new VH rumour for those who care ...

[Aaron Cheney]

I'm guessing most of the people disregarding EVH in this thread are about 20 years old or younger. Most older guitarists understand his stature in the world of guitar, or will at least acknowledge his impact.

His playing throughout the DLR era was groundbreaking both tonally and musically. The biggest selling guitar of all time is of course the Fender Strat, but during the '80's the Kramers actually outsold the Strat. THat's the kind of impact he had. He popularized the idea of a humbucker in a strat shape. He popularized the idea of a blazing guitar solo in a pop song, and played on the biggest selling pop album ever. He started more kids playing the guitar than any other guitarist you can name, and sent everybody that was already playing back to the woodshed.

Furthermore, having a recognizeable tone and style is never liability in a world over-crowded with clones, and to say he is a one-trick-pony just demonstrates an ignorance of his body of work. I offer Eruption and Catherdral as proof that he is at least a two-trick-pony. I also woulnd't hesitate to say he ranks as one of the greatest rythm players of all time.

I would agree that he is now a bit of a has-been. I think he's become a victim of his own success (or excess). I think he's also decided to focus on other things in his life, which is fine. More power to him. I would also agree that VH's difficulty in keeping singers is due as much to Eddie's ego as anybody's.

A

 

[A GUY NAMED JON]

Bad News. It's a good thing I saw them in Oakland the last time they came through. I had a feeling that that was going to be my last oppertunity.

 

[bigdaddyd]

Im 37, my first album was Women and Children First. I agree with all the uptalk about VH, and in spite of how much of "Everything" EVH was, he should be, IN MY OPINION, man enough or proud enough to keep his act together in front of his fans.

If you have enough money to do ANYTHING you want to, out of respect, you put on a good show for those who put you there.

To me, this isnt about his choosing to try different things, etc... this is about publicly humiliating himself as a result of drug use, and this in turn may be effecting his attitude. If the news is true, he may be the reason that Van Halen cant keep Sammy around. Ed is running the greatest band and guitar players into the dirt.

My guitar instructor ( who is lifelong friends with miles david, thats right.. from spokane... whatzzzzuuuuuppppppp) had front row seats to the show, and saw Ed snorting every few songs behind his speaker stack. His buddies hung out with them after the show and Ed did coke, a lot of it, and was an a**.

One last VH rant, then Ill be done- I'm not 20, Im pushing 40. They were my era. They were a LOT of peoples era. All the middle agers brought their kids. If the show you all saw was like the one I was at- kids everywhere. 3 guys put on an amazing show for MY kids, the lights alone were awesome. It was just that one drugged out guy trying to play guitar who let everyone including his band down.

If Ed checks himself into rehab, makes some public statement, cleans up, then I will look to the next tour (if they can round up a singer ) with excitement.

As you all can see I was totally let down. I usually dont care what these guys do, even on stage. Ive never seen VH before, I only exclusively attend rush concerts whenever they tour- and those guys are profesionals. I had really high expectations and to see Ed throwing it away....

OK im done.

D

 

[Aaron Cheney]

Hey biddaddyd, my comment weren't directed at you at all. I knew before you even said it that we were close in age. I live over here in SEattle, and had the chance to see them about the same time you did, but I decided the ticket prices were too expensive. Besides.... I'd already seen Eddie (5150 tour), and the DLR band twice. IMO DLR and Vai put on a much better show.

It is very disappointing to hear that Ed is collapsing on himself. I guess his weight loss isn't from clean living once he kicked cancer like I hoped it was.... too bad.

And lastly, I saw Rush a couple months ago on their 30 year tour and you are right.... they were solid pros who put on a solid show. I have nothing but respect for those guys. I even liked Geddy's washer and dryer bass rig, complete w/ spinning vending machine!

A

 

[vestast]

I'm sure I've said it before and I'm sure that Aaron's comments are not directed at me also, but Eddie is the reason that I started playing 23 years ago (I'm 36).

Anyway I'm disappointed to hear that he is doing drugs as well. I always thought his issues were with Alcohol but I guess I was being naive.

Next week will be the second time this year that I've seen them and the 6th time total. I saw them earlier this year and Toronto and my experience was opposite of what bigdaddyd's was.

Too bad though. I think this will probably/hopefully be the last tour for them.

