Eddie, we need you. (long blue folder post)

[cerebralmadness]

I’ve lurked for nearly forever here and have even posted a time or two under a different name. It’s been so long ago and what few messages I put up were probably pretty inconsequential. I don’t remember my old password, so I guess I’ll just start fresh. This site and its users have been my internet staple for the past two and a half years. I thank everyone who has given me something to do on the internet. Now then…

Eddie, we need you. (it worked for Springsteen, what the hell)

Van Halen makes me smile. The music, that is. The soap opera, on the other hand, makes me scratch my head and wonder if they couldn’t have hired better writers.

I’ve ridden along with everyone else’s thoughts and feelings through their posts. And I’ve always been content with just reading them. Forging my own thoughts and opinions and keeping them to myself. Up to this point, I’ve been content. I’ve sat through the Van Halen III snippet of an era. I went to three different shows on that tour. If I totally hated it, I would’ve only gone to one. I sat through Gary’s departure, pondering with a raised eyebrow what the next move in the Van Halen game of strategy might just be. I loved the Dave years; I loved the Sammy years, could this possibly mean that one of them might be back in the fold. I wasn’t concerned with the answer, only the question. When I went to Cabo in 99, I could see how much Sammy enjoyed himself (even though he had just gotten over a sickness… what else is new). I had a feeling Dave would be back. I was joyous and perplexed over the possibilities. I had been been far too young to truly enjoy the Classic Era (I was C-sectioned 8 months after Van Halen’s first album came out). I was almost too young to enjoy the Sammy Era. But now, I’m at my prime. I’m ready for the mighty Van Halen assault. Only… there was nothing.

April, 2000. I was working for a high-end audio mail order company. One of our Kurzweil techs got called to do some pro tools work for nine inch nails. I didn’t know him terribly well, but he knew of my fascination for Van Halen. I get a call from him one day, and he tells me that Roth was at 5150 as we spoke. My Van Halen smile came back. He gave me the Hollywood rap that he knew someone that knew someone, ect. But that was good enough for me. I was again, ready for the Van Halen assault. Only… there was nothing.

Everyone knows the story up to this point. Rumors, rumors, rumors. Ed has cancer; Al is nowhere to be found. The only positive item seems to be that Mikey got rid of the mullet. Sammy and Dave toured together, which was great. I never got the opportunity to see Dave live. It didn’t matter to me who was the “better” out of the two, the simple fact that they were both out there performing made me smile.

We all want Van Halen to come back. We all want it to be successful not just for them, but for us as well. Our devotion to Van Halen reflects a part of who we all are. No matter what era. Whether it was sitting in the back of an El Camino in our Jordache (spelling), jeans or living as part of the culture of the late 80s, early 90s, we all want that part of our lives to revisit us again. Because that Van Halen related part of our lives were happy ones. And with the constant bombardment of the more than possible war with Iraq, lunatics kidnapping children, stock market calamities and the piss poor state of music, it’s hard to find some happiness in these days. It’s hard to smile.

This didn’t really come to fruition to me until tonight. After having a couple beers and watching the VH videos dvd, I came to the conclusion that for myself, I need Van Halen back. I came to an instant smile when I first saw that image of film and scribbles leading into Jump. I smiled all the way through to Humans Being. I stopped smiling at that point. I don’t really think I need to tell anyone why I stopped smiling. Gary had nothing to do with it. Van Halen III really had nothing to do with it. The change had been with me. And the person I had become at that time. I didn’t really care about smiling anymore. I had too many other things to worry about. I had to worry about what I was going to do with my life. I had to worry about my parent’s apparent insanity. I had to worry about my crappy job. I had to worry about my crappy life. I had to worry about knowing there wasn’t something to smile about anymore. Worry, worry, worry. I’ve been worrying for the last four years. I’m not going to worry anymore (well, at least not as much). I’ve decided that I will smile again.

But Ed, I could sure use your help.

Always a fan. Thanks.

[Eddymon]

Excellent post. [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

But why do some people make such long posts after ra few beers and then I come in the next morning all hung over and attempt to read them? [img]graemlins/drunk.gif[/img]

I don't if VH can "save" rock & roll from where it is today. But if they and other bands like Bon Jovi, Springsteen, Def Leppard, and such can do it relatively soon with each other, then it would be an all out assault on the bands that helped bring it to where it is now. Then the "real" bands like Fuel can reap the benefits of the resurgence. Even Dave solo might have decent sales if he put out an album during that time.
When he put out his last album and VH 3 was out, the music seen wasn't buzzing with "rock bands" it was full of pretenders.

But you are right we need Van Halen back.
WITH SAMMY!

[joe318]

great post [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]