For Edward, For Van Halen, For Ourselves

[z28girl]

I came out here today to post about the MTV Icon Award for Aerosmith. I watched it last night and noticed that during a break in the performances, they were playing Van Halen in the background. Also, Van Halen was mentioned twice in the Aerosmith biography, showing them as the ones who took over when Aerosmith was breaking up and then again showing them (both with Dave) as the ones who are no longer here but Aerosmith is. I was pretty pissed off about that because it made Van Halen look like a flash in the pan and although, Van Halen could take a lesson from Aerosmith in putting themselves back together despite differences, Van Halen is as much of an icon as Aerosmith.

I went to bed and I'm laying there thinking how I would love to just sit in a room with Edward and listen to him play. We wouldn't even have to talk and then I started composing a letter in my head that I would like to send, but won't, and I said a prayer that he was doing well and now I came to work this morning and I'm sitting like an idiot with teary eyes and an upset stomach. My friends and family, my husband even, are looking at me kind of weird and I know how silly it is. I mean, I don't know Edward Van Halen, so why should I be so involved in whether he's sick or well? People are sick all over the world! But I can't help the way I feel. Since August 2, 1980 Ed has been like a friend, a very dear friend. And I know he'd be the first to say get a life. He's right.

I think the best thing we all can do is not to speculate and spread rumors, pray and pray and pray, be fans of the band and not be so quick to jump on one bandwagon or another, and most of all, enjoy their music, all of it. Play it loud!

I would like to ask all of you to take a moment and think about what Van Halen's music has meant to you and the great concerts you've been to. There's memories and music there to last a lifetime. Here we are wanting Van Halen to put aside their differences and at the same time, I read posts that say horrible things about Edward, Sammy, Dave, and Alex. I've even gotten caught up in it myself at times and I know it's out of frustration and maybe even fear. But we've got to stick together and support this band and their legacy. We have to show Ed we care and wish him the very best. I hope to God that he's okay and that he'll outlive us all. I want to see Van Halen honored at the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame and be considered the icons that they truly are, but whether that happens or not, I will always adore Ed and Van Halen will always be #1.

[Von Coolio]

Good post! You've made a good point regarding Aerosmith -- they worked really hard to put aside their differences and that hard work has translated into an AMAZING revived career.

I know how you feel in terms of being sad about Edward's potential condition. When I saw the pictures of him from the Styx web site last December, my heart sank. The poor guy is a shadow of himself and it breaks my heart. I hope the news about Ed not being well is just a rumour... though considering all the recent legal activity and protection of assets, it makes me wonder. I wish that the VH brothers would give us a genuine "heads up" so we don't have to speculate and lament about Ed's health.

I'm not a big Beatles fan, but it was hard not to feel moved the day George Harrison died. I dread the day that similar news comes from the VH camp. I hope it never happens.

[Wolfman]

Z, that's a wonderful post. [img]smile.gif[/img]

I would hope that despite the sprinkled bashings borne out of frustration, Ed would be able to recall the countless threads of concern and support that have been made here since the inception of the forums, particularly after news of his cancer was made public. Although it seems that our desires for the band are selfish at times, the bottom line is that this band is, was and always will be so utterly important to us, and even though we don't know the past and present members personally, we have come to bond with them through their music and our appreciation of it. We are part of the "Van Halen family", if you will. I don't think there are many, if any other bands that can claim such a tight weave between themselves and their fans - particularly the strange, but warm phenomena-like bond between mutual fans.

[bruceirma]

Nice post. Funny, I was kind of feeling the same way, and I am a fifty four year old man. Yesterday, I was thinking about all this stuff. All this hatred being expressed. We need to be careful, cause we truly dont know.
I decided to listen to Diver Down. It is my favorite....because of the little guitars intro, little guitars, pretty woman, and that interesting motown tune,ha. As an amateur guitarist and music educator by profession, all i can tell you is this,..when i listen to that sequence i get those chills. never fails. we all have our vh stuff that does that to us, and for me, it is those covers. those covers are not your usual covers..it is not vh trying to be the kinks or martha and the vandellas. It is vh showing the world their uniqueness. i think little guitars intro and little guitars makes diver down a remarkable product. anyway, strange days ahead for us. time will tell.

[FORD]

As cheesy as Van Hagar got, at least it was always their own cheese. AeroSHIT have become complete sellouts, singing prefabricated top 40 songs with all the integrity of the Archies ( [img]graemlins/yell.gif[/img] ....you are my candy girlll and you got me wanting yoooouuuuu....)

Aerosmith in the 70's: Icons, definitely.

AeroSHIT after 89 : World's oldest boyband.

