Did HSAS's "Giza" change the fate of Van Halen?

[Little Dreamer]

There are several versions of how EVH picked Sammy for VH, one with Claudio the car mechanic, another one with Ted Templeman leaking the Roth departure to Sam, etc.

But I just noticed a new version that came out shortly after Ed passed when Neal Schon was interviewed to remember his time with Ed. During this interview, Neal recalled a time at his place in 1985 when he was showing Ed his latest project, and in 1985 that was the HSAS record. They were listening to it, and during "Giza," Ed asked "who's this singer?" Valley Of The Kings/Giza is a long, very progressive song, quite unusual in the Sammy catalog.

Apparently, Ed wasn't familiar with Sam's solo work (he didn't know I Can't Drive 55), but remembered Montrose. But it's the HSAS project, and Sam's singing on it, specifically on the "Valley Of The Kings/Giza" piece, which gave Ed the idea of using Sam. If you believe Neal Schon.

[CaboChris]

Bullshit. EVERYBODY knew who ICD55 was.

[CaboChris]

Ed was a notorious liar

[Number 47]

Ed was a notorious liar

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[Bad to the Bone]

the story has been out there for a long time, at least the part about Neal and Ed talking about Sam in some capacity. I hadn't heard the whole Giza part, that's pretty cool awesome medley of songs, really shows Sam's range

[I Coulda Hada VH]

Bullshit. EVERYBODY knew who ICD55 was.

Come on, now. Ed didn't even know how to read music.

Did you know that he started out on drums?

[Little Dreamer]

If we was on tour while ICD55 was on MTV, he could've missed it.

[Raldo]

Never heard of that story. Interesting.

[CaboChris]

If we was on tour while ICD55 was on MTV, he could've missed it.

No.

The whole rock n roll world knew who the ICD55 guy was. It was the biggest shit at the time of Claudio. It was so big that VH covered it in concert.

[AFU]

I thought Journey hated VH? And that story is a little sus. Ed lied yes. But I trust him more than Schon.

[CaboChris]

We should never trust Ed. He's never proven us right in this world or the next.

[Nostalgia Act]

Is there a video/article with this interview?

Through The Fire is a fantastic album.

[Little Dreamer]

It's in an Eddie trunk interview from late 2020

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[VH1986]

Giza is a badass tune and the solo is killer.

[Little Dreamer]

Giza is a badass tune and the solo is killer.

It's definitely more up Eddie's alley than ICD55. I could see Eddie digging that tune.