Could the new album be a flop?

[Romeo Delight]

I hate to even utter the thought, but could it be that we are all sugar coating this new album - saying that it will sell millions of copies and have such a powerful influence on modern music. I hate to be so pessimistic, but I just think that we may all be living in a bit of delusional bubble. I know that we will all love the new album but what will the general public think?

The way I look at it is with the Kiss reunion. I know, I know, Kiss isn't antything on VH but all I can remember about their reunion is that I heard that they were back and that they were touring. Basically that's it. I consider myself a fan of Kiss like most of the public is a fan of VH. Therefore is it too wrong to assume that most of the public (and lets face it - these people are vital to a platinem sale) will look at the up and coming VH reunion like I have looked at the Kiss reunion?

I think it all comes down the job that WB does in promoting VH during the reunion. I just hate to think that maybe we are all so diehard fans that we are failing to see the possibility that this reunion and new album could very easily be a flop like Kiss' reunion was. I hope for the love of God that it isn't and that it is going to be as huge and amazing as we have all be predicting.

Anyway, what do you guys all reckon about this perspective. Think realistically.

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RD

"Rock 'n' Roll is my second favourite thing in the whole world" - DLR (1983)

[Bru87tr]

I had a dream i went to see them in concert (the first one with dave) and the new songs sucked. guess im getting negative about the band as a fan being left out in the cold and all.

on another note....its possible it could be a flop(though i doubt it) but if it was... in sales i would have to say no as just the curiosity will make them sell over 10 million the first year. i would guess it will be the biggest selling recording of all time even if it is a flop.

[This message has been edited by Bru87tr (edited February 07, 2001 at 03:56 AM).]

[Raldo]

It very well could suck but I doubt that it will. To much is at stake. Plus, with all the perfectionists in that band, that won't let it happen. With KISS, they did the reunion tour first, then an album a couple years later. VH is going with the album, then the tour (hopefully). More pressure for them but they thrive on it.

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May the Phoenix that is Van Halen rise again!

[mkrltr]

10 million albums the first year? WHAT!!
A lot of people may be curious, but not that curious. A lot of the kids who buy a majority of the music these days are too busy listening to korn, limp biz etc... to get excited about a new vh album. I doubt they could even name 10 vh songs.
vh will definitely need a media onslaught (not to mention a great first single)if they are to even come close to 10 mil.
I'm pretty sure the kiss tour went over pretty damn well considering they sold out every damn show. As for their album, who has ever cared about a kiss album? They have never been a band that relies on their music to make them successful. They are a novelty act. A great show, but their music definitely does not have the substance that vh has.
i hope its not a flop, and i doubt it will be because I cant see them putting out an ass album.

[Georgie]

There is always a chance for failure. That is just realistic. Being that Van Halen's status with Dave were legendary and that they are taking their time and being selective with the new music, I think it will be HUGE! I don't think it is a matter of choice any longer for either of them. This is do or die.

PREDICTIONS?

The album will go #1, the album will sell 3 million copies and the tour will be the best grossing one of the year.

[Stuff No More]

Depending on your definition of a flop, I'd have to say no.

Could it suck? Well, yeah, anything could suck.

But based on thw fanatics interested in a reunion alone it will sell more than VH3 and at least as much as BoV1 or DD.

I honestly doubt it will revolutionize rock. Maybe give a band in the immediate future a shot that will revolutionize rock, but if anything, VH being successful will probably just make a record label more willing to take a chance with other older bands.

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Fall in line, say the word...
VHLinks Forum Moderator (Opinions)
Up Front Fanatics!

[Eddymon]

Do I think it will flop?
answer: NO

Will make any significant changes to today's music industry?
answer: 50/50 (it may but I don't think so)

Will it sell better than 3 or Balance?
answer: it should easily sell more than 3. But as far as Balance goes, it will for sure if it has a couple (at least) ass kickers on it like we are hearing from Mike Anthony and others. If the Supposed "old" sound is like Aerosmith's supposed "old" sound, then I think there will be some major disapointment.

But hey any new Van Halen right now will please just about all of us here at links.

Like someone else has in their signature "Eddie Van Halen could fart into a microphone and it will be better that most music out there now".

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ENOUGH IS ENOUGH EDDIE, ALEX, MIKE & DAVE.


*****I AM THE OLIVER STONE OF VHLINKS*****

[Scott]

I just depends on your definition of a flop.

It could be critically despised; every song could suck and no supporting tour. That would of course be considered a flop.

It could do all the above and still sell 3 million copies - that would suck for the fans but make WB happy.

Personally, I think it will be along the same vein as 5150, sell 3 million copies and have a huge world tour (the biggest of the year). This won't revolutionize music; but it will give some artists a shot in the arm. It will also give listeners something they haven't heard (from a major name) in a long time - music; which will revert the trend back to classic style rock.

[Glenn]

First of all, the planets are going to have to do some serious rotating for them to sell 10 million records. In my opinion, that's a figure that is WAY too high a standard, and there's no way they'll sell that much. It may end up considered a flop if we get ourselves believing that they're going to reach those kind of figures.

