Van Halen - A Different Kind of Truth

Eyesore wrote:

Saw this on YouTube, thought it was pretty bad-ass.



Never knew they played solo Hagar tunes when he was in Halen.

And seriously, that's easily one of the best rock riffs ever recorded.

I agree. They really did a number on this song. The version on Live without a net is great.

I think, honestly, that what we're hearing is Van Halen getting old. Both DLR and EVH are 57 years old this year. You've got two old Rock guys on the other side of 50, who both managed to survive their wild "rock star" days and come out wiser. DLR isn't so much "the party" or "master of ceremonies" anymore as he is the old guy at the bar who's travelled the world and wants to buy you a beer and tell you what he's learned. Just watch that video of him explaining the lyrics to "Tattoo"...that's not "Diamond Dave". That's not the same guy who sang "D.O.A" and "Dirty Movies".

VH has changed...their ferocity and recklessness has been replaced with sore knees and nothing to prove.

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

I think, honestly, that what we're hearing is Van Halen getting old. Both DLR and EVH are 57 years old this year. You've got two old Rock guys on the other side of 50, who both managed to survive their wild "rock star" days and come out wiser. DLR isn't so much "the party" or "master of ceremonies" anymore as he is the old guy at the bar who's travelled the world and wants to buy you a beer and tell you what he's learned. Just watch that video of him explaining the lyrics to "Tattoo"...that's not "Diamond Dave". That's not the same guy who sang "D.O.A" and "Dirty Movies".

VH has changed...their ferocity and recklessness has been replaced with sore knees and nothing to prove.

OK, now I've heard the "Stay Frosty" clip...terrible.

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

OK, now I've heard the "Stay Frosty" clip...terrible.

I have not heard it yet, but man I don't want to hear some songs on this album sucks!!! Van Halen ( the DLR era anyway) meant alot to me as a kid, and at least to me, those dudes could do no wrong, if the song is not that good, maybe its just one turd in the punchbowl.

manny wrote:

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

OK, now I've heard the "Stay Frosty" clip...terrible.

I have not heard it yet, but man I don't want to hear some songs on this album sucks!!! Van Halen ( the DLR era anyway) meant alot to me as a kid, and at least to me, those dudes could do no wrong, if the song is not that good, maybe its just one turd in the punchbowl.

Maybe...but it's just a rambling, awkward sounding "Ice Cream Man" wanna be...IMO.

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

manny wrote:

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

OK, now I've heard the "Stay Frosty" clip...terrible.

I have not heard it yet, but man I don't want to hear some songs on this album sucks!!! Van Halen ( the DLR era anyway) meant alot to me as a kid, and at least to me, those dudes could do no wrong, if the song is not that good, maybe its just one turd in the punchbowl.

Maybe...but it's just a rambling, awkward sounding "Ice Cream Man" wanna be...IMO.

You nailed it, as I was just about to say it sounded like Ice Cream Man II, but much worse! I was going to start railing on this tune as well, but since it's not a full version I will hold back my feelings on this particular tune. Initial impressions of this new album are just meh at best. I hope the other tracks do something for me to ignite some interest on my part.

The tracks they have released already seem to have a Van Halen II vibe to me

This is why the internet ruins things for an old fart like me.

You get "snippets" and "pieces" of things and hear things that assess the content and then find out it's not finished product.

I dug the preview "single" a few weeks or so prior to the album release and you had to actually go and buy the album or go to a friends and LISTEN to it with virgin ears.

James B. wrote:

This is why the internet ruins things for an old fart like me.

You get "snippets" and "pieces" of things and hear things that assess the content and then find out it's not finished product.

I dug the preview "single" a few weeks or so prior to the album release and you had to actually go and buy the album or go to a friends and LISTEN to it with virgin ears.

I have to agree with you, other then the first single, very rarely do I listen to an album prior to it being released, also when I listen to music, I usually play the album from start to finish, there maybe times were I may just listen to random tunes from various artist but usually I will play the album from beginning to end, I like listening to the songs in the context of an album.

manny wrote:

I have to agree with you, other then the first single, very rarely do I listen to an album prior to it being released, also when I listen to music, I usually play the album from start to finish, there maybe times were I may just listen to random tunes from various artist but usually I will play the album from beginning to end, I like listening to the songs in the context of an album.

That is why I dig on my vinyl. cds make it too easy to be picky. Just kick back and enjoy

Maybe it's the missing vocals of Michael Anthony, but from all the samples I'm hearing, it sounds to me like a DLR solo album moreso than Van Halen.

I'm hearing Dave's rambling vocals, but missing Eddie's playing. Nothing I've heard so far has had a killer riff or tone or shred or whatever it is that makes Eddie sound like Eddie.

