Band Member approval ratings

[MyFretless]

If this were the political world with polls and ratings, how do the band members stand right now?

For me:

Eddie Van Halen - 25% approval
Ed's dismissal of Mike and appointment of Wolfgang has the majority of VH fandom up in arms. Ed's approval rating would probably be even lower due to his continued smoking and obvious insobriety, but for the fact that he appears to be trying to make a go with DRL.

David Lee Roth - 80% approval
The less DLR says right now, the better he comes off. If Dave does do reunion, he's only fulfilling the "inevitable" he's been talking about. If Dave backs out of the reunion, it can appear he did so because Mike wasn't involved, or because Ed was demanding unreasonable things, etc. Dave played the dismissal from CBS radio the right way last year, and the bluegrass stuff "Strumming With the Devil" was unpredictably successful. Plus, he's not standing still.

Mike Anthony - 95% approval
Mike's done nothing wrong but stick up for the band, and when the band was inactive, stick up for his friend Sam. On the other hand, if Wolfie can actually fill Mike's shoes would prove a great embarassment.

Sammy Hagar - 40% approval
Being the most vocal about everything that's going on makes Sam appear to be the one on the outside looking in. Sam says something nice one day, and the next it's derrogatory. Sam cancelled his tour. Sam is coming off jealous. On the other hand, it looks like Sam's sticking up for Mike where no one else is.

Alex Van Halen - 50% approval
Alex gets both credit for sticking up for his brother and blame for accomodating Ed's idiosyncricities.

Gary - 70% approval
Just for staying quiet and pretending he was never part of this.

[VHwasCoolestWithDLR]

if Wolfie can actually fill Mike's shoes would prove a great embarassment.

Im anxious to see just how good this kid is and if he lives up to all the hype that we've heard from Eddie. I agree it will definitely be an embarassment for Mike if Wolfgang gets up there and smokes him. I have a hard time believing that would ever happen but you never know.

[Brett]

On the other hand, if Wolfie can actually fill Mike's shoes would prove a great embarassment.

There is ZERO chance this will happen, even if Teen Wolf is capable. Mike will always be THE bass player of Van Halen, Wolfgang Van Halen NEVER will be, he'll just be Eddie's kid who replaced him. It matters not how good he is, his playing isn't the issue...although I heavily question his abilities as a musician at the age of 16, certainly from what I heard 3 years ago. I can't believe he's gotten that much better, and on a different instrument in 3 months supposedly.

[ZachenFoot]

There is ZERO chance this will happen, even if Teen Wolf is capable. Mike will always be THE bass player of Van Halen, Wolfgang Van Halen NEVER will be, he'll just be Eddie's kid who replaced him.

And so many people always say "WHO is replacing Mike Anthony?" They won't look at Wolf as the bassist for Van Halen, he'll always be the kid who Eddie had replace Mike and began Phase VH4. Nothing more, nothing less.

If this kid is gonna have a career in music someday (and he most likely will), this is a REALLY bad note to start off on, and I really don't think its his fault.

[Brett]

It's not his fault, it's dad's.

[Van Squalen]

I can't believe that's a consideration for anybody.

There is NO chance Wolfgang can rate near Mike Anthony.

It's about more than the damned boomstick, people.

It matters little even if he's the next....er...Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Can't believe there are VH fans who can dare hope he will come close.

[ZachenFoot]

...If Dave does do reunion, he's only fulfilling the "inevitable" he's been talking about...

No he won't. The inevitable was a Van Halen REUNION. This isn't a VAN HALEN reunion whatsoever

[Brett]

I just don't get why it matters if he's better or not than Mike. It's a totally moot point, because it's not a point at all. The point is should he be playing in the band Van Halen? No. Again, if he's so talented, then go start your own band, make it on your own merits. If you want to play with dad and uncle, then absolutely do it, but don't tour as Van Halen, playing Van Halen songs, with DLR as your frontman. It's an insult to the fans...at least it is to THIS fan. If I'm going to pay $100 to see DLR back with VH, it better damn well be VH!

[Menlow]

I just don't get why it matters if he's better or not than Mike. It's a totally moot point, because it's not a point at all. The point is should he be playing in the band Van Halen? No. Again, if he's so talented, then go start your own band, make it on your own merits. If you want to play with dad and uncle, then absolutely do it, but don't tour as Van Halen, playing Van Halen songs, with DLR as your frontman. It's an insult to the fans...at least it is to THIS fan. If I'm going to pay $100 to see DLR back with VH, it better damn well be VH!

It doesn't matter. I'm sure you could find a singer and a guitarist who could do their parts better than Ed or Dave, does that make it ok to replace them too?

" Well Ed is out of the band but the guy they got plays just as good."

"Really. Ok. I guess that makes it just fine. It's still VH. Where's my wallet?"



Nothing good can come out of Wolfie replacing Mike.

Hopefully it won't torpedo the entire show, but I conceed that there's that possibility.

[Guitar Shark]

I would actually be interested in hearing Valerie's take on this thing. I have to admit I am surprised that she would be cool with the idea of allowing her teenaged son to tour with a rock band known for its -- shall we say -- indulgent views towards sex, drugs, and alcohol.

Surely someone will ask her this question in an interview soon.

[Cooler5150]

One thing that really burned me was when Ed said "Now we have a shredder bass player."

Why is it when ever EVH moves on to anything new in his career (new singer, new guitar manufacturer, new bassist, etc.) he ALWAYS has to crap on the previous one. Just like at NAMM when he said, "It's great to finally work with people who get it..." I'm sorry Ed, I guess the Wolfgang, and Musicman guitars are now garbage??? And when Cherone joined, he could "sing like an angel with elephant balls"...I guess Sam couldn't??? And we all know how much he's dumped on Dave over the years.

My point is, you lose credibilty when EVERY time you change your mind about something, you say something like, "well, the old way sucked. It is better this new way." I guess that means YOU sucked too when you made that old decision.

Ed saying Wolfie is better than Mike means NOTHING to me, because this is the same guy who thought Gary Cherone was better than Sammy and Dave!!! NO CREDIBILITY!!!!

[Brett]

Ed's been doing that for years, it shouldn't be surprising. Everything he's doing now is better than before. Problem is, it's rarely true.

This is the same man who said he was going to take up tuba if it didn't work out with Gary. At some point you just realize Ed is full of shitaki.

[Cooler5150]

Great point...now I'm wondering, has it EVER been true that Ed did something "new" that was better than "the old?"

Shit..even his new chick isn't as hot as Valerie!!!

[ZachenFoot]

Where's James In New York?

EDDIE APPROVAL RATING: 100%!!!!

This tour will rock you, you'll see. Trust me. Neil Zlowzower said so

[Cooler5150]

I really hope that Ed doesn't say anything lame in concert like, "You never heard bass like that before at a VH concert," after Wolfie does a solo or something. IF I do decide to go, that may make me want to walk out.