2007 Piped In Vocals

**CatchAsCatch** · 09.30.24, 05:00 PM

I know there were rumors about piped-in background vocals on the 2007 tour. I never believed that but I heard something in this video that I never heard before and I'm pretty convinced now that they were doing that in spots.

If you listen around 3:28 in this video, you'll hear the "Bad, Bad, Bad" sounds really unnatural. It almost sounds triggered. Also you can see Eddie's not singing but it's definitely more than just Wolfie and Dave singing those parts.

For the record, I don't think it's Mike's voice (I know that was part of the rumor). And also for the record, I really don't care if they were enhancing the backgrounds because they were using pre-recorded backgrounds even when Mike was in the band and we all know Wolfie can sing. But I just thought this was interesting because I hadn't noticed it before.

**CaboChris** · 09.30.24, 05:02 PM

Oy vey. Almost 20 years ago.

**Naked Wake** · 09.30.24, 05:04 PM

Wolf looks bored. Definitely not his jam. Either that or it's because we wasn't a professional yet

**VH1986** · 09.30.24, 06:29 PM

They piped them in at my show in Indy. It was blatant.

**Model Citizen** · 09.30.24, 06:54 PM

I miss Van Halen. Ed was on fire after the hiatus on this tour.

**CatchAsCatch** · 09.30.24, 07:31 PM

Originally Posted by CaboChris

Oy vey. Almost 20 years ago.

Yeah well you know, not like there’s much new happening 🤣

**CaboChris** · 09.30.24, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by CatchAsCatch

Yeah well you know, not like there’s much new happening

Did you know some bass was piped in, too? I know a guy who knew a guy...

**Little Dreamer** · 09.30.24, 09:15 PM

Originally Posted by CatchAsCatch

I know there were rumors about piped-in background vocals on the 2007 tour. I never believed that but I heard something in this video that I never heard before and I'm pretty convinced now that they were doing that in spots.

If you listen around 3:28 in this video, you'll hear the "Bad, Bad, Bad" sounds really unnatural. It almost sounds triggered. Also you can see Eddie's not singing but it's definitely more than just Wolfie and Dave singing those parts.

For the record, I don't think it's Mike's voice (I know that was part of the rumor). And also for the record, I really don't care if they were enhancing the backgrounds because they were using pre-recorded backgrounds even when Mike was in the band and we all know Wolfie can sing. But I just thought this was interesting because I hadn't noticed it before.

Sam was dumb not to sing this song. It's a signature VH song. If he'd have sung it, they would've had less of a reason to bring Dave back.

**Little Intruder** · 09.30.24, 09:24 PM

Sammy should have had Inside piped in while they all took a break to piss, shit and get another drink. Perfect opportunity to unwind for a few minutes!

**fudd** · 09.30.24, 09:53 PM

Originally Posted by CatchAsCatch

I know there were rumors about piped-in background vocals on the 2007 tour. I never believed that but I heard something in this video that I never heard before and I'm pretty convinced now that they were doing that in spots.

If you listen around 3:28 in this video, you'll hear the "Bad, Bad, Bad" sounds really unnatural. It almost sounds triggered. Also you can see Eddie's not singing but it's definitely more than just Wolfie and Dave singing those parts.

For the record, I don't think it's Mike's voice (I know that was part of the rumor). And also for the record, I really don't care if they were enhancing the backgrounds because they were using pre-recorded backgrounds even when Mike was in the band and we all know Wolfie can sing. But I just thought this was interesting because I hadn't noticed it before.

Around that time frames something was going on. The late 2007-early 2008 shows before Ed had a “break”. Something was screwy. Just all around. I saw them in Greensboro in 2007 and it was absolutely fantastic. Just all around. Tiny even held his own on bass.

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**CatchAsCatch** · 09.30.24, 11:52 PM

Originally Posted by fudd

Around that time frames something was going on. The late 2007-early 2008 shows before Ed had a “break”. Something was screwy. Just all around. I saw them in Greensboro in 2007 and it was absolutely fantastic. Just all around. Tiny even held his own on bass.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I thought this was after the break. I don’t think this one sounded too bad. It’s just the vocal thing I hadn’t noticed before. I always thought people were saying they used backing tracks just to kind of be nasty about Wolf. But I definitely hear it here. But like I said they were using tracks in the old days too. Live versions of When It’s Love is one you can always really hear it on. I don’t really think it’s a big deal personally. I mean if they couldn’t sing it’d be one thing but they can, I think the tracks are just kind of a safety net.

