Light up the Sky

They fucking better....

But.... '09 is my bet.

US Tour 2nd leg until Summer.
Euro-Asian Festivals in the Summer.
Time out in Winter.
In the Studio late '08... release Feb '09.

Oh how I would LOVE to have a new album in '08. And while I am certain that there shall be a new one, I'm going to be realistic and say it won't hit until '09. Simply because they've got to get the second leg of the tour under their belts, then go play overseas for the their legions of fans there...all that touring is going to take its toll--other than Wolfie, let's face it, they're not as young as they once were....So I'm guessing some rest time after Europe and South America, then an album.....and oh, baby, I can't wait!

Its all good for Wolfie...

I just wish they would give him a Solo Spot. He needs his moment in the Sun, that way he'll either bask or burn.

From the stuff I heard from later in the 1st leg than the shows I saw, he was just getting better and better. More at ease, more willing to go a bit further outside the box, as it were...Even the youtubes I watched showed a young man who was moving around more, even dancing a bit, and really starting to love the place he's in....wow, what an experience for a 16 year old....But because of all this, I'm thinking the day is coming where we will see that solo spot---there were brief patches of it already. Drat, but I can't remember the clip I heard where he was playing tap harmonics on his bass--I'm going to have to go see if I can find that later on, and repost it here..

To be honest I don't care if he any stage presence or not. He is what he is and thats what should be presented. If he came out all 'Daved' up it would look retarded.

His playing sounds great. He plays it like no-one else I've ever seen. The moments when he has been improvising have been outstanding. This kid is taking a ton of flack from the nay-sayers who refuse point-blank to accept that he's taking on, and winning, Mikes Bass parts. But, he's a Van Halen... that makes him enemy no.3. Ok... its not the line-up we saw in '84, but blame Old father Time not some kid who has enabled both Dave & Ed to return to us.

The bass, unless done in a Solo, or written by a Bass Solo type performer is something that is by definition a background element. Its difficult to single it out. This is why I'm looking to hear that certain something definitive from him which isn't based on the VH Set-list.

Oh btw rav, the tap-bass-harmonics are being performed in Romeo Delight.

Thanks for the tip, Iro--here's one from Chicago, mid-October last year. The video's pretty bad, but the sounds nice on this one. There are two dif spots where Wolf kicks it out solo--both indicative of way bigger things to come from him in my mind:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgOX1VM2x5g[/youtube]

Very, very tight. TY rav.

Is it wrong of me to laugh inwardly when each successive negativity thrown up by the naysayers is shot down by the reality that is this new Van Halen? "Oh, Wolfgang's gonna stink." Well he doesn't. "Oh Van Halen's neglecting it's fans. It's appalling that they haven't done any interviews." And we're getting not only Alex for 21 pages in Modern Drummer but an exclusive with Edward and Wolfgang in Guitar World....

sorry. mini rant over.

It wouldn't be the same if it weren't for the Naysayers.

They rock!

We could do with a few Rothtards here, though.

Its all a bit Ed-sided.

"Rothtards!" HAHAHAHA! that's really funny! I think I told you this somewhere else---while Edward has my heart when it comes to these guys, Dave has always been an object of my affection as well....yeah, he's a pig, but that's why we love him--Who else could get away with "I get a nut, nut, nuthin' but the shakes over you"?? Anyone? Anyone? I think not.

I think they will give Wolf a solo later on in the tour when he gets a little more comfortable and doesn't play the same damn run for 10 minutes.

Rav, do you know what Tap Harmonics are? just asking.

Yeah, I can get harmonics on my acoustic, although not by tapping. Like at the beginning of Roundabout by Yes....

And actually, I find it a faster and more accurate method of tuning my guitar to use the harmonics than the 5th fret right on the string. Just have to make sure the strings are clean enough---gunk on the nylon can prevent them from ringing correctly.

Take your guitar, and tap any open string on the 12th fret, but you have to do it moderately hard in order to get a sound out of it.

Where are you now?

We're in Elk City, Oklahoma. We're making good time--we're planning on getting to Socorro, New Mexico tomorrow afternoon, so we can visit the VLA (Very Large Array)--27 giant radio telescopes they use, in series, for mapping the stars. They implied that they use them for listening for extra-terrestrial life signs in the movie Contact (one of my faves), but it's not true. We got to go once before, but the kids were really small.

I'm kinda a space nut, so this is a special treat for me!

With or without Dave they will. Ed wants to do a record with his kid.

Excellent point Letsrock. I can see how, given their closeness, Edward woud strive for that. I heard him in an interview saying how he'd really have liked his Dad to come play with them onstage on "Big Bad Bill," but his Dad just couldn't do it. He got him to play on the album and really dug the experience.

So having Wolfie with him onstage already, now he wants to make an album with him too---good for us, it's a strong pull in that direction for him, I think.

Personally i would like the lineup to stay the way it is.
But i'm a guitar nut first.
So i just want new music.
But i think its in Eds plans to have a record with his kid, in the credits.

John

I still want an Ed Solo record...

Always have, always will.

Edward can write, play, and sing backup well, but he doesn't have the "wow" factor when it comes to singing lead.

Its a good job he can play the guitar a bit then.... :0

But who knows how he would approach a Solo record? Look at something like 'Act Like It Hurts' [an un-vocalised arrangement from the FW demo's] and then tell me you wouldn't want more of that kind of thing. All the music Ed writes starts off as an instrumental, as such, and from there-on-in its compromised [I'm sure thats how he looks at it] and arranged for vocals, vocal idea's and vocal melodies, anyway. Luckily for Ed, Dave was a creative Monster [in his own right]... unfortunately, those Vocalists who followed were... errr.. not.

Its a shame Ed and Al didn't put foot their foot down in '85 and go the co-Solo route.

