theory

[dart93]

I posit that we haven't received new VH music, nor will we receive new VH music, because creating music for Ed is inextricably intertwined with drinking and he is now sober. This thought came to me when I finally got around to reading "Red." Ed waking up and knocking back beers during the "5150" sessions. Ed drunk writing "FWYS" with Sam. Ed holed up in the studio with Andy Johns during the making of FUCK, snorting coke and drinking. This somehow worked for Ed, until it didn't--see 2004. ADKOT is not evidence that he can still create. For that project, he mostly--if not entirely--relearned material he had composed decades earlier. He did not create new music.

If, based on decades of habitual behavior, he associates creating in the studio with drinking and getting high, and he is determined to stay sober, how can he go to the studio? Maybe he can't.

If Ed is in fact sober and enjoying the pleasures of clear-headed life, I'm happy for him. I would never want things otherwise. But this explanation for why the music stopped struck me as I read "Red." EVH had a habit in the Sammy era of publicizing his discovery of sobriety with every new album release, starting with "OU812." I never gave it much thought at the time. But if were living the alcoholic lifestyle to some degree during the creation of each of the first 10 studio albums, it sadly makes sense that once he finally really got sober, he would have to leave behind his former creative process, if that creative process were inextricably linked to his addictions.

[I Coulda Hada VH]

Is there anything left in that bottle?

[Darkness]

In Guitar World 2009 Eddie said he was still creating music, it was just different than what people would expect or want (classical piano/cello ect).

[I Coulda Hada VH]

Let's hear it for Mexico!!!

[fudd]

It’s probably true to a degree what you are stating Dart. I personally think he’s scared. He drank and did all those substances not only because he was addicted but it masked a true sense of inadequacy. I don’t know why because he’s the best living guitarist but it’s not for me to analyze him.

And in his defense, he’s done it all. There’s very little for him left to prove.


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[ScottyBHarris]

I saw an interview with Joe Walsh a while back, where he said he had to learn to play guitar sober. It took a while for him to get used to playing guitar again without some kind of stimulant.

[I Coulda Hada VH]

Eddie Van Halen effectively "took his ball and went home" after the failure of his solo album, Van Halen III. It's a damn shame that one disappointing album after 10 successive multi-platinum efforts had such an impact on him. Sigh ...

[Darkness]

Eddie Van Halen effectively "took his ball and went home" after the failure of his solo album, Van Halen III. It's a damn shame that one disappointing album after 10 successive multi-platinum efforts had such an impact on him. Sigh ...

He has also been displeased with the reaction to new material since then. In 2009 he complained that people "just stood there" in 2004 when the new BOBW songs were played, and that the reviews never mentioned them. In 2015 he said whenever an ADKOT track was played, the crowd was like "what is this".

[chain]

It think he's just done writing, recording, and playing music for the general public. At his age and given his various health issues and the fact that he's not exactly hurting for money, why the f@ck bother?

Roth basically suggested this in his recent interviews regarding the future of Van Halen.

Now, does Ed occasionally sit down at the piano, guitar, cello or all of the above and lay down some great music? I bet he does.....He just cares little about sharing it with the public or touring or making money from it. Would I love to hear more of his creations? Damn sure would. But good for him for turning away from a life that just doesn't turn him on anymore.

He is after all in the last chapter of his life and so why waste his remaining time doing something that has little interest to him? I'm closing in on 51 years of age and am beginning to realize exactly what he's probably been feeling for years now.

[Raldo]

Recording for the masses probably doesn’t interest him anymore.

[ziggysmalls]

Its probably 100 different things. Far too complicated to sum up simply to one issue.

I think with all of them and the fact he has had some serious health issues made him question how he wants to spend the last years on this planet. He simply would rather wake up, drink some prune juice, walk Kody, go into his garage and tinker and then every few days walks down to 5150 to tinker some more. Some people are wired different. Sam is like a Warren Buffet who wants to work until he dies. Others will retire and play golf every day.

Eddie is pretty much retired and good for him

[belikemike]

ISome people are wired different. Sam is like a Warren Buffet who wants to work until he dies. Others will retire and play golf every day.

The latter sounds pretty good, hope to make it to that stage someday!

[Dave's Dreidel]

I'm going to die at my desk probably.

[wombattt]

I'm going to die at my desk probably.

I’m happy to have left the Rat Race, been enjoying myself since 2016. I work out, play tennis, run, bicycle, swim, sometimes I day drink...if Covid wasn’t around I’d have been traveling, going to concerts. Now I’m left to day trips.

[Little Dreamer]

I’m happy to have left the Rat Race, been enjoying myself since 2016. I work out, play tennis, run, bicycle, swim, sometimes I day drink...if Covid wasn’t around I’d have been traveling, going to concerts. Now I’m left to day trips.

I'm guessing u dont have kids?