Who's on keys with the Wabos?

AT · 10.10.06, 02:01 PM

I haven't seen Sammy live since Jesse Harms (keyboards) quit the band. And just last night I was looking at the set lists from the '06 b-day bash thus far; there are a lot of keyboard-based songs from VH and his solo stuff. How are they doing those songs? Is there a sequenced keyboard track... someone backstage? Does anyone know?

**VanBlu** · 10.10.06, 05:08 PM

I think it's a computer or sequencer.

**scs5150** · 10.10.06, 05:22 PM

On Sammy's new album it's a Sf guy, Austin Delone

**Foamfoot** · 10.10.06, 06:03 PM

They were keyboard-less over the last few years, when I saw them. Vic transposed the keyboard tunes to guitar.

As for the Bash stuff, I haven't heard.

**C5A1B5O0** · 10.10.06, 10:03 PM

Did he use any of Jesse Harms recordings for his shows

**extreme red roth** · 10.11.06, 01:24 AM

No Keys.

They've been playing Why Can't This Be Love and Right Now with no keyboards. Vic does a nice job keeping the song sounding similar, but I think Jesse is missed. C'mon back, Jesse, ain't no way Sam is leaving for VH again.

**Ain't Talkin' Bout' Love** · 10.11.06, 07:20 AM

Originally Posted by extreme red roth

No Keys.

They've been playing Why Can't This Be Love and Right Now with no keyboards. Vic does a nice job keeping the song sounding similar, but I think Jesse is missed. C'mon back, Jesse, ain't no way Sam is leaving for VH again.

Is that why Jesse quit?

**belikemike** · 10.11.06, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by Ain't Talkin' Bout' Love

Is that why Jesse quit?

No, that's not why Jesse isn't with them.
I think I've posted before that I met the Wabos at the grand opening of the Tahoe Wabo, and talked with Dave L (so there isn't any confusion) and Vic about Jesse.
I know the "official" word was he quit, but both Dave and Vic basically stated to me that he was fired by Sam. They didn't say it exactly like that, but Dave said "He really fucked up, that's why he's not around. This is the easiest job in the world and you have to really fuck up to lose it".
Vic implied the same thing, so I always assumed for some reason Sam canned him, and then allowed him to say he was quitting. Kind of like when a cabinet member in the Oval Office "leaves to work in the private sector" kind of a deal.

**extreme red roth** · 10.11.06, 09:43 PM

Originally Posted by belikemike

No, that's not why Jesse isn't with them.
I think I've posted before that I met the Wabos at the grand opening of the Tahoe Wabo, and talked with Dave L (so there isn't any confusion) and Vic about Jesse.
I know the "official" word was he quit, but both Dave and Vic basically stated to me that he was fired by Sam. They didn't say it exactly like that, but Dave said "He really fucked up, that's why he's not around. This is the easiest job in the world and you have to really fuck up to lose it".
Vic implied the same thing, so I always assumed for some reason Sam canned him, and then allowed him to say he was quitting. Kind of like when a cabinet member in the Oval Office "leaves to work in the private sector" kind of a deal.

I thought I read somewhere that the fuckup was him complaining about Sam going back with Van Halen.

**Otis5150** · 10.12.06, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by belikemike

No, that's not why Jesse isn't with them.
I think I've posted before that I met the Wabos at the grand opening of the Tahoe Wabo, and talked with Dave L (so there isn't any confusion) and Vic about Jesse.
I know the "official" word was he quit, but both Dave and Vic basically stated to me that he was fired by Sam. They didn't say it exactly like that, but Dave said "He really fucked up, that's why he's not around. This is the easiest job in the world and you have to really fuck up to lose it".
Vic implied the same thing, so I always assumed for some reason Sam canned him, and then allowed him to say he was quitting. Kind of like when a cabinet member in the Oval Office "leaves to work in the private sector" kind of a deal.

This makes a lot more sense to me than Jesse quitting because of VH. Jesse was a pretty well respected studio guy in the 80s and played on a lot of hard rock tunes (that had keys, obviously). Like if you were writing a power ballad and didn't have a keyboard player, chances are you'd call Jesse for the studio work. You can always fall back on that to pay the rent.

So why would he quit the Waboritas when he could have just done studio work during the downtime? We know Sam was keeping them on the payroll during the reunion tour and was planning to play with them after the tour. Doesn't make sense. What I want to know is what exactly he did to get fired?

He is missed live. On top of the keys he did a lot of the backgroud vocals, especially when Mike wasn't playing with them.

**belikemike** · 10.12.06, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by Otis5150

So why would he quit the Waboritas when he could have just done studio work during the downtime? We know Sam was keeping them on the payroll during the reunion tour and was planning to play with them after the tour. Doesn't make sense. What I want to know is what exactly he did to get fired?

He is missed live. On top of the keys he did a lot of the backgroud vocals, especially when Mike wasn't playing with them.

Couldn't agree more about how much he is missed live. Backing vox, and keys.
My guess is Sam and Jesse had a falling out for whatever reason, on a personal level. It's all just rank speculation on my part, but that's the feeling I got from the other Wabo members.
I kind of always thought he was in about as tight as you could be with that bunch. I know Sam leaned on him heavy for his knowledge and ability with pro tools when writing/recording the albums they did together.

**Jimmy is Cool** · 10.12.06, 01:29 PM

When I saw Sammy in July he wasn't using keys, but that was 3 months ago

AT · 10.12.06, 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by belikemike

Couldn't agree more about how much he is missed live. Backing vox, and keys.
My guess is Sam and Jesse had a falling out for whatever reason, on a personal level. It's all just rank speculation on my part, but that's the feeling I got from the other Wabo members.
I kind of always thought he was in about as tight as you could be with that bunch. I know Sam leaned on him heavy for his knowledge and ability with pro tools when writing/recording the albums they did together.

This is what Jesse posted on his website when he first launched it:

Welcome!
Apr 28, 2004 00:24

A special hello to the Redheads. Yes, I’ve been deleted from the Waboritas. I want to thank Sammy for giving me a job and enabling me to pay my bills for the last seven years. Sammy finally got his wish to reunite Van Halen and I’m betting that he won’t be going back to a solo career for a while. So, I’m taking this opportunity to write with some different artists, produce CDs and do something I’ve wanted to do, make my own CD. Please put yourself on the mailing list so I can keep you updated. Thanks for logging on.

**extreme red roth** · 10.12.06, 11:44 PM

There's no doubt about it...he was sore that Sam rejoined Van Halen...because they thought they had a good thing going...which they do and did.

**sasquatch** · 10.13.06, 06:45 AM

Add me to the minions that think the keyboards were sorely missed at the last Hagar concert I saw (July 2006). The keys add such a great dimension to Sammy's music. I really wish Sammy had a keyboard player, Jesse or otherwise.