Sammy says Alex is in charge

[Dutchie5150]

Where can i find this issue of Modern Drummer?

I've wanted to read this interview, but the links are just quotes and excerpts.

https://www.moderndrummer.com/store/...lex-van-halen/

[Little Dreamer]

One way to interpret that first quote was that AVH heard/read about Noel Monk's book and wasn't pleased. I hope he's not talking about VH Rising or the Ted book.

[Dave's Dreidel]

One way to interpret that first quote was that AVH heard/read about Noel Monk's book and wasn't pleased. I hope he's not talking about VH Rising or the Ted book.

Noel's book does not paint them in a favorable light, while Greg's do, both of them.

And Greg researched and interviewed the shit out of his book, so yeah, Ed and Al weren't part of the book, but guys who were in the room with them were. And unlike Monk, Greg didn't have an axe to grind.

[Destructo2]

Noel's book does not paint them in a favorable light, while Greg's do, both of them.

And Greg researched and interviewed the shit out of his book, so yeah, Ed and Al weren't part of the book, but guys who were in the room with them were. And unlike Monk, Greg didn't have an axe to grind.

As Greg says, “His favorite band is Van Halen”. Those books are anything but hit pieces. Didn’t read Noel’s book. How bad does he trash them?

[Dave's Dreidel]

As Greg says, “His favorite band is Van Halen”. Those books are anything but hit pieces. Didn’t read Noel’s book. How bad does he trash them?

Quick summary, to me, others mileage may vary.

Ed's a simpleton/genius savant.

Dave's a dick.

Al's a dick.

Mike's nothing special and lucky to be there.

There, I saved you some time.

[dislocatedday]

As Greg says, “His favorite band is Van Halen”. Those books are anything but hit pieces. Didn’t read Noel’s book. How bad does he trash them?

Noel goes after Dave, Ed, and Al in spots throughout the book. It's not non-stop disparaging of them, but I came away somewhat distrustful of him and perhaps his memories of how things transpired with VH from 1978-1985. I was also left with the impression that he was probably not a good manager for VH. I remember in the book when he is discussing the tension on the 1984 tour that he came to the realization late in the tour that the guys in the band hated one another, and stated this in the book and appeared to be kind of jovial or laughing about it. I'm not sure that was the case (..that they hated each other..) and I would bet the chemical haze that the band likely was in did not help matters, but even if it did get to that point then he appeared to do nothing to attempt to actually manage the band and help steer them through their tense relationships.

He also went on in the book about some big money deal he arranged in 1984 for a 4th rate car stereo company at the time (Sparkomatic........in case anyone remembers that name) to sponsor the 1984 tour, and that they would give VH a chunk of money for this and VH would have to do some promotion for Sparkomatic too if I remember the story correctly. It just sounded so off to me..........like why would VH partner with this cheap car stereo company, and why would the VH manager or the band want to be associated with that cheap crap? VH was the biggest rock band in USA at that time.....no way should they be associated with that.

[Dave's Dreidel]

He was probably a good road manager, but to manage the actual band's career? Hell no, he was out of his depth.

Outside of the Leffler years, VH was successful in spite of their management.

[Destructo2]

Thanks DD and dislocatedday. Will not wast my time with his book...

[dislocatedday]

He was probably a good road manager, but to manage the actual band's career? Hell no, he was out of his depth.

Outside of the Leffler years, VH was successful in spite of their management.

I fully agree with this.

With better management, Dave and the rest of VH may not have split in '85. However, it happened and Leffler subsequently appeared to guide them very well until he passed. Things then went downhill again after that when Ray Daniels came in to the picture.

[I Coulda Hada VH]

Quick summary, to me, others mileage may vary.

Ed's a simpleton/genius savant.

Dave's a dick.

Al's a dick.

Mike's nothing special and lucky to be there.

There, I saved you some time.

"If you're going to be Noel Monk, you've got to tell a lot of lies." Allegedly.

[Little Dreamer]

He was probably a good road manager, but to manage the actual band's career? Hell no, he was out of his depth.

Outside of the Leffler years, VH was successful in spite of their management.

"Donny, you're out of your element." W. Sobchak

[DFVH5150]

Going back to the box sets...why can't they just release sets of double-CDs/DVDs every now and then moving forward when they get to it? Do it as they go? Makes all the sense in the world to me and is certainly more marketable.

[dislocatedday]

Going back to the box sets...why can't they just release sets of double-CDs/DVDs every now and then moving forward when they get to it? Do it as they go? Makes all the sense in the world to me and is certainly more marketable.

I used the term boxset or deluxe set earlier in the thread, but I think what is more likely in most cases is what you suggest here. I think the core studio albums will undergo a re-issue campaign whereby an extra disc or two of studio rarities/outakes and live shows are added. Take "Fair Warning" for instance. They could add two additional CDs for the full audio of Oakland '81 (which appears to exist in Pacific Archives, perhaps I am wrong.... I know the full shows were not filmed, so I am only talking about audio). Even if just that show was added I know most Van Halen fans would immediately go out and buy that. If there are good studio outakes from FW those tracks could be included and added to the end of the main album on the album CD. For WACF we already know there are good demos that exist, as well as that intrumentla outtake "Act Like It Hurts".


There are a lot of possibilities that would be easy to execute, would generate money, and would please the fans.

I would still contend that the first album should get some type of big boxset treatment as well, with all the WB demos, the Gene Simmons Zero demos, and a live show(s). I'd love to get unreleased video as well.

[jimmy812]

Thanks DD and dislocatedday. Will not wast my time with his book...

Or you could read Monk's book and decide for yourself. I don't completely disagree with DD's summary. But I still found it to be an interesting read from someone who was there in those early years. I really enjoyed his book.
Yes, it could be said that Monk had an ax to grind, but waiting until 2017 to put that book out? That's a long time spent grinding that ax.

I agree that Monk seemed like an odd choice to manage them at that time and seemed to have stepped in shit with VH.

[Olen]

Yes, it could be said that Monk had an ax to grind, but waiting until 2017 to put that book out? That's a long time spent grinding that ax.

Monk was under a confidentiality agreement that prevented him from writing this type of book until the agreement expired. Since he exited in 1984 and the book was released in 2017, and probably required about 2+ years to write/edit, the confidentiality agreement was probably a 30-year window (speculating) expiring in 2014.