Van-Halen Van Halen Running with the Devil: Reunion Tour "Not quite"

[Bassiswild]

Hey in case some of you guys have not heard the news. Eddie Van Halen put away his hard feeling twords Diamond Dave and they are going out on tour together again. Just one hitch and for me a big one. Eddie is taking his kid Wolfgang Van Halen out on tour with them as their Bass player. Thats right for the first time ever Van Halen will not have Mad Anthony on Bass duties.

Good news is that he and the Red Rocker are going out on tour together. Eddie went on his site and really trashed Sammy and Michael. Michael said on his site that Wolfgang is a good kid and for fans not to be harsh on the kid. I think that was really cool that Michael said that.

Also if anyone knows how to fix the post title that would be helpful...

[[AK]Hylander]

Huge Sammy fan and was a big Van Halen fan as well, although I liked them best with Sammy instead of Dave.

I just watched a concert two weeks ago with Sammy and the Wabos (Michael Anthony on bass). It was awesome.

[[AK]Squidly]

... although I liked them best with Sammy instead of Dave.

That's just un-American.

[[AK]Hylander]

That's just un-American.

This coming from a guy who listened/listens to White Stripes. That's just un-pleasant.

[Bassiswild]

Hey I heard banter going around between Diamond Dave and Red Rocker Sammy Hagar. I have yet to hear anyone talk about Gary Cherone. I liked him a lot in Extreme, but for some reason he could not sing when he signed up for Van Halen. The reunion tour that I think would be cool is a reunion with Gary, Dave, and Sammy all on stage together. \m/ yeah baby!!!

[[AK]Hylander]

Hey I heard banter going around between Diamond Dave and Red Rocker Sammy Hagar. I have yet to hear anyone talk about Gary Cherone. I liked him a lot in Extreme, but for some reason he could not sing when he signed up for Van Halen. The reunion tour that I think would be cool is a reunion with Gary, Dave, and Sammy all on stage together. \m/ yeah baby!!!

I'm not sure whey they chose Gary for their new lead singer, he really wasn't the right fit. But that being said, I thought VHIII was not as bad as some made it out to be. Without You, the first release, was a pretty decent song.

[Bassiswild]

I think for Gary that if he would not have tried so hard to sound like Sammy that he would probably still be in Van Halen. The stuff he sand on VH III sounds nothing like his days with Extreme. Which I was and still am a big fan.

[[AK]Devil_Dog]

Hey Bassis,
Glad you posted this!!

I was reading up on it last week.
I DO NOT consider this a reunion tour without Michael Anthony. Eddie putting his 16 year old kid at bass only proves how wacked out he really is. I grew up on VH with Diamond Dave and also enjoyed them when Sammy was the front guy.

But, this whole tour is just rubbish to me....

[Bassiswild]

I have no problem with EVH Jr. More power to him to stand in for Michael. The things that is bad is that they are calling it a reunion tour and not to have all members on board is unmistakeable. Eddie says that he and his brother are Van Halen and the others are just musicians.

He has hinted in interviews that he may step down from touring and either let Wolfgang assume the guitar responsibilities or another guitarist. That would be odd to see a Van Halen show without Eddie.

What Eddie has been saying about Michael and Sammy is just down right mean. Yet none of those guys has said anything negeative about the "Reunion tour". In fact Michael has said over and over kudos to Wolfgang for doing that. I knew it would be just a matter of time before Eddie would show his true colors.

Do not even get me started on how much they are charging for tickets. Their is enough on that to start a whole other topic on. Let me just say that it is all driven by greedy artists wanting a larger share of the ticket monies. I think what Ozzfest did this year by making tickets was a stroke of genius on the part of Sharon.

[[AK]Squidly]

I think getting hung up on the name "Van Halen" is silly, particularly without knowing the specifics of the break between MA and the group. It's all very "he said/she said".

So MA is out of the picture. Does that mean that the rest of them can't get together and play? Do they have to call themselves something else because of a falling out with their bassist? If so, then they should've done the same when they lost their front man all those years ago.

It's EVH's group. Always has been. It may not be a true reunion (by the same token, Led Zeppelin will never truly reunite), but it's still pretty darn interesting for fans of the original Van Halen.

Personally, I think DLR has lost too much hair to be effective.

[Bassiswild]

Good old Squidly. As for Diamond Dave I do not think is as effective as he was back in the 80s. That was when he was in his prime. Last time I saw Dave it was around 10 years ago and he had a hard time hitting the notes like he did when he was in VH. I agree with you Squidly that there is a lot of he said she said going on.

Just imagine how Wolfgang feels going out on tour with his dad and uncle as one of top grossing concerts out on tour. Probably gross more than the Heaven and Hell tour.


I would like to hear Wolfgang doing his own thing. Just to have the chance to come out from under his dads shadow. Look at Gene Simmons son, he fronts his own band and he is not a bad vocalist. Better than his dad in that department. What would be a cool band is to have kids of rock stars. Hmmm I smell a reality show lol.


Which brings me to the point of reunions. When Black Sabbath reunited after 20 years with Ozzy it was a reunion tour. As with Led Zeppelin I do not think that it would be right to do a reunion tour, well maybe if they had Jason on drums. Heaven and Hell is Black Sabbath with Ronnie James Dio. It is a tough call on the reunion thing. You can make a point for both sides. Anyways that is my two cents...

[Bassiswild]

I had to just say how amazed that a 16 year old kid is going on a major rock tour.

Even if his Dad is a Rock Guitar God. I do not see any of the Osborne kids going on tour with Ozzy. Actually I think that is probably a good thing.

[[AK]Squidly]

The difference being, this kid has talent.