No record whatsoever. They'll go their separate ways after this tour. Besides, the record industry has almost came to a grinding halt these days, and Van Halen is surely smart enough to know that they couldn't sell now. Not like the old days anyway. And, they would have to teach Wolfgang how to actually play the bass.

I reckon we're odds on to get something. Moon, when you say "They'll" split, do you mean "Dave'll" split? Who knows. It's more than likely he's been enjoying the spotlight, the money and the ego trappings once again, so that might keep him there... what else is he going to do?

Good point about the record industry. Yes, most definetely, its not the heyday for those wankers anymore... however, it might be the payday for an independent outfit such as Van Halen, who, without the money skimming middle-men, could potentially clear a tidy portion of whatever sells. Again, I think thats enough to make Dave want "in", I really do.

.... and Wolfgang thanks you for being patient with him.

Yet, on the other hand, Van Halen is smart enough and good enough to adapt to the world of cyber sells. I believe Van Halen would pull a publicity stunt to would boost their sells, or create a kick-ass video and streamline.

=VH= has already proven that on this tour A.J. the sell out shows speak for themselves. Never mind isum12?, he's so fulla shit, we can smell it from this side of the Rockies!! ...had ta dig out my old WWI gas mask!

One would think that this far into their career A.J. that they would have figured out what to do and what not to do, but they can't even give us a decent official website, let alone a record. Makes ya think huh?

If you guys can't see that they're just going thru the motions this tour, then I can't help ya. The shows are scripted, with the advent of the internet, word travels instantly about what takes place each show. Certain people have noticed that the hugs and kisses between Dave & Ed always seem to happen at the exact same place in the show. That should tell you that these shows are scripted, and this isn't exactly brotherly love going on up there. We've even had people posting about their taking separate buses and not hanging out before or after the shows, and you think this is the way that a close rock band that wants to record a record in the future acts? I don't buy it. I will be extremely surprised if anything materializes after this tour. Basically, they just wanted to refill their bank accounts.

And mo, shut up. Go and get your gas mask because the only smell would be coming from you. There's only been two or three sell outs so far. Keep dreaming.

And last, 2004 is a good indication of how long it would take to make a new record today. Three songs were finally recorded, and they said it was like pulling teeth and taking too long. Ed's desire to make new music just isn't there anymore. He's got nothing left to prove to the world and certainly has more than enough money to just do as he pleases. His energies are more about selling his music gear now, and not so much the making of music. That's where his mindset is nowadays. If you were to place them all in a recording studio, it would be chaos. I just don't see it. This tour is the final stretch of their career imo. Ed gets what he wanted in the form of a tour with his son playing alongside him, that's all he cares about. Doesn't matter what we, the fans want. Never has I don't think. No boxset, no new music. Sorry to burst your bubbles. Nah, really I'm not!

What bubble? Dave burst that in '85.

I'm just watching, speculating and hoping for a new record just for entertainments sake. I mean, what other band would [or could] have the original singer return after 22 years to find a 16 year old called Wolfgang playing bass, while the original bass-player is singing covers of the original bands songs with the original singers replacement??

I mean them well.. but come on, it is funny [and god bless them all].

Everything is a bonus for us, the much neglected VH fan; be it a Dave and Ed punch-up, Wolfs acne, or even... a new record.

Just like I thought, you take everything so bloody seriously! And who really gives a shit what kind of dazzling website they could or should have? I don't... they most likely don't either because they're about the music ...that's all that matters, really.

I still think yer fulla shit, regardless!

You have a point, and history backs your opinion, but I believe that Ed (if he's still sober) relizes that the fans made him what he is today.

Other than Led Zeppelin, Van Halen is the most diverse band I have ever heard. From kick-ass and take names, to broadway show tunes they are still a good band. This just shows that Van Halen can adapt to their surroundings, such as 'Push Comes To Shove'. Dave wanted to cash in on the Reggae movement, and Edward morphed the to genres together and done a great job of it.

Had you been around the VH Community for any length of time, you would know that the official site DID use to have countless interesting things, including music bytes. That shows that they had a genuine interest in their fans. Today, Ed doesn't give two shits about us and you're fooling yourself if you think he does. Why WOULDN'T he care is the better question? Ed once said for VH fans to get a life, I bet he couldn't believe the walks of life that frequent these message boards. Professionals, blue collar workers etc. all hang out, but he thinks we need to get a life. I certainly don't need him to tell me what to do. When you visit other known rock bands websites, you see them giving something back besides the music. You also see/hear of them offering new music. You don't with Van Halen. Big difference. Had Ed cared, he would give us a boxset, website worth a shit, something. But he won't because he thinks we all need a life. He thinks that pushing his son off on us should be some kind of a treat, it isn't. I'll never understand why you give the guy a free pass. He certainly doesn't deserve it. I see things for how they really are mo, and not shrouded in the foolish belief that VH is back and kicking ass on every shore. Ed's star is fading, has been since 1998 too. Even the great ones disappear eventually. And, without making new music. But, have no fear, he'll sell ya a guitar for $5150 plus tax!

I know about the old website, of course it was better but that's a minor issue.

I think Ed's got a good point! We should get lives! I've wasted far too much time on these boards arguing about what? The past, present and future of =VH=? It's a total waste of time.

And you already know where I stand with Wolf. Maybe Mike would still be in the band today had he not been touring with Ronald McDonald. We just may see him back anything goes.. it's =VH= wait for the box set but be happy with what we have. Guitars are expensive these days and Eddie ain't selling crap! Your living in the past, this ain't '82 no more. That era is history!

....and another day closes, here on Walton's Mountain.

Mean while back at the ranch....

Bom-ba-deeda
Bom-ba-deeda
Bom-ba-deeda-deeda-deeda...
Happy Trails to youuuu.....