[Crystalfish]

Good Post!!

[BAM66]

Indeed. You're one of the good ones Z28girl!!

[waterdog5]

Good post!

[willy4pres]

Why not share some "Special" moments from a VH concert, or something VH related.

Mine:

During the F.U.C.K tour in St. Louis, River Port Ampa Theater.

Sammy's playing his acoustic number, then in the middle he just kinda mentions something off-hand about it being pretty damn cool to be playing in the Summer, outdoors, with a full moon! Just then the whole crowd on the grass looks up at the moon and laugh's, because most of them had either just thought that same thing, or had earlier, I know I just had not ten seconds before he said it.

May sound kinda silly, but it was the perfect thing to say at the perfect time to say it.

[WhoHalen]

Great posts, guys. After hearing that Ed isn't doing well (even though its unconfirmed), and all this copyright stuff going down, it's hard to think positive. But, I've never ragged on Ed for the decisions he's made, because the bottom line is that no one on this board really knows whats going on with Van Halen. I hope to God that Eddie is doing well and is going to rock us out of our seats forever. I think that we, as fans, owe a great amount of support to Ed, for all that he's done for us. He's given us his music, and surely it's changed all of our lives in some way, or we wouldn't be here posting on these message boards 24/7. Ed, I love ya and wish you nothing but the best, whether Van Halen is done or not. You deserve nothing less.

As for Aerosmith, are they rock icons? Yes, whether we like it or not. Have they made better choices than Van Halen? Yes. Are they a better band? I think we all know the answer to that...

[JMJ]

now that was one hell of a classy post! there is hope...

JMJ

[strungout]

It's great to read a hearwarming post in here every once in a while!

Z28girl, you couldn't have said it better! [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

[mr.jimbo]

Excellent post. Thanks for your words. They echo for many.

[z28girl]

You guys are the best! I hope that somehow, some way, Edward and the rest of the guys know that we're behind them 100%. [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

I have so many great memories of Van Halen, from hearing Runnin With the Devil for the first time and riding around one summer in 79, fresh out of high school, getting high, and blasting VH. [img]graemlins/devil.gif[/img] Seeing them with Dave in 1980 plastered up against the stage watching Edward play. I never heard anything like it in my life! The look on my future husband's face when he walked in my bedroom for the first time and saw Dave chained to a fence in black leather pants. [img]graemlins/scared.gif[/img] I still have that poster! Being there at the taping of Live Without A Net in New Haven. Meeting Ed with Sammy on the Jon Stewart show and getting a glimpse of Valerie while Wolfgang ran around with drumsticks. Meeting Ed again at MSG with Gary. We got front row seats and spent the night rocking out with all these great people, just high-fiving and dancing with complete strangers, but it was so cool because we're all Van Halen fans. The first time I drove my Camaro after getting a new engine (a stroked 383) and popping Unchained in the CD player. Man, I lit those tires up, fishtailing down Wood Avenue! And just all the times I've been out here getting the news or shooting the breeze or the times me and my friends have hung out or whatever, blowing the speakers out. Where there's a good time, there's Van Halen and I'm glad to see that Dave and Sammy are keeping the spirit going, even if it's a little like cats and dogs sleeping together. [img]graemlins/wtf.gif[/img] And I hope and pray we hear something positive from Edward and Al soon. Until then, let's keep checking those Golf mags.

[VanEdge]

Z - you're a sweetheart.
It was nice to read something so personal and non-vindictive.
I feel much the same way as you. Van Halen means a lot to me. They're "my" band. None of my friends ever cared as much about them as I did, and nobody understood how I felt about the music.

I guess that's why I really don't give a rat's ass about Dave "just being Dave" or the midgets and the partying. I don't care about why Sammy left or was kicked out. I'm tired of flaming Ray Daniels and hearing people call Gary a fag.

I identified with Van Halen through Eddie as a MUSICIAN. I used to soak up all the interviews I could find, and he never spoke about anything but music. He never had some bullshit schtick, no false pretense. He always just seemed like a really gifted guy who simply wanted to share his music, not his personal life.

That's why, for whatever reason, I can live with the silence. I am grateful to Eddie for the legacy of MUSIC he has given to the world.

When all is said and done, VH will be remembered for the music, not the bullshit.

And when Eddie dies, all of the flamers and naysayers will come running around as if they always supported him. I'd like to see how many people blame him for anything at that point. No one will care about the bullshit. It's all about the music. The music will live on for all to enjoy.

That's really all we have now, isn't it?

[ April 19, 2002 at 06:37 AM: Message edited by: VanEdge ]</p>