Your Opinion.... Van Halen done or is there still life

[VAREB]

I started this thread to discuss not rumors or heresay. Only your honest opinion. Is Van Halen done or not?

Here goes.

I think Van Halen in any form that we've known it, is done. By saying this, I don't mean there will not be another reunion tour. As Glen Frye once said "the lure of easy money has a very strong appeal". I mean VH is done as a legitimate rock and roll band and is now probably regulated to the nostalgia band brand. And that's only if they can get their shit together long enough to to another thanks for the memories tour.

In my opinion there's too much water under the bridge to have a musically signifigant reunion with either singer. If they appeared on MTV tomorrow, with the old "people change" or "we're older and wiser now" routine, would anyone here really buy it? Probably not. And if we don't buy it, being the hardcore fans, what about all those who aren't.

For Van Halen to return to legitimate status, it would take them burying themselves in the studio this winter and making a kick ass album with either Sam or Dave. They would then have to hit the road in the spring in support of it and show everyone that they have grown and changed. After some of the comments that have been exchanged since the end of the '04 tour, does anyone really think that this will happen?

I really think it all begins and ends with Ed. At least now at this time. I felt confident that after the breakup with Dave, that Dave was the one at fault. He listened to all that greatest frontman ever shit and let his head get too big for his teased out long ass 1980's hair do. The main reason I felt this way was Mike Anthony. He stuck with the brothers. You can see Ed and Al sticking together through thick and thin, but common sense will tell you that Mikey's gonna stick with the side that's creating less of a problem.

When the brothers ditched Sammy and Mike hung in there with them, I thought well Sammy must have LSD like Ed said. Why would Mike not leave with Sammy if Ed was the problem?

What's happened since the '04 tour has been different. First of all Ed's not stable. His marrage is over, he's claimed to have cured cancer and he's on the radio talking about his son spanking his monkey. To top it all off, one of the greatest most inovative guitar players in history is writing tunes for porn flicks. He's trashing Dave (cubic zirconia) Sam (weight comments and others regarding the tequila) and now, what to me is an ultimate slap in the face, he says Al could hear bass in his headphones for the first time ever (when Wolfie was playing). Come on Ed. You've made music with Mike for thirty years. He's been a good enough bass player to help you sell 50 million records! Don't take the cheap shot low road!

Our favorite band will never be taken seriously again until these issues are cleared up among themselves. Then you will see the difference in the music and on the stage. Then we can beleive again.

My opinion is it will never happen. We might get another tour, maybe even a new song or two. But never again the Mighty Van Halen. Too much water under the bridge.

[againstthewind]

If Roth is back in the band, and a new album, you have the potential for a huge, very popular tour. There are a lot of Dave people out there who have been waiting 22 years to see that, and it could be a monster. It could be a disaster however, if the album doesn't live up to expectations, and the band falls back into the same old bickering.

If Sam comes back, pretty much the same thing, it depends on how good the album is...pesonally, I think our boy genius is out of great riffs, I mean how much can you come up with when the booze and coke have destroyed the brain and the soul. I also think, there are a lot more casual fans out there waiting to see a reunion with Roth than Sam...like I said, it's been 22 years.

Never count anyone out in this lifetime, hell, who knows what could happen in five years, Ed could sober up and pretend to be that nice guy we all loved again, and things could be bigger than ever. I personally doubt it.

All I can say is, if they do it, they better do it right, no bitching, no crying, no getting wasted with lemons in your eyes and begging Dirt Cobain to play live onstage with him. I honestly doubt I would be there either way, I am really tired of all the games, and I think most of us are.

[Van Halens]

I think Van Halen is done and over.

But, is there HOPE that they'll ever re-unite? Sure why not. For as long as all band members are still alive, there's FAITH.

[Pat]

DONE.

[DoHalen5150]

my boss grew up with Dave's current manager, and word from the manager is that he doesn't think it will ever happen. DLR's manager wants it obviously as bad as we do, but in his opinion he doesn't think the band will ever be able to get on the same page to get this done.

take that for what its worth

[vistadelrey]

dave, ed, alex & mike done

sam, ed , alex & mike done

ed & some other entity? more to come.

sam, dave, mike & some other entity? who cares.

My Opinion. ciao.

[Mario VH]

It will never be like it was 15 yrs ago when you could expect a new album every 2-3 yrs and a tour. I think we'll see another reunion tour maybe even a super tour with both Hagar and Roth. I'd like to see them put out one more killer album but the logical thing wouldbe a box set with 2 or 3 new tracks and some cool unreleased stuff. Maybe one day.

[ZachenFoot]

It will never be like it was 15 yrs ago when you could expect a new album every 2-3 yrs and a tour. I think we'll see another reunion tour maybe even a super tour with both Hagar and Roth. I'd like to see them put out one more killer album but the logical thing wouldbe a box set with 2 or 3 new tracks and some cool unreleased stuff. Maybe one day.

