Billy Sheehan on VH

[rolsguitars]

This was just posted by someone on vh@yahoogroups :



The Bx3 tour came through Oklahoma City last night.If any of y'all
out there get a chance please go and witness the bass event of a
lifetime!For those of you who don't know,the tour includes Jeff
Berlin (Alan Holdsworth,etc.),Stu Hamm (Joe Satriani,Eric Johnson)
and the one and only Billy Sheehan (Talas,uhhh...David Lee
Roth,Steve Vai).It's the bassist's answer to G3 but don't be
fooled.These bass players will blow away 99.9% of the guitarists
watching them!
So what does this have to do with VH?Well,I got a chance to talk
briefly to Billy after the show about a few things and his comments
were...interesting...
bs-Great to meet you finally,Billy...I've been a fan since the
Talas days.
BS-Well thanks we had a great time playing here tonight.
bs-Ya know Fender recently released a custom shop relic of Eddie's
Frankenstien guitar...any plans for doing the same with your old
Tele bass?
BS-Ya know we talked to Fender about it but haven't moved on it.
bs-So does each of the (2)input jacks go to seperate pickups?
BS-Exactly-then on to seperate amps.
bs-Can I ask you a somewhat personal question?
BS-sure
bs-When Mike Anthony "left"Van Halen,did Ed give you a call?
BS-Yes he did.We talked for a while but ultimately I couldn't get
involved.It's really a situation I didn't wan't to get in the middle
of.
bs-What do you think about his kid playing bass on the new tour?
BS-I think it's a huge mistake.The kid has no business being out
there with all the drugs and stuff.I think child welfare stepped in
at one point on this.I personally haven't had as much as an asprin
since 1973.
bs-So that explains it-why your're so good!I've never smoked,drank
or done a drug in my life.You know, my favorite
guitar player,Eric Johnson is the same way.I don't think he does
much of anything.
BS-Man what a TONE!!!
At this point the gracious Mr.Sheehan got lost in the throngs of
autograph seekers and "girlies" but hung around for about an hour at
a table no more than about a foot away from mine.I just couldn't
believe that the bass legend was sitting right there in front of
me...but he was and it was cool!What a nice guy.

[AJHV]

Mike never left the Band, he was let go…

But WOW… he even thinks its crazy having Wolfie on tour

[Delighted Romeo]

bs-Can I ask you a somewhat personal question?
BS-sure
bs-When Mike Anthony "left"Van Halen,did Ed give you a call?
BS-Yes he did.We talked for a while but ultimately I couldn't get
involved.It's really a situation I didn't wan't to get in the middle
of.
bs-What do you think about his kid playing bass on the new tour?
BS-I think it's a huge mistake.The kid has no business being out
there with all the drugs and stuff.I think child welfare stepped in
at one point on this.I personally haven't had as much as an asprin
since 1973.

Smart man. He's pulling a Mitch Malloy (circa 1996) and staying out of this mess. His comments on EVH's kid are very instructive, too.

[elvhfan]

we had a shot of getting BS instead of the atrocity that is WVH???......oh man............................................... .........................i feel even worse

[BREW CREW]

Billy is Vai's bass player. Vai also is drug and alchohol free....hmmm.

[Delighted Romeo]

Mike never left the Band, he was let go…

Hehehe. Don't worry, regardless of the truth I'm sure EVH is getting his "he quit" speech ready again for interviews. After all, it's been nearly 11 years since he last used it, and it was 11 years prior to that when he had previously used it. Nice symmetry, huh?!?

[ZORBA5150]

So what? Notice he didn't comment about Wolfie's ability or handling the stage, just the "trappings" of the rnr life style

[twonabomber]

Billy is Vai's bass player. Vai also is drug and alchohol free....hmmm.

Billy's a Scientologist. Vai is just wierd.

[SuckaInA3Piece]

Billy is Vai's bass player. Vai also is drug and alchohol free....hmmm.

Their chemistry is out of this world, and it's FUN to be in that band. Don't blame Billy one bit for taking the stance he did.

[AT]

This is one of the more interesting bits of news (Sheehan's call from Ed) and one of the more credible opinions about the Wolfgang situation that's been put out there so far.

[BREW CREW]

Their chemistry is out of this world, and it's FUN to be in that band. Don't blame Billy one bit for taking the stance he did.

The Breed is a good group of guys. Imagine being Dave Weiner...some unkown kid that gets picked up by Vai after Keneally leaves...you jam with MacAlpine,Sheehan and Vai and some of the greatest drummers every year for a tour. The kid can wail on a seven string and is not too darn bad on a sitar.

[DohertyElliot]

Billy said no but someone else did not. Might that guy be 'on hold' to see how the kid holds up?

[Menlow]

Billy said no but someone else did not. Might that guy be 'on hold' to see how the kid holds up?

...and the plot thickens.

If Wolfie can't do it, they should just swallow their collective pride and call Mike.

[Delighted Romeo]

So what? Notice he didn't comment about Wolfie's ability or handling the stage, just the "trappings" of the rnr life style

Sheehan said less than 30 words about it and you're drawing conclusions from what he didn't say in that brief statement? And we don't even know if Sheehan has seen EVH's kid play or heard anything about his ability.

Anyway, it's not like many of us are solely criticizing this move purely because EVH's kid may not be able to play. Maybe he can. There are a multitude of reasons why many of us have ripped on this myopic, moronic, meatheaded move. (How's that for a nice use of alliteration, huh?)

[VivaVH]

So what? Notice he didn't comment about Wolfie's ability or handling the stage, just the "trappings" of the rnr life style

Seems to me the beef of everyone on here has not been Wolfie's potential, but rather the fact a 15-year-old is going to be on the road for forty nights with the most legendary troublemaking band of all time. That, and he's replacing an original. Still, the beef has nothing to do with his ability.