Getting tons of reaction to Van Halen’s recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmell. The response is very different from person to person it seems. Some thought it was awful, others loved it. To me it was pretty much what I expected. Much of the talk these days when it comes to VH centers around David Lee Roth and his vocals. As I have said countless times if you ever thought DLR sang well live and like the albums then you never saw DLR even back in the day! He was NEVER a strong live singer! Look at the US festival! He didn’t even sing half of the first song! Dave was always a showman first, and on record was perfect for the band and the brilliant albums they made. If you are looking for a powerful singer in VH then that would have been the Hagar years. Incredible vocals were always a hallmark of Hagar’s ability and amazingly he can still do it. But if you are a Roth VH guy (I like both versions of the band) you know what you are seeing and hearing is not new. If you saw VH on the tour for the last album you know this is exactly what you will get from DLR at this stage in his life. As i say all the time you vote with your wallet. So if you don’t like it don’t go to the shows or buy the albums. But if you are cool with it enjoy. My point is this isn’t a case of a guy who was a once great live singer falling apart, this truly always was what he was about. Sure maybe a bit rougher and not able to hit the high squeals like he used to, but in my view he’s trying harder now at least (and thankfully lost the headset!). Alex was Alex and for those hoping for Michael to come back forget it. I love Mike but do you think EVH is ever going to fire his son? Wolf does a fine job but it is kind of silly we have 3/4 of original VH and Mike is the odd guy out. But it is what it is and they have their reasons right or wrong. Most importantly Eddie is playing great, looks good and is smiling and sober! If you saw him on the reunion tour with Hagar you know it was NOT good. To see Eddie in this form now for a few years is great to see! As for the live album I hate re recorded live records as most are. So I give them credit for releasing a live album that is truly live for better or worse. I haven’t heard the entire thing yet but will soon. This is VH with DLR in 2015. It isn’t going to suddenly get better overnight. DLR is not going to suddenly become Freddie Mercury. To me the ultimate scenario as a fan is a tour with half a set DLR, half Hagar, and Michael back in. VH has a HUGE catalog of massive hits that will never be played by them again without Hagar since DLR could never dream of singing like that. Split the sets and you get the “best of both worlds” and both singers don’t have to work as hard every night. Now that would be special! But also it’s about as likely as me replacing Letterman. So enjoy VH for what it is now and the amazing songs and one of the worlds all time greatest guitarists back in top form. But if you have been given another fair warning of what to expect live between the TV show and the new live album. If you DON’T like that then don’t buy a ticket and then complain about it. That would make no sense as a now educated consumer.
PS: I have asked VH to do TMS every single season. So far they have done a TV performance but continue hardly doing any interviews at all (notice no sit down on Kimmell). Their press decisions and refusal to do interviews with just about anyone is baffling and goes all the way back to the release of A Different Kind Of Truth. Clearly Kimmell and Ellen are way bigger mainstream shows than TMS but I doubt more rock/VH fans are watching them. EVH is pretty much our number one requested guest. I’ll keep asking but don’t hold your breath.. they seem to just not do interviews these days outside of extremely rare events
Hey Eddie! I noticed every now and then you talk about how big the ratings are for TMS and how big of an audience you have, but you never ever say what the actual numbers are. Why is that? You say it often enough that you must have some type of numbers and your claims of big ratings flies right in the face of all the info that’s out there about VH1 Classic. The viewership is so low that it doesn’t even register ratings and they have to package that and MTV Hits with Comedy Central and MTV just to get the cable providers to take it. In fact Cablevision sued Viacom over it because they said they are sick of paying for stations that no one watches. And there are plenty of ratings numbers out there for Kimmel but who knows how reliable they are. They say he averages over 2.2 million a night with over 700,000 in adults 18 to 49 and I’m sure more then half are ROCK FANS. You say TMS draws more? As Mike Lupica would say “start there.” Thanks Eddie!
Not sure when I ever tried in a million years to compare a digital cable channel reach to a network TV show? However what I can tell you is every artist that does my show sees way more impact on sales and awareness from it than other shows. Why? Because EVERY person watching TMS cares about MUSIC, and the show replays hundreds of times around the world! Example? Tom Keifer did Letterman for this current album. He also did TMS. Told me tons more people told him they saw him on TMS for HIS audience. Another example? Monte Conner who heads Nuclear Blast sends me sales numbers that show sales spikes after we feature something or have an artist on. 100% of the people that watch TMS care about MUSIC, rock and metal! That’s the difference! As far as actual numbers I have no idea and don’t care. If we didn’t do something for the network I doubt we would be on our 14th season. I also know for a fact that our worst rated episodes rate 4 times higher than anything else on the channel. Big fish in a small pond? Sure. But the fact is our audience responds and cares 100% about music and that’s what’s important. I don’t own the channel or my show. The network can worry about everything else.
