New EVH Interview

[Vince G.]

(Lifted this from the VHML. I looked and didn't see it posted here yet. Sorry if I overlooked it.)

Check out this interview from the Roth Army forums supposedly taken from an upcoming issue of "Hit Parader" (I didn't know that mag was still being published):

EVH is easily one of the top 5 in guitar virtuosos of the 20th century. This only makes the last several years of the band's existence seem tragic. With so much talent kept on hold because no singer could get his act together to work with Eddie, much time has been wasted. Now, Van Halen fans can rejoice: the original band (with one minor adjustment) is returning this summer for a North American amphitheatre tour. We spoke to Eddie about what fans can expect.

HIT PARADER: So how does it feel to be back?

EDDIE VAN HALEN: Back where? I haven't gone anywhere.

HP: What have you been up to since your 2004 was tour with Sammy Hagar was cut short?

EVH: Oh, just writing, recording. Jamming with my kid and Al (Ed. Alex Van Halen, Eddie's brother and Van Halen's drummer). My son Wolfie, the kid's a natural. Started on guitar. Moved to bass last year, and we've just been jamming it up.

HP: Did you know from the outset that you would be getting Dave back in the band?

EVH: Y'know, it didn't really matter who it was. It could be Dave. It could be someone else. We actually had a couple of people come up to the house and sing. It could have been them.

HP: Or Hagar?

EVH: Nah. After the last tour, I realized that was sort of a mistake.

HP: What happened?

EVH: We just wanted to play. Couldn't get it together with Dave, though we'd sure tried. So Sam called Al and that set into motion. I was the last one. I said sure. Then we got Sobolewski in, though I didn't really want to (Ed.- Sobolewski is bass player Michael Anthony's real last name). Anyway, it just fell apart. Nobody was on speaking terms. And Hagar and the bass player were just using the press coverage to sell tequila or hot sauce. It was below the belt.

HP: So no chance on getting Anthony back in the band?

EVH: Why? He hasn't played on a Van Halen record in years. We've not spoken. I don't mean to slight him, he's a good player. But there hasn't been that vibe or closeness for years. Plus now he's off playing with the enemy. (laughs)

HP: You mean Hagar? Their band, "The Other Half"?

EVH: Yeah, what's with that? They're out there selling hot sauce and tequila and playing all the songs I wrote. It's kind of sad.

HP: So how did Roth enter the picture? I've been under the impression that you two haven't gotten along for years?

EVH: We wanted to play music again. Wolfie came to me last year and told me how much he loved those old songs. They were easy to learn and fun to play. So we've been jamming them for ages now, and I just sort of looked at Al and said, "Forget it, get Dave in here!" So we called him.

HP: Just like that?

EVH: No, it wasn't just like that. There were lots of lawyers and things to go through. (laughs)

HP: Did Anthony contact you?

EVH: No, but my agent, who is also my girlfriend, told me she'd heard that Hagar was trying to contact me. I don't know what the hell he wants.

HP: So cancer-free, going into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame, a tour with Roth? That's a big turnaround.

EVH: Yeah, it's great. But I don't think we're all going to play at the Hall of Fame. I can't imagine us all trying to share the stage together. Frankly, I don't want to play with everyone.

HP: What about a new album?

EVH: Yeah, maybe. I've got so much music. The name Van Halen, the family legacy, is going to go on forever. Passed on. My kid is a natural. I'm going to have him play on a solo record at some point.

HP: And new music with Roth?

EVH: Well, that's what we hope. We all sound great. You have no idea. And there's more than enough new music. But one thing at a time. We haven't even rehearsed that much yet.

[kevaxe2k1]

Good read, thanks. Clear that Eddie and Mike aren't gonna be working together anytime soon. Too bad, but that's business. Anxious to hear Wolfie!

[James in New York]

RIKK may have made that up, not sure...

[joey-tromollo]

Not that makes sense..! All the speculation and guessing ..Man edd really doesnt like mike ????I need tickets..:joe

[Pacfanweb]

God, he's so full of shit. The more I read it, the more bogus it sounds, especially considering where the "article" comes from. He can't be that full of it, can he?

Way to be selective about who's playing what in concert.
So Sammy and Mike are playing "songs you wrote"....who wrote the lyrics?
And what the hell has Dave been playing all these years? He plays a hell of a lot more VH songs than Sammy ever has. And that's okay?
How is Sammy playing a VH song with Mike on bass any different than having Mona on bass? What the hell difference does it make?

And that's total BS that Mike and Sam were using press coverage in 2004 to sell their hot sauce and tequila. Neither were even allowed to mention the stuff the whole tour.

You didn't realize getting Sam back was a mistake....you and Al both wanted to continue the tour. Sam was the one who wouldn't agree to more dates. '
And you say this after saying how much it meant to you to have Mike back in your life back in 2004. Lying m-fer.

This is either a bogus article, or EVH simply doesn't realize that we all know what he's saying here is a crock.

[venom thrust]

Not legit.

[Van Squalen]

<cough>bullshit<cough>

[Double Down]

If that interview is true then I can't believe what a douche Ed sounds like. "Sam and Mike were using the tour to sell tequila or hot sauce"? Gimme a break, Ed. Every time I fucking turn around I'm seeing something new with stripes on it being sold. Gimme a break.

[Vince G.]

My .02 on the whole thing, if this is true:

All the songs "he" wrote? So, what he's saying is that he's some fucking ghost lyricist, and they just slapped Hagar's name onto the writing credits for each and every song since 1986?

And, I don't remember seeing ANY hot sauce being sold at ANY of the shows in 2004. I saw CWT here and there, but no hot sauce. The way he keeps going back to the lame is excuse is pathetic. It's obvious he can't think of anything legit to state as to Mike's firing, so he keeps falling back on that bullshit excuse. Funny how the $25,000 guitars he was pimping wasn't mentioned, or the limited edition Kramers, either.

I wonder how Ed realized any of the 2004 tour was a mistake since he was faded 99% of the fucking time.

And, Ed has a solo record planned for the future? 74:59 of pure sustainer, right? Grow up, Ed. Otherwise, you're going to die a very bitter and lonely man in your studio.

How Brad is able to work for both sides and remain 100% neutral is beyond me.

[perticelli]

real or not, very interesting read..

Who was the original poster of this at the Army?

Btw, if we're all speculating as if it were real, i'll say this..

No surprise, but Ed does write the songs..in the sense he ALWAYS wrote the music FIRST, then lyrics were put to it. It may seem like splitting hairs to some, but not me. The onlym time Ed ever wrote the music to the lyrics was on III.

So, by logic, if Ed never bothered to write any music, there weren't any songs by VH to be released.

And i cant see the point of speculation just to trash someone again...

[Menlow]

That interview is bullshit.

It was a nice touch by the author to claim it was for Hit Parader.

[Number 47]

Nice synopsis. John Stamos as King Edward in an HBO Film.

[Berseker]

I don't know why but among many other details that line made me jump: "EVH: No, but my agent, who is also my girlfriend", it is so unlikely Ed would say that kind of thing so blatantly.

[tequilahotsauceandvh]

Smells like BS to me. Pure fabrication...

[Rovus]

It definitely seems dodgey.