**Van Hampshire** · 10.01.24, 05:58 AM

Originally Posted by CatchAsCatch

I thought this was after the break. I don’t think this one sounded too bad. It’s just the vocal thing I hadn’t noticed before. I always thought people were saying they used backing tracks just to kind of be nasty about Wolf. But I definitely hear it here. But like I said they were using tracks in the old days too. Live versions of When It’s Love is one you can always really hear it on. I don’t really think it’s a big deal personally. I mean if they couldn’t sing it’d be one thing but they can, I think the tracks are just kind of a safety net.

Honestly I always assumed they used tracks because of Ed. His voice was totally raw from smoking cigarettes. He could hit notes fine and sing in lower registers but you can hear the backing tracks clear as day on the 1989 Tokyo shows. Back in those days it was probably just a harmonizer that would go off of Mike's voice. Those things work pretty well as I was in a band with a guy that had one. It was surprising to me how well it could recognize the chords and pick the appropriate harmony. Just listen to Ed sing the vocal line they all did in WCTBL during the Balance tour. He's basically screaming out the words and this was back in 1995. A lot of cigarettes were smoked after that. People can say what they want about Wolf but I don't have any doubts about his abilities even at that age. I mean I think he was put in a pretty tough spot for a 15-16 year old musician. I started playing drums when I was 12 and at 15-16, I was still learning and figuring out how to play with others VS the boombox I had with headphones playing along to VH tunes. He got thrown to the fire very quickly at a very young age. I'm not sure how I would have handled something like that. I do think the way he handled social media was damaging and I think he sees that now. Unfortunately I think that turned a lot of people off. While I don't feel like the silent VH way is the way to go, I definitely think he could have done things differently.

**CatchAsCatch** · 10.01.24, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by Van Hampshire

Honestly I always assumed they used tracks because of Ed. His voice was totally raw from smoking cigarettes. He could hit notes fine and sing in lower registers but you can hear the backing tracks clear as day on the 1989 Tokyo shows. Back in those days it was probably just a harmonizer that would go off of Mike's voice. Those things work pretty well as I was in a band with a guy that had one. It was surprising to me how well it could recognize the chords and pick the appropriate harmony. Just listen to Ed sing the vocal line they all did in WCTBL during the Balance tour. He's basically screaming out the words and this was back in 1995. A lot of cigarettes were smoked after that. People can say what they want about Wolf but I don't have any doubts about his abilities even at that age. I mean I think he was put in a pretty tough spot for a 15-16 year old musician. I started playing drums when I was 12 and at 15-16, I was still learning and figuring out how to play with others VS the boombox I had with headphones playing along to VH tunes. He got thrown to the fire very quickly at a very young age. I'm not sure how I would have handled something like that. I do think the way he handled social media was damaging and I think he sees that now. Unfortunately I think that turned a lot of people off. While I don't feel like the silent VH way is the way to go, I definitely think he could have done things differently.

The only real piped in backgrounds I've ever noticed (before this) was for WIL during the Sammy era. If you listen closely to the "how do I know/How does it feel when it's love" backgrounds there is a ridiculously high part in there. What blows my mind is how they even do that and keep it in time, when they are all playing live. WIL was probably on a click I guess, but not HFT. That's why I wonder if the "Bad, Bad, Bad" part I'm referring to in this video might have been triggered by the offstage keyboard player. It kind of sounds like a keyboard sample/patch if you listen to it.

**EJC** · 10.01.24, 10:36 AM

This is over a synth/backing vox track. 1993. Jedi explained it awhile back.
As long as the Drums/Guitar/Lead vocals are live who cares...

**CatchAsCatch** · 10.01.24, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by EJC

This is over a synth/backing vox track. 1993. Jedi explained it awhile back.
As long as the Drums/Guitar/Lead vocals are live who cares...

Yeah I'm not totally unfamiliar with how it works for one of the keyboard tracks where they're playing with a click. I assumed though that HFT is not with a click so triggering the backgrounds to go off just when they are singing "Bad, Bad, Bad" is what I'm unsure of.

And again, for the record, it doesn't spoil it at all for me and I wasn't bringing this up as a judgement or negative thing. I know what a PITA playing live is. If I could prerecord everything I would.

I just never noticed it before and thought it was kind of interesting.