Great Billboard EVH cover story

[journeyman73]

i know it shouldnt...but at what point does who a person inherently is start to color your perception of their music.

lots of asshole musicians in the world and usually dont give a shit but, man, ed is really putting that to the test for me

You bring up an interesting point. It shouldn't matter at all to the enjoyment of the music, but somehow it feels different with Ed.

IMO a lot of it is image and perception finally meeting head-on with reality. The vast majority of guitarists on stage have always tried to look intense/serious/credible, but in over half the early stage shots you see of Ed he's wearing a huge sh*t-eating grin. Maybe it's because he was wasted/high, but the guy always looked like he was exuding joy, having the time of his life, and not being afraid to admit it. A lot of the early VH catalog is upbeat and happy. The visual fit the music.

I can't blame the fans for projecting that the smiley guitar player was some affable everyman, and maybe he was at some point but changed over time, but that illusion was completely shattered. For me, I started seeing Ed as a bit of a curmudgeon back in the mid/late '90s (and it only got worse from there), but if you look hard enough there's print interviews of EVH slagging his bandmates as early as 1981.

Been a hardcore fan of the band for 30+ years, but I've never seen backlash this severe towards Ed. I think there's a bit of schadenfreude to it, because Ed's been getting away with it for a LONG time and it's fitting that he's finally been called out on all the sh*t talking. He could've taken the high road and avoided all of this.

Talking about guys known as ***hole musicians, it's funny how Yngwie and Ed have had almost a reversal of perception in recent years. I never saw that coming.

man, i totally agree with you - like i said in an earlier post here i think there are even early interviews with ed where you see the egotism and 'edge'...particularly in hindsight. jimmy page had a bit of this in the day, when i read his interviews.

totally agree with yngwie - especially the who woulda thunk it!

 

[jabps]

i know it shouldnt...but at what point does who a person inherently is start to color your perception of their music.

lots of asshole musicians in the world and usually dont give a shit but, man, ed is really putting that to the test for me

You bring up an interesting point. It shouldn't matter at all to the enjoyment of the music, but somehow it feels different with Ed.

IMO a lot of it is image and perception finally meeting head-on with reality. The vast majority of guitarists on stage have always tried to look intense/serious/credible, but in over half the early stage shots you see of Ed he's wearing a huge sh*t-eating grin. Maybe it's because he was wasted/high, but the guy always looked like he was exuding joy, having the time of his life, and not being afraid to admit it. A lot of the early VH catalog is upbeat and happy. The visual fit the music.

I can't blame the fans for projecting that the smiley guitar player was some affable everyman, and maybe he was at some point but changed over time, but that illusion was completely shattered. For me, I started seeing Ed as a bit of a curmudgeon back in the mid/late '90s (and it only got worse from there), but if you look hard enough there's print interviews of EVH slagging his bandmates as early as 1981.

Been a hardcore fan of the band for 30+ years, but I've never seen backlash this severe towards Ed. I think there's a bit of schadenfreude to it, because Ed's been getting away with it for a LONG time and it's fitting that he's finally been called out on all the sh*t talking. He could've taken the high road and avoided all of this.

Talking about guys known as ***hole musicians, it's funny how Yngwie and Ed have had almost a reversal of perception in recent years. I never saw that coming.

Ed's been getting away with because there was no social media then...now it's a part of everyone's daily lives. Things are blasted out now on Twitter and Facebook sometimes, most times before it ever hits mainstream outlets. This is a good example.

Again, as I said earlier and as you pointed out Ed bashing people is nothing new. It just never got traction years ago because media was different and his fans refused to see that side of him.

 

[Lord Toneking]

Good to see Sammy stick up for his buddy Mike

I guess it's for certain to say that we'll never see Sammy and Ed on the same stage...ever I just hope they can get through this tour because I have damn near front row seats August 3rd

 

[AndyK]

The really silly part is the fact that all EVH had to do to take the high road was to not bash Mike. The other stuff is fine.

 

[Deanmachine]

What an ugly human being..

 

[jrh_67]

What a Douchebag!

I grew up on Van Halen but there's no hiding he's an arrogant asshole...

They even go so far as to say he hates his current singer....wow!

So lets get this straight.. He didn't/doesn't like Dave, he didn't like Sammy, He didn't like Mike, He hated his producer and he thinks the problem is everyone else?

Cocaine is a HELLUVA drug...lol

 

[LWD]

I bet a lot of his anger comes from being so insignificant for the last 1-2 decades. Factor in the thousands of much better players out there these days and its quite a blow to a egomaniac like ED. George Lynch is another eternally unhappy douche. Both of them always crying about how even through the salad days it all sucked. Tired of rock star pussies complaining about how tough it to be them. Try a real job.
On a different note. I watched Mark Days version of the Sister Christian solo and off to the side was video of Brad Gillis talking about and demonstrating the solo. Gillis then goes on to say what a privilege it was to be a part of their success and that he still loves to play the old Night Ranger stuff today. Van Halen , Lynch and plenty more should take a cue from that guy.

 

[romanianreaper]

I know I'm in the minority here but I just don't see the big deal. The members of KISS have been bad-mouthing each other since the 70's and still have reunited several times and had a blast. Metallica tore each other to shreds in that Playboy interview years ago. Michael Anthony seems like a great guy but who knows what happened between them. Did they ask him to stay in VH and he chose Sammy's band instead? Did Michael Anthony bang Valleri in 5150 studios?

