New Mitch Malloy interview in Rolling Stone

[Little Dreamer]

I feel there should be a proper thread with the complete new interview Mitch Malloy gave, because it includes a lot more stuff, and a bunch of information about what happened in 1996 that I don't think had been made public prior. This is done by the same writer who wrote the VH tribute in Rolling Stone, Brian Hiatt:

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/m...rview-1106746/

What is interesting is the writer also talked to Ray Danniels to double check some of the facts, so we're getting a pretty comprehensive picture of the 1996 stuff.

And some new stuff about Gary's departure from VH.

[Ashe]

The late 90s/early 2000s era was such a bizarre time to be a Van Halen fan.

[VH1986]

Who knows what VH would have been like with Mitch, but I have to agree with his impression of MWM, CGTSNM, and the VHIII material. I get the impression that it was not the music Mitch had a problem with regarding the first two tracks.

[vanCherone]

The late 90s/early 2000s era was such a bizarre time to be a Van Halen.

Fixed that for you.

[BlindtotheWorld]

It was like, “OK, you can’t repeat anything that we’re about to tell you. Please sit down. Sammy has been fired and it’s very top-secret.” And I was like, “Holy shit.”

I thought Sam quit.

[PassingBy]

... he did talk about his addiction and he was telling me that he couldn’t write unless he was buzzed. So he went to a therapist ... and he was able then to create music. “And this is what I created.” Poof! Like that! And then he played it for me and I was like, “Uhh …”

VH III and everything that (didn't) happen afterwards explained in a nutshell.

[Dave's Dreidel]

You know what? VH got what they deserved. Double and triple dealing with Roth, Malloy and Cherone...karma is a bitch.

[rockyvanheineken]

They played some of my music and my “Anything at All” video, and apparently they were like, “Holy crap. He’s like a combination of Hagar and Roth. It’s perfect.”

[Bad to the Bone]

Mitch might be a great guy, he made the right decision.

Ed was in a really, really strange place at this time.

[LAD-1972]

The passive-aggressive world of Van Halen... he definitely made the right choice! Great story to tell your grandkids!

[Little Dreamer]

In the year 1996, VH had 4 singers, Hagar, then Roth, then Malloy and finally, Cherone.

That's gotta be a world record for a calendar year.

[Dave's Dreidel]

In the year 1996, VH had 4 singers, Hagar, then Roth, then Malloy and finally, Cherone.

That's gotta be a world record for a calendar year.

That's not even counting the ones they asked (or made inquiries of) and turned it down (Sass Jordan comes to mind).

[belikemike]

Interesting read, a few new tidbits in there, and really helps clear up the timeline that I had always struggled with.

Hagar officially fired and/or leaves the band after the Father’s Day conversation. Roth records the two songs, presumably May/June/July of that year.

Malloy comes in August, and it sounds like they had some dealings with Cherone in the same time period. The MTV thing happens in September, and Cherone is then on board.

Not sure if Malloy was ever really offered the job or not. My guess is Ed told him he was in, but the business end of it was never put in process. So when he backed out, he backed out of nothing, at least in Ray Danniels mind.

Give Malloy credit, he seems to have good instincts. He wanted to get away from that entire shit show after seeing the band with Roth on MTV. Always been kind of curious if Cherone ever had similar thoughts before signing up?

DD makes a great point about karma. They double/triple dealt with a bunch of guys, and in the end it was a huge factor in the ruination of VH as a functioning, productive, active band. They have been nothing but a nostalgia act since. Something Ed railed against several times in his younger years.

Someday I’d love to hear more about the parting with Cherone. What forced it? They were apparently making progress on the second album. My gut tells me the record company essentially put its foot down after hearing what was being worked on for Mach III round 2. If it was actually Ed/Al, kind of strange timing that they just “figured out” that Gary didn’t belong in the midst of recording the second record. They would have known that recording the first record. Or certainly after the tour. Maybe Gary realized it, and backed out? Would love to know that story someday.

[BlindtotheWorld]

Mitch might be a great guy, he made the right decision.

Ed was in a really, really strange place at this time.

Seems like he didn't have a decision to actually make:

Despite Malloy’s belief that he had gotten the gig, the band apparently had second thoughts. Soon after he departed L.A., Gary Cherone flew in to begin auditions and rehearsals with Van Halen. By the time of the VMAs, Cherone had recorded two or three new songs with the band, he tells Rolling Stone through his manager. At the time, Malloy had no idea; he thought he was still in the band. he says.

[Bigdaddy_14]

I used to think Sam blaming Ray D came across like sour grapes but it sounds like rd was actually playing on Ed's insecurities and sort of pulling the strings a little bit