And I think we need to be a bit more objective here. Van Halen isn't going to restart the rock and roll world and steal it back from the boy bands etc. That's a great thought, but it isn't going to happen. I hate to say it, but the more I've thought about it, to the world in general, this is just going to be another rock band reuniting. Exciting, sure, but not earth shattering. The Rolling Stones got back together in the late 80's, Bruce Springsteen got back with the E Street Band, KISS got back together; and they generated hype and media attention, but it's not like they went on to ride a wave of 10 million selling albums out of it.

I've said this before (I'll be brief here), but no matter that we here are going to get the new album and learn the new tunes for the shows, a large section of the live crowd is going to be there to hear Jump and Panama. Nostalgia won't be our sole reason to be there, we're going to want to know that the band is progressing musically. But you can be damn sure there will be people there (and lots of them) who are there for the nostalgia factor. And there's nothing the band can do about that.

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The Michael Jordan of Van Halen websites!!!
www.vhlinks.com

[Van Gully]

Ed, Mike, Alex, and Dave. When you put these four ingredients together its a recipe for success. I think that MTV, VH1, radio(of course), and all the major media outlets are going to jump on this and give it more exposure than VH and Warner Bross. expect. Hell, CNN had it on Headline News when Gary left the band, can you imagine when the announcement comes that Dave is back in and they have a new release and are going to be touring? They're going to go crazy. It's going to be like sharks in a feeding frenzy. Vh is going to conquer the music world again and in about 6 months to a year after you are going to see many copycat bands come out of the wood works as record companies try to duplicate Van Halen's success. Mark my words. I have a feeling about this.

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I'm a spark on the horizon.
...stayin' round here takes patience, it's like a full time occupation...

[Goo]

SNM, if it sells as many as DD I think theres gonna be a lot of VERY suprised people at 5150 AND WB! lol!

Personally I think if they can break the top 5 albums for several weeks, and sell 2 million+ units, they would be MORE than happy, given todays musical climate. the big bucks will be in the touring I think..

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A little zen... Headed your way...

[VHDOF]

The negative energy engendered by the Aerosmiths and Kiss's of the world is the result of one thing:

Crappy or non-existent new music.

I always hated KISS anyways, but correct me if I'm wrong, but either they haven't done any new music with the old lineup lately, or that which they've done has sucked. I thought I heard something on the radio and it stunk up my car...

Dave Pratt at 97.9 KUPD out here in zonie land played the new Aerosmith song, "Jaded", and said, "Wow, what a great song. That's what's great about Aerosmith. The music just keeps getting better."

Huh? That has got to be the worst FF rip-off weak song I've ever heard in my life, and Pratt's the only one I've heard say that they like it.

My point is that it comes down to the music. Talking about the success in general terms presumes that the music is only average. If the new stuff kicks *&^, the reunion will be immensely successful. If it is lukewarm, then so will be the reunion.

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First six albums rule. In addition, the following represent the only two Y2K release in the world that are preventing me from losing it altogether waiting for the VH reunion.

Galactic Cowboys Let It Go
King's X Please Come Home...Mr. Bulbous

Later, VHDOF

[Nature Boy]

Great post Romeo! I agree 100% I think we are over-hyping it by saying it is gonna sell 30 gazillion copies and revolutionize music as we know it. Folks, IT AIN'T GONNA DO THAT. But, it is guaranteed to kick major bunghole. The Backside Boys, N'Shit and Titanny Spears aren't going anywhere anytime soon. However, I've said it before and I'll say it again. The Backside Boys aren't the problem; shitty groups like Limp Dick and all these generic bland-ass bitch bands like Papa Roach and P.O.D. ARE THE PROBLEM. THEY are the "competition", at least as far as record sales are concerned. Why? Because they are the audience VH appeals to. VH sold shitloads of albums at the same time Michael Jackson and New Kids on the Cock did because they were appealing to a different audience than VH. And please don't flame me with this "record sales don't matter" shit because they do. If they didn't, believe me, Ed sure as hell wouldn't be back with Dave. Not saying that they might not be getting along for a change, but chances are, the waters are probably a little rough, if you know what I mean.

Nature Boy "CEO of Links Championship Wrestling" WOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I want a girl who knows what she's doing, because after this bottle's empty, I won't!!! - Michael Anthony

[EUX4Life]

I think it will definitely hit #1 even if WB does a mediocre job of promoting it. There's tons of people out there who'd buy it just for name value, along with the people who'd buy it because they like a song, and the people who'd buy it because they used to be a Roth-era fan, and finally the diehards. Throw all those together, and I'm pretty sure it'll ship 400,000 copies in its first week, or however much it needs to ship. In the end, I'll say: #1 album (maybe debut), worldwide sellout tour, and 2-3 times platinum.

I'd say that's rock bottom. I would really be surprised if it does worse.

BTW, VHDOF, "I" like the new Aerosmith song...



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"The thing that inspires me the most is my bottle of Jack Daniels. It's my best friend in the world. Ol' Jack will never let you down. He's always there when you need him" - Nikki Sixx, Hit Parader magazine 1986

"Van Halen is 'Get the fuck off the sidewalk if ya don't like our drivin' kinda music!" - David Lee Roth

"We get to the hotel, there's people partyin' in the parking lot, people gettin' down in the elevator, wow! I swear to God I had this one chick, this chick was poundin' on my door, she was kickin' and screamin' at my door 'til about 6.30 this morning. Finally, I just said, 'Fuck it!' and let her out of my room!" - David Lee Roth