Eddie, you’re typically spot on w/ virtually all of your reads, but here I think you miss. DLR was substantially better vocally as recently as the “Sam and Dave” tour (and cared enough to give us the old school Diamond Dave swagger). He could nail most of the material, when he chose to, in the VH and eat’em and smile/skyscraper eras. Did he F it off a lot and get lost in the ether of his ego way too often, no question, but he was, on most nights, a lock down mack daddy front man every bit as influential as Robert Plant had been just 5-10 years prior. However, his abilities have degraded PRECIPITOUSLY in the last 8-10 years; vocally and in stage craft. On the last tour, he did not nail ONE song; what other tour can you say that about?? The recent TV appearances are just as nauseating. Since the ’07 reunion through today, it remains a brazen disregard for their legacy for the bros to tour given DLR’s now flaming deficit on vocals and as a front man. Those songs and the fans deserve so much more. In his day, NO ONE could touch the Diamond; however every time he hits the stage these days, he just makes the case all the more slam dunk clear- those days are GONE. Not only does he miss the majority of the notes, he’s now constantly changing the vocal melody lines emphasizing lyrics at the wrong time; it’s like his meter is off. Add to that the fact he looks like he’d rather be doing “magic” with Siegfried and Roy, you have a train wreck. I HATE IT, but the facts won’t let me see it any other way. I mostly abhorred the Hagar era, but would take……..let me just say, he’s got to laughing his ass off at this. Is redemption available? Remarkably, Yes. Hire Brian Geller from the Atomic Punks and bring back Michael. Wolfie is more stoked about the Tremonti gig anyway; time for the phenom son be his own man.
Cheers/see you on the boat!!
James Perkins
Houston, Texas
James is dead on………..how embarrassing that Kimmel performance was for the ONCE MIGHTY Van Halen……David Lee needs to head back to Japan and practice his microphone stand twirling some more and lose his passport…..I love the way Eddie looks with his new chicklets….but c’mon…if Journey can replace Steve Perry with an imitator, surely Eddie can get himself one….I’ve seen the Atomic Punks and Brian Geller is amazing !!……and I would love to see them offer the bass job back to Michael Anthony….and have him tell them to go pound sand !!!
I thought Wolfgang’s bass playing alongside Dad’s guitar playing on different truth was the nice surprise of that record, particularly on the remake of She’s the Woman. Not as over the top as Vai/Sheehan together but a great new aspect to the Van Halen band as a whole. I can’t pin point what in Daves vocals bugged me about a different truth but certainly too loud in the mix. I will always check out Van Halen new releases just in the hope it has something good. Have to say, the demo record or VH zero is a good listen from time to time.
James
I read your post after posting mine .
I can’t agree with you more. DLR is just being plain lazy.
I dont agree with replacing him though. Eddie needs to give him detention if he keeps it up lol !
And whats with Dave walking around with his hand in his pocket ! Uncomfortable ?
It sucks as a life long fan to let them go as there will never be another VH or Kiss but I do not accept them without Anthony..
great post
Sounds pretty nit-picky to me. Van Halen is the epitome of a young man’s game, all them have declined in ability. Then there’s Wolfie, who is just a passable bassist.
Hey Eddie, thanks for the reply. You did compare a digital cable channel to a network tv show when you said in your blog that you doubt Ellen and Kimmel have more rock fans watching. And you started the blog off by saying that you’re getting “tons of feedback” on VH on Jimmy Fallon. So obviously they are reaching a huge Rock audience. And again you talk about your impact on CD sales but all of the bands you push are always gonna sell around 8,000 to 20,000 CDs with or with out you. I mean for all that hype you gave Winery Dogs, “on radio and television, the cd only sold about 20,000. Compare that to Swedish Death metal band Amon Amarth, who’s CD came out the same month. They sold more than double that with no TMS or radio. It’s not like you push a band hard and their CD sells over 100,000. Overkill sell their 12,000 to 15,000 for every CD, it’s not like they see a spike to 50,000 or 60,000 or even 20,000 after being pushed on your shows. Thanks Eddie
Threre’s no sense in comparing a band like Amon Amarth to a band like Winery in terms of sales. Kind of unfair basically. Amon Amarth have built a steady fanbase the last 16-17 years whereas Winery have to start from the beginning. Also everybody knows that bands like Overkill or Exodus etc. no matter how good they are, are not going to sell like crazy even if Obama himself managed them.
