Ed at the LAPD golf tourney, revisited, condensed, the facts minus the drivel.

[seenbad]

Originally posted by FanHalen:
Geez! Can't somebody sum up what Eddie said in one reply regarding everything everyone who attended saw? It's hard to look through all of the insults and bitching traded back and forth in this thread to get the real dirt! [img]graemlins/irked.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/yell.gif[/img]

I hear THAT! [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

The last thread just got plain fugly with everybodies griping and complaining about each other and their posts. Thousands of people browse this site for news/updates. They should ( and we should too!) be able to do that neatly and cleanly.

The following are excerpts from the last thread, that pertain to most of the facts around the events at the LAPD golf charity event and EVH's involvement.

I'd put them all into one post, but the image limit on smilies would stop me on that.

Enjoy. Lets keep this one clean if possible. Facts are better than opinion for right now, wouldnt you agree? Rare opportunity to hear about the "whats goin on's" with one particular Edward Van Halen. Lets try to leave the opinions about people here, there etc. out of this thread and stick to reports back from the event from people that were there.

I'd love to hear more of the finer details if anybody can think of anything else from the day. [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

Pictures from the event can be found here----> click on this

If you would rather read from the original thread, and are morbidly curious as to how and why it got silly and ugly, go -----> HERE

[ May 20, 2002, 01:26 PM: Message edited by: seenbad ]

[seenbad]

Originally posted by Joe5150:
I talked with Eddie.

He said Alex is fine. He sees him every day. They jam together.

I asked him about the singer situation. He said they have a lot of singers. Frankly, I don't know what he meant by this: if he was avoiding the question, or what.

He kinda complained about Roth and Hagar touring and playing "his music." I then asked him if there were any chance of joining Sam and/or Dave at Universal Amphitheatre. He replied, "are you kidding me, after both of those guys left the band?!

I asked him about the supposed radio report that Mike is no longer with Van Halen. He told me that I'm listening to too many people. He said that he's easy, that he'll jam with anybody.

With regard to a time frame for releasing new music, he said, "In God's time."

I asked him about a Warner Bros box set. His reply, "you think they would ask us," ie, Warners hasn't approached him about a box set.

[seenbad]

QUOTE]Originally posted by Yesterdays:
Gosh, I wish I could regale you guys with what Eddie said or how he looked. Instead, I can tell you about

1. The paparazzi photographer who stalked Joe Pesci all day;

2. The French woman photographer, dressed head to toe in haute couture leather, who kept saying "I am going to sell zeese pictures" although she hadn't a clue who anyone was;

3 The mentally challenged man who kept honing in on me like radar to report who he'd seen ("I saw Bobby Sherman, he's my FAVORITE!!!")

4. The couple whose conversation consisted only of: WOMAN: I want to go NOW. MAN: I'm not leaving until I see Eddie Van Halen, you know how many years I've loved him;"

and my personal favorite:
5. The incident in which Meat Loaf suddenly swerved his golf cart and almost hit the In and Out Burger Truck.

I don't know how many times I walked up and down that course, with nary a spotting![/QUOTE]

[seenbad]

Originally posted by Joe5150:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Little Dreamer:
Wow... good job, Joe!

Just a question: was it easy to approach Eddie and get him to asnwer those questions? Did he seem to mind that a fan would ask him that?

As far as the box set, did he confirm its existence, or just said it won't happen altogether?

So you have a feeling Ed thinks Mike's still in the band? Coz he sure ain't jamming with them these days...

I was surprised that he talked with me the way he did. He was more personable at this year's tournament (compared to last year). I used the approach to ask him about Alex first. It seemed to work. [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

He definitely did not confirm the existance of a box set. He gave me the impression that it is not happening.

Yes, I got the feeling that Mike is still in the band.[/QUOTE]

Originally posted by Joe5150:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Little Dreamer:
Wow... good job, Joe!

Just a question: was it easy to approach Eddie and get him to asnwer those questions? Did he seem to mind that a fan would ask him that?

As far as the box set, did he confirm its existence, or just said it won't happen altogether?

So you have a feeling Ed thinks Mike's still in the band? Coz he sure ain't jamming with them these days...

I was surprised that he talked with me the way he did. He was more personable at this year's tournament (compared to last year). I used the approach to ask him about Alex first. It seemed to work. [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

He definitely did not confirm the existance of a box set. He gave me the impression that it is not happening.

Yes, I got the feeling that Mike is still in the band.[/QUOTE]

[seenbad]

Originally posted by Joe5150:

quote:

---

Originally posted by seenbad:
Joe, thanks man, thats great to hear a report. Let me ask you this though... GET WORDY! Let us live vicariously through you for a while, none of us will probably ever get the chance to do what you just did. Tell us every detail. How did you approach him? How long did you talk? What was the atmosphere like? Was he loose or wirey? Did he look pretty healthy? Happy? Pissed? Did any other fans ask anything else about him? Was he a main attraction? Did he give any indication whatsoever that something is on the horizon? What does your gut tell you after today?

I think you get the point.

