If You Were Wolf/Al, What Project Would You Undertake To Honor Ed's Life?

**NDL** · 08.24.21, 05:33 PM

I hope that this thread is not disrespecting Wolf or Al; their brother's life is theirs to honor, in whatever way that they wish. Certainly, no fan has a "right" to suggest what they should, or shouldn't, do.

But because we're fans who appreciated Eddie Van Halen's work, would would your dream wish be in honoring his life? Which is the project that could be mass produced by Warner, which would garner your money?

I am not going to assume that there are finished, unreleased, tracks in the inventory. If there are, then it's a given that we would buy them. But assuming that there aren't, what would be cool is if nearly finished tracks were sung, and completed, by Wolf. I also love, and appreciate, Wolf's personal anecdotes and the pictures that he posts of his dad. A compilation of EVH's work, narrated or sung by Wolf, or a scrapbook of personal anecdotes, would be my top choices.

**JUNGLE DRUMMER** · 08.24.21, 05:35 PM

Live albums for each of the Six Pack tours.

**Jedi McFly** · 08.24.21, 05:38 PM

If I were Wolf - do exactly what he's doing in regards to releasing and supporting his music and focusing primarily on that.

But also pay some studio engineers to digitize and catalog everything at 5150. Have them categorize everything so that Al and Wolf don't have to wade through everything themselves. The recordings with the most potential would already be identified. Give that a listen and release it in whatever package/format appropriate within the next 1-2 years when Wolf is between album/touring cycles. I only put that priority on it to make sure Alex is around to be a part of the process.

**Ian Sane** · 08.24.21, 06:54 PM

Wolf IS honoring Ed by doing exactly what he is doing. Forging his own path as a musician in his own right would make Ed very proud and rightly so.

Al could if he chooses, helm some kind of archival release. It would be most welcome, but it's really up to him...
I do think Ed would be quite happy for Al to retire and focus on his own life and family.

**DRFC** · 08.24.21, 07:02 PM

I think Wolf looks at 5150 the way a carpenter's son might look at his father's old workshop. The furniture he sold are his legacy, the scraps of wood and sawdust on the ground are what he left behind. Even if there's half finished stuff, it's just half finished stuff that is left behind. There's no need to package it and sell it. Or finish it. It's scraps from his dad's work, not his.

Even though I would be the first on line to buy it, I am just looking at it from Wolf and Al's perspective. I don't think they consider that stuff fit for public consumption.

**Number 47** · 08.24.21, 07:06 PM

Originally Posted by NDL

I hope that this thread is not disrespecting Wolf or Al; their brother's life is theirs to honor, in whatever way that they wish. Certainly, no fan has a "right" to suggest what they should, or shouldn't, do.

But because we're fans who appreciated Eddie Van Halen's work, would would your dream wish be in honoring his life? Which is the project that could be mass produced by Warner, which would garner your money?

I am not going to assume that there are finished, unreleased, tracks in the inventory. If there are, then it's a given that we would buy them. But assuming that there aren't, what would be cool is if nearly finished tracks were sung, and completed, by Wolf. I also love, and appreciate, Wolf's personal anecdotes and the pictures that he posts of his dad. A compilation of EVH's work, narrated or sung by Wolf, or a scrapbook of personal anecdotes, would be my top choices.

Build an EVH library somewhere nice and archive all the shit that Ed above all others cherished as his own or his legacy... and regular people can't just steal and bastardize it over the internet.

When the time is right the VH family trust will give you all some shit to be had.

& fuck Warner and with Thor's hammer dipped in Kryptonite. (in the ass)

**Dave's Dreidel** · 08.24.21, 07:06 PM

Two words...Tokyo Dome.

How they can say that, and then release that thing is a mystery.

**YankeeRose** · 08.24.21, 07:28 PM

If I was Wolf or Al. I would hire someone I trusted that had good musical taste, to look and listen through all of Eddie's tapes. I would find the best stuff and release it on CD.

Eddie said about 20 years ago he had about 10 albums worth of music unreleased!

I would also release Van Halen concerts on blu ray! Sammy said in a very recent interview that ALL of his Van Halen show's are on tape and he has them! Some on VHS some on DVD.

Their last official live video release was in 1992! It was in the VHS era!

There is no official release on video of an entire Roth era concert.

It's very sad. Bootlegs are harder to watch for me when we have HD video now.

I just bought a live blu ray concert of Jimi Hendrix last year that was never released! His family released it.

I have bought a bunch of live DVD/Blu Ray's of The Who in the last 10 years. Some go back to the 70's. They just keep releasing concerts and giving the fans what they want.

**NDL** · 08.24.21, 08:38 PM

I like the idea of hiring people to catalog Ed's material, and I also agree that Wolf's honoring his Dad in a very big way, simply by carrying on the Van Halen legacy with excellence.

**Number 47** · 08.24.21, 08:49 PM

Originally Posted by NDL

I like all of the ideas expressed on this thread.

Early on, not here, but elsewhere, people asked Wolf if they'd do a live concert with him as a fill in; I am glad that no one else floated that idea on this thread. I might go to such a concert out of respect, but it'd be kinda too much to watch.

I like the idea of hiring people to catalog Ed's material, and I also agree that Wolf's honoring his Dad in a very big way, simply by carrying on the Van Halen legacy with excellence.

You'll be OK. Sometimes what we think we need now are things that never mattered later.

Wolf is doing what you said here and he has said so recently. Just being himself is enough for now.

**Sam Vs. Dave** · 08.24.21, 08:53 PM

Two words: hologram tour.

**Number 47** · 08.24.21, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by Sam Vs. Dave

Two words: hologram tour.

With the Go-Go's circa 1983 and The Tubes '77 opening.

**NDL** · 08.24.21, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by Jedi McFly

If I were Wolf - do exactly what he's doing in regards to releasing and supporting his music and focusing primarily on that.

But also pay some studio engineers to digitize and catalog everything at 5150. Have them categorize everything so that Al and Wolf don't have to wade through everything themselves. The recordings with the most potential would already be identified. Give that a listen and release it in whatever package/format appropriate within the next 1-2 years when Wolf is between album/touring cycles. I only put that priority on it to make sure Alex is around to be a part of the process.

Great suggestions, and I dunno if Wolf has the desire to, but on the nearly finished material, it'd be great having him front a song to it's completion.

**Railrunner130** · 08.25.21, 04:10 AM

Open the vaults and have someone put it all together into a comprehensive catalog. I think there's so much unreleased material (mostly instrumentals) that it couldn't all be released commercially. Instead, fire up the Sirius channel and play it there. As for those that don't do Sirius, put together a box set and release it.

As for Al and Wolf- Wolf needs to quit trolling people and be himself. I'd really like to see Al do something musically. Perhaps a G3 tour. I think that'd be the easiest for him as it'd be a few months and done. No heavy commitment. Maybe take over drummer duties with Rush. Although I'm not much of a Rush fan. Get out and do something.