Can Anyone Manage Van Halen?

[leftyk]

I'm a slightly more than casual fan of the band and have been for over 20 years. Of all the big bands of the last 20-25 years, Van Halen is, hands down, the best live band of all. Given this, how is it that no one has been able to get this organization (Van Halen) squared away.

Is the guy at the center, Eddie himself, so difficult a person to work with that this is his legacy? No question that Dave and Sam are big egos, but there has to be one manager that could have gotten this thing together. If Motley Crue and Aerosmith can still be successful touring acts (shit even Def Leppard still packs them in), why hasn't someone been able to convince the Van Halens that they could do even better? Have there been serious attempts that we don't know about?

Despite all of this, they are being inducted to the HOF. What all 5 guys need to do is sit in the same room and agree on one thing- together they accomplished some great things and respect the honor of being hailed in the same light as Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, the Rolling Stones, and ACDC. Hopefully, Azoff or whoever is pulling the right strings.

[noise next door]

Managers are usually required for the 99.999% of all working artists that need a "sales rep" so to speak to help them work with agents and labels to FIND SOURCES OF WORK. When a band gets as big as VH, the traditional management role is very very different.

A chain of agents and/or promoters, A&R (well not so much A&R in the age of Britney and Fall Out Boy) are already lined up from the other end of the business relationship to work with a band of VH's status... the manager is not a sales person but a business affairs consultant basically.

The phone is ringing away and VH can take whatever they want.

Remember that Eddie was dealing with cancer and divorce in the early part of this decade, and then they toured in 2004, and now another tour is being worked on so I don't understand what you are implying when you suggest they aren't doing anything and a manager is desparately needed.

Remember also that VH is so rich as a corporate entity they don't have to work. It is their choice. There are streams of income coming in from other non-touring and non-recording sources.

Must be nice...

[Otis5150]

Ed Leffler - R.I.P.

[Model Citizen]

The phone is ringing away and VH can take whatever they want.

Remember that Eddie was dealing with cancer and divorce in the early part of this decade, and then they toured in 2004, and now another tour is being worked on so I don't understand what you are implying when you suggest they aren't doing anything and a manager is desparately needed.

Remember also that VH is so rich as a corporate entity they don't have to work. It is their choice. There are streams of income coming in from other non-touring and non-recording sources.

Must be nice...

Interesting. May I ask how you know all this to be true? Not necessarily disagreeing, just curious.

I have no doubt that the members of VH are all doing well and living a good life. I doubt very seriously that they are a cash cow as you claim. The reason they need a manager, or perhaps a better PR rep, is the lack of new material, the lack of official updates, etc..etc...etc.. All this flies in the face of what their customers, the fans, want.

[fullbug5150]

They need new management to realize the legacy that is being left in there wake of BS. A baby band treasures there fan base and well should. A band of VH's status should rec. who go them where they are. It seems they don't. Noted from the out put of the last years. Pay to meet and greet, quite whoresih, a 30 k guitar, a second grts, hits with the same songs. A manager is supposed to manage that legacy and nurture it. They have become a running joke. They are all set up the pub on I and 84 would set em up indef. They were smart when they started out; look on the albums; they incorporated and admin. there own pub rights, that is where the cash is. No doubt DLR's idea.

[noise next door]

Interesting. May I ask how you know all this to be true? Not necessarily disagreeing, just curious.

I have no doubt that the members of VH are all doing well and living a good life. I doubt very seriously that they are a cash cow as you claim. The reason they need a manager, or perhaps a better PR rep, is the lack of new material, the lack of official updates, etc..etc...etc.. All this flies in the face of what their customers, the fans, want.

They get cash from all of these sources:

- domestic record royalties
- foreign record royalties
- mechanical royalties
- foreign mechanical royalties
- performance royalties (from radio, TV networks, sports teams, clubs, in-flight music, internet sites,etc etc)
- foreign performance royalties
- synchro fees
- print royalties from folios and some other things
- black box monies
- merchandising deals
- endorsement deals
- public appearances

Trust me, they don't make Madonna or Beatle like money, but they make enough to retire in the Bahamas and pay the bills... that's for sure

You talk about what the customers WANT... that doesn't mean VH has an obligation to make it for you... they are free to do want they want... haven't they already entertained you enough? Your boss can't make you work for him if you want to quit.

[noise next door]

they admin there own pub rights, that is where the cash is. No doubt DLR's idea.

Not fully... they joined the performing rights society ASCAP as far as I can recall... (I might be wrong on that though)

They would only admin their synch fees, but they don't happen that often... They could have also been with someone like the Harry Fox Agency.. I think they have a synch department that will issue the licenses and collect those fees as well...

[fullbug5150]

I meant administer through there own publishing companies. All bands have to belong to a Performing rights society, BMI, SESAC, ASCAP. Or they won't get paid for radio, performing, synch, song books, (tab) etc.The band and the pub co have to belong to a Perfroming rights co. They have some synch rights, I have heard various songs in movies, a couple of commercials. But they own there own publishing which many bands do not.

[noise next door]

I meant administer through there own publishing companies. All bands have to belong to a Performing rights society, BMI, SESAC, ASCAP. Or they won't get paid for radio, performing, synch, song books, (tab) etc.The band and the pub co have to belong to a Perfroming rights co. They have some synch rights, I have heard various songs in movies, a couple of commercials. But they own there own publishing which many bands do not.

As far as I know (but I'm no expert) they don't really admin their own publishing as you suggested.. they simply dont have the time and ability to do that... they either have a co-publishing deal or they have an admin agreement with a publishing company and pay 15% fee of gross income collected (if they hold all or part of the publishers share)

ASCAP does collect some types of income, publishers collects others, as well as a Harry Fox

One other thing... they definitely need sub-publishing agreements as well in some legal form for all the foreign territories

I was referring to the admin of "collecting" the money.... not the holding joint writer's share/publisher's share setup...

P.S.... I'm not a lawyer.. so don't quote me on this stuff.. he.. he..

[TOM_5150]

Not fully... they joined the performing rights society ASCAP as far as I can recall... (I might be wrong on that though)

They would only admin their synch fees, but they don't happen that often... They could have also been with someone like the Harry Fox Agency.. I think they have a synch department that will issue the licenses and collect those fees as well...

Yep, Dave be a smart businessman.

[Little Dreamer]

Van Halen desperately need management. And one that fits the band, if it's even possible. Not like RD. Them making a lot of money is exactly WHY they need some help.
Right now, they're supposedly managed by Azoff, one of the best in the business. Scary thing is even he can't seem to make them walk a straight line. Makes you wonder who can.

Noise Next Door, I really don't know what you're smoking, but I want some of it. VH doesn't need management? Their history proves they need management like a drowning man needs a lifesaver. These rose-colored glasses that seem permanently glued to your forehead just make you looke like a fool to anyone who has even a remote knowledge of VH history.

[Cabo Gary]

Okay, okay, okay... If I MUST, I will manage them. Have Ed give me a call... I'll set it up!

[Ian Sane]

Van Halen need more than just a manager, they need a therapist. They need to lay everything bare on the table & work through their issues one at a time.

Bitterness, envy, substance abuse & control issues all need to be addressed for the band to ever have a chance of functioning properly again.

[onefootoutthedoor]

Until Eddie can manage himself, nobody can manage Van Halen.

[RAGEN_40]

Am I the only one who is getting tired of the same excuses that we, they, keep giving? Cancer, divorce,blah blah blah...Hey life goes on we are all still here...That was yesterday....yesterday is a memory...today is a miracle..tomorrow is a dream. Stop using yesterday as an excuse for tomorrow. If they kept that in mind anything is possible.