I've been waiting for a chance to ask somebody all this shit! Thanks Joe!! [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

I thought Eddie was goofy today. Looser than last year, but still uptight. Like he has said before, he gives a definite impression that he is not comfortable being the focus of attention.

I think his cancer has really taken a toll on him. I think it has really jolted his perspective and priorities. He said all that matters is his health and his son.[/QUOTE]

[seenbad]

QUOTE]Originally posted by seenbad:
Ok, thanks Joe.

Still looking for others reports checking in here! [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

Things that have stuck out so far...

1. "many singers"?

2. "only thing that matters is health and son"? (um...Val?)

3.

I asked him about the supposed radio report that Mike is no longer with Van Halen. He told me that I'm listening to too many people. He said that he's easy, that he'll jam with anybody.

That makes no sense at all.

4. Ok, where did the box set info originate from anyways? Who got that and where? Was it on WB's site? Ed is not down with it? Wierd.

5. "In gods time" ? Shit. Next time we hear eruption, its gonna be on a harp on a cloud, about 50 years from now in heaven.

Thanks again though Joe. Glad you went and we appreciate the report. [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img] [/QUOTE]

Originally posted by 5151 Parrothead:
[let me just make it very clear, Eddie didn't drink a thing all day. No beer, nothing. He was drinking water and gatorade. Every body else was putting down beers left and right, in fact a member of his foursome was a Budweiser rep, but Eddie wasn't drinking.

[seenbad]

Originally posted by ETRIGAN:

He seemed to be doing very well. He was goofing around and seemed to be having fun. He didn't seem to be frail or weak and like I said it was a very tiring day for me and I wasn't there half as long as he was (in fact he was still signing autographs when I left and made a beeline for Mc D's).

I saw no reason to be concerned with his health.

[seenbad]

Originally posted by Joe5150:

quote:

---

Originally posted by seenbad:

The other thing that gets me is ed saying sam and dave left the band. Just so non chalante, just ho hum. lol. Funny stuff man.

It wasn't non-chalante! It was like, obviously there's resentment and bad blood still, over the whole situation of both Dave and Sam.

To give you additional perspective, while Eddie was signing autographs after the tournament, I asked Ron Del Barrio (Ed's friend) what would happen if I asked Eddie to sign Dave's book (showing Ron Dave's book). Ron turned his head away, and said, "OOHHHH SHIT!!!"

So, no, I did not ask Eddie to sign DLR's book.[/QUOTE]

[seenbad]

Originally posted by 5151 Parrothead:
Since nobody's shared it yet, I'll be the first... I think the classic line of the day had to be when Eddie was being interviewed/harassed by this German TV reporter. She just kept at him and kept at him "one more question, one more question..." and it was becoming quickly clear to everyone but her, that Eddie was becoming a bit annoyed, or at the very least, tired of her. She'd asked a dozen questions, 90% of which were questions that most any of us there could have answered for him. She'd asked about his cancer, and how it was, and he said "It wasn't fun... it didn't like me." and then he went back to get a couple hot dogs. He came back, and she was right back at him "one more question, please..." and Eddie, very politely says "I just wanna eat my hot dog." and this chick says "How has this experience changed your life?" (she was still on the cancer thread); Eddie looks at her straight faced and says "What? The Hot Dog?" The entire group busted up, and interestingly enough, Ms. German TV reporter and her crew just kinda disappeared after that.

There wasn't really a whole lot of "NEWS" that went on... at least not that I heard; and I was right with Eddie from about 10:00am on... But it was fun, He was goofing around, having a good time with the other guys in his foursome, and with the crowd. I think that all of those that were there would agree that it was a great experience (as long as you weren't trying to get him to autograph your guitar <lol> <<Inside Joke>>) For those of you that weren't there, you really missed out on a great day. Between my Digital Camera and my regular film camera, I got about 150+ shots, so there should be quite a few good ones... I'll post 'em on MY site (KIDDING!!! PUT AWAY THE TAR AND THE FEATHERS!!!!) The Digitals I should have up sometime tomorrow, the film within the next couple days. So there should be plenty of pictures between mine, Joe's Etrigan's and whomever else's to let those of you that missed it live vicariously through us. [img]tongue.gif[/img] hehehehehe

[seenbad]

Originally posted by Joe5150:
Also, there was a guy from The Howard Stern Show who interviewed Ed. At first, I was far away, so I didn't hear the first few questions. As I walked to get closer, he asked Ed a question about Rosie O'Donnell. Then he asked Ed if he ever did a black chick. The guy then apologized to Ed, saying that they weren't his questions. Ed patted the guy on the back and said, "tell Howard I said 'Hi.'"

[seenbad]

Originally posted by Joe5150:
The autograph session was ridiculous in that the line wasn't moving. After I got tired of standing in the line, I decided to go see what was going on. Eddie obviously (and amazingly) wasn't in a hurry to get out of there. He spent a lot of time getting philosophical, particularly with this girl whom wanted Ed to sign a guitar for her father whom was in prison. Eddie evidently thought she was gonna put it up for sale on Ebay.