Yes it was lame for Ed to come out and air dirty laundry. I'm just happy he is sober, building amps, pedals and guitars with his company EVH and making music. Years ago I thought my hero was going to die toothless at 95 pounds and a full blown alcoholic. I had resigned myself to the fact that the guy that made me want to pick up guitar back in the early 80's was just going to die a parody of everything he created.

I know this will all pass. Deep inside Ed has to love Michael Anthony like a brother. I just think he is a proud celebrity. Maybe Sammy calling him out will be the best thing that happened to him and will force him to reflect on everything.

I don't know, maybe I'm full of shit and don't know what I'm talking about. Hope I'm right though.

 

[LWD]

What also kills EVH is that AT LEAST half of Van Halen's success was due to DLR. If the front man sucks it really doesn't matter about the rest of the band . Especially in the 80's

 

[LWD]

I must continue. Roth left VH and put out Eat 'Em and Smile. VH does 5150. Yankee Rose vs. Why Cant This Be Love. Who's the rocker Ed? Only the biggest fanboy would think that 5150 is a better rock album than Eat 'Em and Smile. Lets not even talk about each albums guitar work. Ed might still be stinging from that.

 

[Deleted member 8761]

I don't think Eddie is going to sleep any less if he would read all the judgemental reactions on RT...

 

[Anonymous]

I don't think Eddie is going to sleep any less if he would read all the judgemental reactions on RT...

Of course not, no complete asshole would...

Steve

 

[ejecta]

I don't think Eddie is going to sleep any less if he would read all the judgemental reactions on RT...

Of course not, no complete asshole would...

Steve

Can we please get a "like" button like over at TGP? I used to defend Ed a lot but I'm done. I'll love his talent and influence music wise but what he's become as a human is not good no matter how talented he is.

 

[Deleted member 8761]

I don't think Eddie is going to sleep any less if he would read all the judgemental reactions on RT...

Of course not, no complete asshole would...

Steve

that TV interview posted earlier was interesting. Somehow I think he believes it is all part of the show and that there is no such thing as bad publicity. Maybe he did show MA the bass parts, who knows? I would take it all with a grain of salt from any of that band, past or present.

 

[RG955TT]

Listen to this...Romeo Delight no vocals, just Mike, Eddie and Alex. Tell me the bass playing sucks on this or sounds amateur in any way....the bass is hot in the mix on this demo.....13:59 is the start. To me Mike kills it on this...I am assuming due to date this isn't Eddie...sound like a bass player not a guitarist playing bass

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtsKQ6oc_Pw

 

[zz666]

In Sammy’s own biography, RED, Sammy said things quite differently:



“Truthfully, Mikey didn’t write. Ever. He basically played on bass what Eddie would tell him. He was a quick study…”

We can all agree that Michael Anthony is a hell of a bass player, and that his background vocals are legendary. But the question is which one of Sammy’s statements is his truth?

 

[nnajar]

Over twenty years ago

 

[journeyman73]

lets just assume everything ed says is factually true - so what? why be an asshole and talk about shit that went on between you and ex-bandmate? i tell you what i would wonder - ed, if you were in one of the biggest rick bands in the world for decades, wtf were you doing slumming around with a second rate bass player that you had to freaking waste your time showing how to play? you mean EDDIE VAN HALEN couldn't get a competent bass player? or someone who had 'soul' in their backing vocals?

for me, its just distasteful that ed had a lot of success with a group of guys and finds it necessary to trash them. he chose to be in a band with them..nobody forced him...he didn't get 'stuck' with them....history has shown ed is all too willing to dump guys and move on....so, don't be bitching about it so much after the fact. and, by the way, he enjoyed a hell of a lot of success with those hacks too!

I honestly don't really care if what he says is true or not...actually, i guess thats not totally accurate. if its not true, it makes it even worse...but just being true doesn't make it ok in my book.

 

[Chubtone]

As anyone who has written songs would probably agree, I'm sure Eddie didn't WANT Mike there "writing" with the band. Mike, throwing in his ideas and Eddie having to entertain his ideas while the next great riff or melody was right on the edge of Eddie's brain and it was being delayed or maybe even lost forever while entertaining Mikey's ideas for the song. Too many cooks in the kitchen and all that. Eddie should be standing on a mountain and yelling thank you to Mike for staying out of his way and not impeding the song-writing process. I think Mike was filling the role of bass player in Van Halen exactly how he should have been.

 

[Chubtone]

In 1982, Jas Obrecht interviewed Eddie for the Randy Rhoads memorial issue and they edited most of what Eddie had to say to not make him look like a dick. Here are the Randy pertinent parts:

JO: Did you know Randy Rhoads?

EVH: "Yeah. Poor guy. He was one guitarist who was honest, anyway, because I read some interviews that he did and he said that everything he did, he learned from me. And he was good. I mean, God damn, what a f**king way to go-jerking around with the airplane.

JO: He was the first cat to come after you and inspire...

EVH: "Yeah. Oh sure. But I don't really think he did anything that I haven't done. What do you think?"

JO: He was different, but you could hear alot of your playing in his.

EVH: "That's what I mean. Just like anyone who does the things I do-obviously, it's gonna sound a little different, but I can tell when someone's copping my technique. But there's nothing wrong with that. I mean, I learned from other people too."

Now I have read every Randy Rhoads interview under the sun and have never read one where Randy said "everything he did, he learned from me".