Ed's Drinking and the 2004 Tour

[jeffbug]

Why do you think Ed's drinking was having such an effect on his behavior and his guitar playing on the 2004 tour? Let's face it, Ed has been an alcoholic for most of his life. I'm guessing he started drinking as a teenager and it just continued from there. In the past he always came off to me as somewhat of a normal guy in the tv and radio interviews. He seemed happy and spoke well. I've seen VH 14 times and Ed has always been on top of his game until the last tour. His bizarre behavior and sloppy playing makes me wonder, why is/was it affecting him the last few years? He wasn't hiding the fact he was an alcoholic during the 80's and 90's. The first bizarre moments I saw from him was when the band was on the Howard Stern show in 1998. I thought he played fantastic on the 3 shows I saw on the "3" tour in 1998. Could it be his age? Or, almost 40 years of being in a drunkin' stupor has taken it's toll on him? In the 80's and 90's I could tell he was drunk and he still seemed to play well and act somewhat normal. The last few years every public appearance he has made has been a total trainwreck. I'm almost happy he didn't show up at the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony. He would of embarassed himself and been a laughingstock. Any thoughts?

[Eddymon]

Much like the Dave VS. Sammy arguments, this topic has gotten real old.

The doing something (I think) he really didn't want to do (tour with Sam and Mike) increased his drinking and was his way of escaping a situation he did not want to be in.
But thats only my opinion.

[Van Squalen]

Much like the Dave VS. Sammy arguments, this topic has gotten real old.

I would have to echo this sentiment. Been done to death, this subject.

Read the archives, newbies, for therein lie the answers ye seek.

[Eddymon]

I would have to echo this sentiment. Been done to death, this subject.

Read the archives, newbies, for therein lie the answers ye seek.

Oh fuck! We agreed on something.

[Van Squalen]

Oh fuck! We agreed on something.

Someone cracked the seventh seal.

[DoHalen5150]

not to keep the thread going..but I would suspect that it had something to do with the fact he is no longer the "king of guitar" and that his band hasn't done anything new since 1998, of which was look at as a public failure. Then in 2004, they get back with sammy for a cash and grab tour. If I were the guitarist of that band, I probably wouldn't have been able to muster enough strength to go out and blatantly show the fans, that i'm only on the stage for 2 hours to take your money.

[Glenn]

Personally I think this is a very relevant topic. Here's why;

We all want to see Van Halen reunite with Dave, don't we? The only 'nay' votes (and I'm one of them) come from the idea that Michael Anthony is not involved. It finally seems possible for Eddie and Dave to get back into a working relationship.

Eddie historically got along better with Sammy than with Dave. Eddie is an alcoholic with confidence issues, which lead him to be somewhat paranoid and socially inept.

Suppose they could get it together to tour now, or even reasonably soon. The only thing different about 2007 Eddie and 2004 Eddie in terms of touring with Van Halen is the guy on the microphone.

Given how hit and miss he was in 2004, isn't it relevant to wonder why that was so? And to wonder why it would be any different in 2007 since little seems to have changed with Eddie?

I'd like to know why Eddie's skills chose 2004 to show such erosion. And whether it's a permanent situation or just a shitty year for his live playing.

If I'm going to pay huge money to see DLR and EVH share a stage, I'd like to know if Eddie has lost it. Whether Dave has lost it too is not for this thread.

[OU812fan]

i think ed's playing was the worst we've seen was because he really didn't want to do the tour with Sammy. Combine that with the fact he probably hasn't played nearly as much guitar as he used to and you get the kinda shows we had seen. Ed probably didn't feel as motivated or inspired to play due to the response to VHIII. Some of his best music was taken as crap which probably really unmotivated him to play guitar or even write music. i know this stuff has been brought up many times before but just my opinion on this topic.

[bcgvh]

I think it was because he was totally wasted on stage. I've never seen Eddie on any video previous 2004 as drunk as he was during the reunion tour. The guy could barely walk around during the OKC show. I mean, the guy was hammered to the point of not being able to function at all, so of course he's going to suck.

[AT]

I-t-'-s a-l-l s-p-e-c-u-l-a-t-i-o-n.

Eddie "not wanting" to do the tour is bullshit. He repeatedly expressed his excitement on being back on the road throughout the '04 tour, and insider reports from the pre-show backstage argument in Phoenix at the last show had Eddie, drunk, begging Sammy to keep on going. His psychological commitment may have been waning, but that wasn't the reason why.

Otherwise, it's pretty cut and dried: A guy who has abused substances his whole life has reeked havoc on his body. The body can't heal itself as it once could. Ever know a 50-something life-long drunk? Now imagine that guy trying to play guitar.

Despite Ed's hit-or-miss performances on the '04 tour, I still witnessed my most inspring EVH experience during his solo at the Halloween show; it changed the way I play and think about music.

[MF5150]

I think it was because he was totally wasted on stage. I've never seen Eddie on any video previous 2004 as drunk as he was during the reunion tour. The guy could barely walk around during the OKC show. I mean, the guy was hammered to the point of not being able to function at all, so of course he's going to suck.

Regardless...the man can play guitar... drunk...better than many jerk offs on YouTube on their best day....