[seenbad]

Originally posted by Yesterdays:
My take on the audience was -- professional autograph hounds (the type that sell them), policeman's families, papparazzi and media, although strangely enough it did not make any of the local LA evening news.

[seenbad]

originally posted by...parrothead?? (I think) OK... Try as I might, I can't just sit here and let this one go by... I was really rather pissed off, to be honest, to hear the bitching and whining and carrying on that was going on in the autograph line. It's obvious that these people don't have a clue. Stop and take a look around at the celebrity autograph industry... yes, it's an industry all it's own... I don't know how many times I've seen sports stars charging $5.00 or more for an autograph... I've seen various other celebs charging anywhere from $3.00 to $15.00 a crack for an autograph. Eddie was good enough to stay and sign autographs after the tournament... for at least two hours. And he took the time to TALK TO PEOPLE, be friendly, and interact with the fans, not just grab the program or album or whatever, sign it, hand it back and say "NEXT!" The only thing that Eddie wasn't signing was guitars. And I heard more bitching and whining and carrying on about that. WHY!?!?!!? First of all, let's stop and realize, this is a celebrity... celebritys very often have ENDORSEMENT CONTRACTS.... KEY WORD HERE "CONTRACT". Several of the guitars that I saw people asking him to sign, or holding in line to get signed were a variety of brands. Chances are, that even if he WANTED to, his contracts he's under would not allow him to do so. Secondly, and more importantly, let's stop and remember... another big bitch and fuss was when Eddie stepped away for a few minutes to go over to the Auction. At said auction, an Eddie Van Halen autographed guitar was auctioned off for $5100 (I've heard $5150.00, but I know it was at least $5100.) Now why on God's green earth would anybody pay over $5000 (whether it's for charity or not) for a guitar, when they can wait in line and have him autograph one for free? additionally, why would Eddie want to autograph a guitar to give to somebody, just so they can turn around and put it up on E-Bay and make $10,000 off of it? I was really pissed off at how people were bitching when Eddie stepped away to the auction. Folk seem to forget that Charity is the entire reason that he was there to begin with. But getting back to my original point, Eddie stayed after for at least two hours, after having played golf all day, and who knows how much running around and all before that; and he does it for free, and yet when he steps away to do something nice, people bitch. I was really displeased. It doesn't seem like the guy could do anything right in some peoples eyes... If he'd have just left and not signed autograhps, he'd have been an asshole. If he'd have just signed an item and moved people quickly through line and not taken any time to talk to anybody, he'd have been an asshole. Because he took the time to talk to people, and be friendly and accessable, and due to that fact the line didn't move as fast as some people thought that it should have, he's an asshole. Because he steps away from signing autographs for 5 minutes (give or take) to participate in a charity auction, put on by the people that sponsored the event, and made it possible for these people to even SEE/BE around/Interact with Eddie at all, and people have to wait a few extra minutes, he's an asshole. The guy just can't seem to catch a break. He says he can't autograph guitars. People whine and cry and stand and argue with him for 20 minutes about this, and call him nasty names... Somedays you just can't win.

Personally, I found Eddie to be a very nice guy. Very approachable, fun to interact with throughout the day. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say that everybody there was ragging on the guy... but as the old cliche says, A few bad apples spoil the whole barrel. Ok, enough. I'm stepping off my soapbox.

[seenbad]

Originally posted by albertr:
I've posted links to my pictures (and one audio clip) at:

http://www.albertr.com/VHDLR/

When you view the larger version of some pictures you'll notice my narrative on what was going on at the time.

There is a link to a page of tips for viewing my photos at the top right of the page.

--Albert

[seenbad]

Originally posted by ETRIGAN:
I have to comment on what Albert said. I'm not sure if I met you there but I'm not going to diss you. What I saw was Eddie posed with a lot of fans while he was playing golf. He didn't want to start autographing while he was playing because everyone would have wanted one and then all the golfers behind him would have to wait for him to finish and move along. There was a kid there with his (dad?) that was in a wheelchair and was severely handicapped. It wasn't easy for him to get around on the course. He went over and talked to the kid and his father for 10 minutes and really made his day. Just seeing that made me feel really good about him.

He said he would sign after they were done golfing. He was very friendly to the people that were "stalking" him around the course. On the last hole he had to stand around for at least 20 minutes while the people in front of him finished the hole. Kevin Neelan (from SNL) ran in to him and the last hole and they hung out waiting for the golfers in front to finish.

He then went to a tent where there were around 200 people waiting for an autograph. As inconvenient as it was to wait in line he stayed there until everyone got one. Well after all the other celebrities had gone home. He never rushed anyone along and was talking to people for as long as they seemed to want to talk. The girl that wanted the guitar signed was standing there crying for half and hour (at least). Instead of telling her to fuck off, he talked to her the whole time she was there. Many in the line would have preferred he would have told her to get lost but he didn't. I'm surprised at what he subjected himself to and never seemed to bitch about it. Some people were very rude and the "short bus" people behind us in line were so obnoxious in line I wanted to move along just so I didn't have to see him subjected to them.