On topic: Who cares if he can’t hit his high notes, the guy is a showman. Not Hagar, not some other copycat, just Dave. The real thing. No chance to see them here though, but…
Nit-picky take II: What’s next? are you going to critique his T-shirt selection?
Fallon? I thought they were only on Kimmel?
Not really sure what your agenda is, and what you are trying to prove, but seriously, let it go. Life is too short.
Dana from ET.com 🙂
Yeah Fallon, that’s what Eddie originally wrote in his blog and I was quoting him. Either you or him went back in and made the correction.
I didn’t correct it, but you still seem to have an axe to grind, regardless.
Dana from ET.com 🙂
You tell him to let it go, yet you post articles of Spammy the Clown ripping on Van Halen…first, how is that news, and second…shouldn’t he let it go, too?
Well Jason, it got you to post didn’t it?
If you don’t think that story was newsworthy, it’s simple, don’t read it. Please feel free to also share your complaints with Blabbermouth, Ultimate Classic Rock, etc. for also reporting on, what you believe, is a non story.
Secondly, this is Eddie’s site, not Van Halen’s official site. This guy is nit picking the host of the site. When this becomes Van Halen’s official site, then your argument might hold a bit more weight. Until then, I don’t find your comparison to be quite as valid.
Anywho, as always, thanks for reading the news section.
Dana from ET.com 🙂
It gets a little annoying when people continually jab at Ed here..Not that he can’t speak up for himself..But T.M.S. Started out a 1/2 hour show, then finally went to an hour..Now in its 14th season it’s getting more diverse with there guests and has been real entertaining..The fans are what help to keep it on the air..Plus of course.Ed ,Don,and Jims chemistry with the show.
Also it is one of the dwindling arenas for the music we all know and love that gives these seasoned bands and it’s members as well as newer artists out there trying to carve a niche for themselves and build their brand,a venue to do so.. Kudos to you Ed for helping keep the music that I mostly identified with,when I felt out of place as a kid,and got me into singing in a band at one time,due to my love for it..It’s a shame you 3 don’t have rights to the show.But it’s great just the same you are able to still do it..Wish you guys had time for a small Q & A segment from the audience.Realize you don’t.Was interesting to hear you talking with Dee Snider on Sirius the other day and he mentioned he’d love to put more music of his choice on his syndicated show,but the producers don’t Allow it..That’s sort of thinking is just nostaglia,and is slowly killing main stream lanes for these acts..Love your format on Sirius…Though some may view some of your posts as overblown or braggin.I say good for you!! Being able to do what you love starting from a little evening rock show,building on it.. You’re the king of self promotion and you deserve all the great things that come your way.Passion for the music and bands,and a connection with your listeners..2 books.2 radio shows,Awesome.. Ps-would love to see Billy Squier on T.M.S loved the 2 interviews you did with him…B.T.W how are those new noise reducing ear plugs I saw you post awhile back?
I think we all know that DLR isn’t the best vocalist in the world. In fact, technically speaking, he might be the worst singer in history who fronts a great band. But, on the clip I saw from Kimmel, he couldn’t even get words out of his mouth.
I saw them twice when Dave first rejoined, and he was pretty decent for both shows (2007 & 2008). Maybe he needs a little rehearsing before the tour.
Personally, I’d love to see Eddie Van Halen put out some older live releases with the original lineup. Mr. Trunk mentioned the US Festival – that’s a performance that is crying out to be released on DVD. I think Rhino owns the rights to a lot of the US Festival footage.
Yes, compared to Stanley at least trying to sing the songs everyone knows properly, ie. stick to the original melody and feel of the song, DLR is like re-inventing the melody (or rather shouting something) .. what for? To hide the fact that he cannot sing the song anymore? To give something new to the world? I’d say if you pay 100 of your hard-earned dollars to watch a band’s performance than a real performance it should be.