But none of that would ever happen. If a box set is released, it would only be remasters of hits and demos we already have, like the Gene Simmons ones. Van Halen (Ed) really could give two shits about us. He KNOWS he's sitting on a goldmine of VH material, and he himself doesn't want it to see the light of day. It's been painfully obvious for years, and no matter what Al or anyone else says, his mind won't change.

Roth reunion? Won't be a "reunion" without Mike. Hagar reunion? It won't be a "reunion" because there has been no official announcement Sam is out of the band. A "Super Tour" with Roth and Hagar would never happen for two reasons: One, you SAW what happened on the Sam & Dave tour in the backstage stuff. Two, Ed couldn't put up with Sam for three months of the tour in 2004, there's no way he could put up with the two on the SAME tour for a week.

Van Halen is FINISHED. If by chance Ed and Al wanna go with Dave, there would be no Mike, therefore no VAN HALEN. I'm not the biggest Hagar fan on the planet, and many know I really dislike the Van Hagar era. However, if they went out with Sam I'd still probably see it. Chances are that won't happen either, since the punches between Sam and Ed are worse than in '96.

My $.02 of course...

[VAREB]

It will never be like it was 15 yrs ago when you could expect a new album every 2-3 yrs and a tour. I think we'll see another reunion tour maybe even a super tour with both Hagar and Roth. I'd like to see them put out one more killer album but the logical thing wouldbe a box set with 2 or 3 new tracks and some cool unreleased stuff. Maybe one day.

That's what I mean. It'll never again be like it was. But not because they're older or they dont' sell 5 million of every album no more. Not even because the music doesn't rock anymore.

It'll never be like it was because no matter what happens, if they reunite with either singer, it'll be like a bunch of guys just doing a job. Not because they love doing it, but because they think they can't be successful any other way. Because they need a paycheck. Because of pressure from the fans or the record industry. Is that really what we want to see? Do we want to see CVH on stage together, but know that they're just going through the motions? Not me. I'd rather have my memories and let my favorite band just die. I'd rather see them all make peace and make music with whomever they want for fun.

But mostly I'd like to see my guitar playing hero get his life back together and have fun with his legend and his legacy. If he can make peace with Sam, Dave and Mike and play with them again for the love of it, great. If not, just make peace and enjoy what time you have left.

[valdez44]

Van Halen as we once knew it is finished....fuckin' done! And it fuckin' sucks ass that Aerosmith, Bon Jovi....hell even Def Leppard are bigger in 06 than VH.

[TheArchitect]

DONE

[spel chek]

Stick a fork in them.

By the way, when Ed said on Stern that Al commented that he was finally able to hear the bass when Wolfgang jammed with them....does that include the recording of VH3 and the new songs for BOBW when Ed played bass????

[VAREB]

Stick a fork in them.

By the way, when Ed said on Stern that Al commented that he was finally able to hear the bass when Wolfgang jammed with them....does that include the recording of VH3 and the new songs for BOBW when Ed played bass????

[ravid dee loth]

I really am not quite as pessimistic as some of you folks, but you all do make some valid points. That being said, I'm going against the grain and am going to say that not only will the Classic VH lineup tour again, but I think they will also release an album of new material. Unlike a lot of reunions in which other bands have been unable to re-create the magic, I think things would be a little different here. First, both Dave and Ed still have a lot to prove to the entertainment world. Let's face it, in a lot of circles both of them have evolved into something of a laughing stock. Also, the friction between the 2 of them that helped them create so much magic in the past still seems to be going full force. This is not the same situation as say the Stones who get along better now than ever, but can only muster the old song writing magic in tiny spurts. The only question in my mind comes down to legalities and all that bullshit. If the lawyers and managers can all get their shit together (and that is admittedly a big IF), I think we'll see an album and tour before the end of 2007. Dave wants it, Ed says he's open to it (albeit without Mike)...so what's stopping them?

[Mario VH]

That's what I mean. It'll never again be like it was. But not because they're older or they dont' sell 5 million of every album no more. Not even because the music doesn't rock anymore.

It'll never be like it was because no matter what happens, if they reunite with either singer, it'll be like a bunch of guys just doing a job. Not because they love doing it, but because they think they can't be successful any other way. Because they need a paycheck. Because of pressure from the fans or the record industry. Is that really what we want to see? Do we want to see CVH on stage together, but know that they're just going through the motions? Not me. I'd rather have my memories and let my favorite band just die. I'd rather see them all make peace and make music with whomever they want for fun.

But mostly I'd like to see my guitar playing hero get his life back together and have fun with his legend and his legacy. If he can make peace with Sam, Dave and Mike and play with them again for the love of it, great. If not, just make peace and enjoy what time you have left.

I'm in total agreement. Does anyone want to see these guys on stage just going through the motions? If the guys hearts are in the right place and their is some genuine friendship back in the band then I say go for it. Bottomline though is money talks and we'll some some kind of reunion tour in the not too distant future. If a reunion tour does happen I'll be their like I always have been to buy tickets and support these guys. It may not be for all of the right reasons but my love of the band supercedes any common sense.