New Ed and Al Rolling STone Audio

**Wickett** · 02.26.07, 09:40 AM

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdail...lex-van-halen/

Exclusive Audio: Eddie and Alex Van Halen
Last week we were hit with the tragic news that Van Halen’s highly anticipated and freshly announced reunion tour was being indefinitely postponed. The jury is still out on what all this means — especially with regard to the band’s performance plans at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony March 12th in New York City. A few weeks ago, our Brian Hiatt spoke to Eddie and Alex Van Halen about — among other things — the band’s thoughts on being inducted and the logistics of going onstage with VH members new and old to play the award show. Whatever news unfolds, we prefer to bask in the more innocent, if fleeting times when there was hope and excitement underneath the Van Halen brothers’ HoF wise-cracking:

On what they though upon hearing that they’d been nominated [listen]
On their plans for performing at the ceremony [listen]
On ousting Michael Anthony and naming Wolfgang the band’s new bassist; new material; tour news [listen]
On the future of Van Halen [listen]

**perticelli** · 02.26.07, 09:46 AM

alright, my speakers here aren't functioning..anyone gonna transcribe for us or give us the gist of their answers?

tjhx

**darthadv** · 02.26.07, 09:46 AM

nice!

**elvhfan** · 02.26.07, 09:47 AM

does it even really matter anymore...this interview happened before this disaster

**ChrisTheEdHead** · 02.26.07, 09:50 AM

Well, Im sure its basically "Sam's a dick, Dave is my musical soulmate (this week), Mike ripped me off, and aliens have implanted devices in my brain...wanna drink?"

**chefcraig** · 02.26.07, 09:56 AM

"The tree doesn't fall far from the nut." Edward Van Halen, describing his son's playing.

That's about all one needs to hear.

More VH obfuscation and bullshit from the brothers Van Halen. Here's a gem from Al Van Halen: "We're always working on new material."

Thanks for the effort of posting it, Wick.

**Van Squalen** · 02.26.07, 10:01 AM

Interesting stuff.

Lots of scrambling there, by both brothers.

"They didn't show up." "They started another band." "There's lots of singers on this planet."

Mmmkay, Ed.

**Leo Van Newhouse** · 02.26.07, 10:07 AM

They seem to really believe in Wolfie. Let's see what will come from it.

**TheresOnlyOneWay** · 02.26.07, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by Van Squalen

Interesting stuff.

Lots of scrambling there, by both brothers.

"They didn't show up." "They started another band." "There's lots of singers on this planet."

Mmmkay, Ed.

I can't listen here at work but if that's what Ed said, here's another 'fuck you' Edward.

**Otis5150** · 02.26.07, 10:09 AM

Someone really needs to sit these two clowns down and froce them to listen to themselves. They're all over the place. Jesus, at least get you're story straight! In one breath Ed says that Mike was ousted because he started a band with Hagar. In the next, they say that anyone who wants to come up to 5150 and play is welcomed???

No wonder the fucking tour imploded...

**wham bam will rock** · 02.26.07, 10:10 AM

I wouldn't 'show up' either if I was forced out of the band by signing away all my rights.

"We're always making new music" (that no one will EVER get to hear)

**willyum** · 02.26.07, 10:10 AM

listening to evh is just fucking painful.

**smithtone** · 02.26.07, 10:15 AM

The bros. said in the first link that the RRHOF award is bigger than them and it's about the a lot of people - namely the fans. Yeah, okay...

They're blowing smoke like they have in the past to let us - the fans - think that these changes are all for the best. Wolfie shreds? Mike and Sammy formed another band? Convenient that they use that as an excuse to sleaze the kid in the band.

Whatever.

**knuck** · 02.26.07, 10:16 AM

****1st clip is Eddie saying he doesn't like award shows and finds the process silly.

****2nd one is Eddie making a joke about Sammy "He might not show up because he can't drive 55. Ah... Bad joke." Then Alex says "We won't know until that day because everything is up in the air."

****3rd Clip.
Alex saying "The kid CAN PLAY. As a drummer, and especially when a drummer and a bass player have to lay the groove down... This kid grooves. "

Ed: "I don't know exactly what happened. Except for the fact that Hagar and Anthony started their own band! You can't be in two bands. I mean... Al help me out here Al."

Al: "It's simple... They didn't show up. So... Wolfie showed up and boom! That's it."

More Eddie and Al lauding Wolfie with praise.

Ed: "The meat and potatoes was always Al and I." He talks about how he was always more of a rhythm guitarist and played off of drums rather than bass.

New material?

Ed: "Definitely"
Al: "Always"

Al "There's never been more things going on all at the same time than the last few weeks."

Ed sounds totally coherent and stone sober through the whole interview.

Haven't listened to the last one yet. Figured I should post this before all the little bitches start complaining without even listening to it.

**belikemike** · 02.26.07, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by perticelli

alright, my speakers here aren't functioning..anyone gonna transcribe for us or give us the gist of their answers?

tjhx

Pert. Nothing new there. Just listened to it. Basically, it's the audio of the interview Rolling Stone did with Ed & Al before Roth was announced. Done sometime in January.

They did scramble quite a bit.
On Anthony they said several things -- "Hagar & Anthony started another band. You can't be in two bands." Alex added "They didn't show up" or "They quit showing up" something along those lines.

Ed didn't make a helluva lot of sense. On the RRHOF induction, they both said it was an honor. He explained how when he was told they were nominated, he didn't understand what that meant (were they in, or not?). Ed also mentioned something about sending all the awards to him when he was 80. It wasn't a slag on the awards, he was trying to make the point that they are moving forward and thinking about new music, not awards right now.
He did say that now that Wolfgang is in the band, he'll be free to do what he wants (playing wise). Said he doesn't have to be the rhythm section with Al anymore, now that they have this bass player that kicks ass.

On Roth. It was the same stuff we've already read. They basically said they have a lot of options. The decision wasn't all up to them. People know where we are, come on up and make music if you want to. Ed mentioned lots of people make instrumental records, so that was an option. Ed mentioned there are lots of people who can sing on the planet. They said they would definitely be hitting the road this summer, and that in the next few weeks everything would be settled as to what they were going to do as far as lineup.

Somebody already gave you the classic Ed quote "the tree didn't fall too far from the nut."