience trying to get another person to play something he could just as easly play himself (better), it's kinda like Ringo trying to get his stuff in while he's competing against the greatest rock and roll song writing team ever. You either stop trying or you but heads, Mike's a cool guy and he probably chose to not but heads.

Im talking out my ass, none of us know (or will ever know) what's going on in Van Halen. I doubt even the members of Van Halen know what's going, have they ever? Most of us were drawn to this band because they did thing's different, were finding out now that a lot of that had to do with Ed being a nut.

[willy4pres]

..don't forget Danny Partridge!

You probably meant to say Tony Levin right?

[Fat Tone]

Michael Anthony is a shitty bass player anyway. Talk to any accomplished bass player, when MA's name comes up they laugh. MA rode the coat tails of EVH for a long time and now the ride is over. I don't know what you guys are whining about, Mike was half the bass player he should have been playing with the greatest guitar player on the planet.

Michael Anthony was the foundation that LET Ed be the best rock guitar player on the planet. Michael Anthony's vocals are as integral a part of the VH sound, as Alex's snare tone, Ed's technique, or any of the lead singers vocal identities. They tour without MA, I no go see.