Michael Anthony's vocals WERE the VH vocal harmony sound, there is no way to replicate it without having him involved.

I still can't believe they left him out of this, I guess Eddie really wants to keep a tight grip on those potential royalty checks.

S.D. wrote:

Michael Anthony's vocals WERE the VH vocal harmony sound, there is no way to replicate it without having him involved.

I still can't believe they left him out of this, I guess Eddie really wants to keep a tight grip on those potential royalty checks.

I don't think EVH has thought about money in 25 years.

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

S.D. wrote:

Michael Anthony's vocals WERE the VH vocal harmony sound, there is no way to replicate it without having him involved.

I still can't believe they left him out of this, I guess Eddie really wants to keep a tight grip on those potential royalty checks.

I don't think EVH has thought about money in 25 years.

I'm not so sure about that one. If you read the Sammy Hagar book, Eddie was pretty miffed when the Cabo Wabo thing took off. Eddie and Alex were involved in that thing early on, when it went through some early struggles. Their problem was, they didn't see it to fruition. Not long after they got out of that venture, good things started to happen, and it made Sammy oodles of money. Eddie and Alex were pretty envious of the Cabo Wabo franchise and the millions that Sammy reaped from that business.

manny wrote:

James B. wrote:

This is why the internet ruins things for an old fart like me.

You get "snippets" and "pieces" of things and hear things that assess the content and then find out it's not finished product.

I dug the preview "single" a few weeks or so prior to the album release and you had to actually go and buy the album or go to a friends and LISTEN to it with virgin ears.

I have to agree with you, other then the first single, very rarely do I listen to an album prior to it being released, also when I listen to music, I usually play the album from start to finish, there maybe times were I may just listen to random tunes from various artist but usually I will play the album from beginning to end, I like listening to the songs in the context of an album.

Plus the lead single isn't always a track that makes metalheads like us want to rush out and buy an album, i.e. Pretty Woman and Jump.

I also agree with Shawn. Eddie and Dave are older, hopefully wiser, and probably aren't even capable of writing a song like "Ain't Talkin' Bout Love" anymore. It's not who they are now. But that's ok. In some ways, I've grown up too, so I'm still looking forward to hearing this. I like the new song and loved the Youtube clip of Dave discussing the lyrics.

metalinmyveins wrote:

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

S.D. wrote:

Michael Anthony's vocals WERE the VH vocal harmony sound, there is no way to replicate it without having him involved.

I still can't believe they left him out of this, I guess Eddie really wants to keep a tight grip on those potential royalty checks.

I don't think EVH has thought about money in 25 years.

I'm not so sure about that one. If you read the Sammy Hagar book, Eddie was pretty miffed when the Cabo Wabo thing took off. Eddie and Alex were involved in that thing early on, when it went through some early struggles. Their problem was, they didn't see it to fruition. Not long after they got out of that venture, good things started to happen, and it made Sammy oodles of money. Eddie and Alex were pretty envious of the Cabo Wabo franchise and the millions that Sammy reaped from that business.

Well, nobody wants to lose money...I just don't think he thinks in terms if needing money. Plus, the Cabo Wabo thing was, what, 20 years ago?

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

S.D. wrote:

Michael Anthony's vocals WERE the VH vocal harmony sound, there is no way to replicate it without having him involved.

I still can't believe they left him out of this, I guess Eddie really wants to keep a tight grip on those potential royalty checks.

I don't think EVH has thought about money in 25 years.

He tell you that personally? Whatever, I'll keep my conspiracy theories to myself.

As for this album being good, bad or embarrassing it really doesn't matter to me. My days of being a Van Halen fan ended sometime around 1988, I was hoping this new record might re-ignite my interest but so far that has not happened. More power to Van Halen, I hope the tour is successful and people enjoy it. I'll be spending my money elsewhere.

The back catalog has sold well, the last tour did well. Being envious of anothers success and "NEEDING" royalty checks is another. Royalties from recorded music are done twofold, performance and songwriting. One isn't taken from out of the other. So if Mr Anthony was on this cd. He'd get a performance royalty if he wasn't part of the songwriting on a particular song. If he did write or help write a tune, I'd imagine both are paid. Not sure ?

S.D. wrote:

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

S.D. wrote:

Michael Anthony's vocals WERE the VH vocal harmony sound, there is no way to replicate it without having him involved.

I still can't believe they left him out of this, I guess Eddie really wants to keep a tight grip on those potential royalty checks.

I don't think EVH has thought about money in 25 years.

He tell you that personally? Whatever, I'll keep my conspiracy theories to myself.

Of course not, smart ass.

He told me that he gave this guy named Shawn from West Virgina all his cash to buy jazz records.

According to Hagar's book those Van Halen boys not only never thought about money, but they burned thru like there is no tomorrow.

One time Hagar's manager was talking to Hagar about his publishing deal, and Eddie Van Halen in a drunken stupor mentioned, he would like to have his own publishing deal, Hagar had to gently explain to Edward, he already had one in place!!!!

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

metalinmyveins wrote:

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

S.D. wrote:

Michael Anthony's vocals WERE the VH vocal harmony sound, there is no way to replicate it without having him involved.

I still can't believe they left him out of this, I guess Eddie really wants to keep a tight grip on those potential royalty checks.

I don't think EVH has thought about money in 25 years.

I'm not so sure about that one. If you read the Sammy Hagar book, Eddie was pretty miffed when the Cabo Wabo thing took off. Eddie and Alex were involved in that thing early on, when it went through some early struggles. Their problem was, they didn't see it to fruition. Not long after they got out of that venture, good things started to happen, and it made Sammy oodles of money. Eddie and Alex were pretty envious of the Cabo Wabo franchise and the millions that Sammy reaped from that business.

Well, nobody wants to lose money...I just don't think he thinks in terms if needing money. Plus, the Cabo Wabo thing was, what, 20 years ago?

Are you kidding me? Sammy was the guru when it came to making money for that band! Sammy helped Eddie and Alex make a ton of money in just publishing rights alone. Before Sammy came into the band, those two were getting royally f*cked at every turn. Due to Sammy and Ed Leffler, the brothers had a lot more money in their pockets. The brothers just weren't very savvy when it came to making money prior to that. There's no doubt that the cantina and the franchise suffered from horrible management, but once that changed, it was a goldmine. Sammy might be the smartest rock 'n roller when it comes to making money. He might not have been the better front man in the band, but he surrounded the band with much smarter people.

James B. wrote:

The back catalog has sold well, the last tour did well. Being envious of anothers success and "NEEDING" royalty checks is another. Royalties from recorded music are done twofold, performance and songwriting. One isn't taken from out of the other. So if Mr Anthony was on this cd. He'd get a performance royalty if he wasn't part of the songwriting on a particular song. If he did write or help write a tune, I'd imagine both are paid. Not sure ?

Michael Anthony in order to take part on the last tour, signed away part of his royalties to the Van Halen boys, and gave up all rights to his piece of pie in terms of merchandising, something neither DLR or Hagar ever agreed to. Anthony stated he did this because he felt the reunion tour with Hagar would be the final one.

Off and on for years, they have talked about getting rid of Michael Anthony, and both vocalist have stood up for him during their original tenure in the band.

metalinmyveins wrote:

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

metalinmyveins wrote:

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

S.D. wrote:

Michael Anthony's vocals WERE the VH vocal harmony sound, there is no way to replicate it without having him involved.

I still can't believe they left him out of this, I guess Eddie really wants to keep a tight grip on those potential royalty checks.

I don't think EVH has thought about money in 25 years.

I'm not so sure about that one. If you read the Sammy Hagar book, Eddie was pretty miffed when the Cabo Wabo thing took off. Eddie and Alex were involved in that thing early on, when it went through some early struggles. Their problem was, they didn't see it to fruition. Not long after they got out of that venture, good things started to happen, and it made Sammy oodles of money. Eddie and Alex were pretty envious of the Cabo Wabo franchise and the millions that Sammy reaped from that business.

Well, nobody wants to lose money...I just don't think he thinks in terms if needing money. Plus, the Cabo Wabo thing was, what, 20 years ago?

Are you kidding me? Sammy was the guru when it came to making money for that band! Sammy helped Eddie and Alex make a ton of money in just publishing rights alone. Before Sammy came into the band, those two were getting royally f*cked at every turn. Due to Sammy and Ed Leffler, the brothers had a lot more money in their pockets. The brothers just weren't very savvy when it came to making money prior to that. There's no doubt that the cantina and the franchise suffered from horrible management, but once that changed, it was a goldmine. Sammy might be the smartest rock 'n roller when it comes to making money. He might not have been the better front man in the band, but he surrounded the band with much smarter people.

You're not hearing me. I said "I don't think EVH has thought about money in 25 years." That's it. I never said he was a good/bad business man or anything else. I don't think he thought about it because someone else always thought about it for him. From all I have ever read or seen about EVH out of his own mouth or from other people, EVH is in his own world 99.9% of the time. If he didn't want Mike Anthony around, I doubt it was about wanting more money.