 

[6gun]

If what I've been told is true, EVH is a hard drug user and has been for some time. What an awful way to see the (once) king of hard rock guitar fade away.

 

[Doombot]

As a big VH fan; this sucks! IMO Eddie is the last great guitar hero. He revolutionized the instrument in a way Malmsteen only wishes he could have. To see the man F#@k up so bad after accomplishing so much is heartbreaking. I was really hoping that this tour would show these modern punks just what a guitar can do. God bless ya Eddie. Get your shit together.

 

[vestast]

Just got back from seeing VH in Montreal.

The concert sucked. Like really bad. We actually left in the middle of Eddie's solo because he was fucking dead drunk. Stumbling on stage, playing wrong chords. He couldn't play his usual guitar solo so he was basically holding one note and standing in front of his amps to get feedback. People started chanting "Eddie Eddie" to try and get him to play eruption or whatever and he misunderstood and told everyone to wait until he was finished because we might want to tell him to fuck off (at least that's what I think he said cause he was sluring his words pretty bad). People started to give him the finger. I couldn't fucking beleive it !

Anyway I'm kinda mad cause the tickets were $200 cdn and I drove an hour and a half so that I could see this shit.

So now I'm going to start a legal thread and ask how I can get my Money back !

 

[SilverSurfer]

Just got back from seeing VH in Montreal.

The concert sucked. Like really bad. We actually left in the middle of Eddie's solo because he was fucking dead drunk. Stumbling on stage, playing wrong chords. He couldn't play his usual guitar solo so he was basically holding one note and standing in front of his amps to get feedback. People started chanting "Eddie Eddie" to try and get him to play eruption or whatever and he misunderstood and told everyone to wait until he was finished because we might want to tell him to fuck off (at least that's what I think he said cause he was sluring his words pretty bad). People started to give him the finger. I couldn't fucking beleive it !

Anyway I'm kinda mad cause the tickets were $200 cdn and I drove an hour and a half so that I could see this shit.

So now I'm going to start a legal thread and ask how I can get my Money back !

I skipped the concert. I could have went to the one in San Diego but based on information like yours I saved my cash.

EVH is finished.

 

[A GUY NAMED JON]

And lastly, I saw Rush a couple months ago on their 30 year tour and you are right.... they were solid pros who put on a solid show. I have nothing but respect for those guys. I even liked Geddy's washer and dryer bass rig, complete w/ spinning vending machine!

A

Hell Yeah!

 

[bigdaddyd]

Vestas, You saw the EXACT same crap I did. That feedback thing was mindless. No wonder Sammy is checking out.

Aaron, I didnt take offense at all, I was just clarifying that I was not of the group you mentioned, yet still had the negative opinion. No problem, buddy. (fellow rush buddy )

And by the way, did I hear someone say ............................





RUSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

D

 

[6gun]

Eddie's solo because he was fucking dead drunk. Stumbling on stage, playing wrong chords. He couldn't play his usual guitar solo so he was basically holding one note and standing in front of his amps to get feedback. People started chanting "Eddie Eddie" to try and get him to play eruption or whatever and he misunderstood and told everyone to wait until he was finished because we might want to tell him to fuck off (at least that's what I think he said cause he was sluring his words pretty bad). People started to give him the finger. I couldn't fucking beleive it !

I've read about this kind of performance from Mr. Ed on this tour on other VH related sites and it's just hard to imagine. I saw him 4 times with Roth and each time he was absolutely brilliant, especially on the VH II and Diver Down tour. But gawddammit, someone needs to shut his drunk ass down if he's f**king up that badly.

Enough is enough.

Good luck with the refund.

 

[Monsoon]

I saw him when VH came through Massachusetts and they put on a great show. I was thrilled. I guess I got lucky.

 

[vestast]

I saw him when VH came through Massachusetts and they put on a great show. I was thrilled. I guess I got lucky.

Well to be fair I saw them in Toronto earlier this year also. I think it was in the second or third week of the tour or something. Anyway they were great at that show.

At the show I just saw, Sammy made a comment that it was their 73rd. They might be burning out just a little...

 

[Monsoon]

Well to be fair I saw them in Toronto earlier this year also. I think it was in the second or third week of the tour or something. Anyway they were great at that show.

At the show I just saw, Sammy made a comment that it was their 73rd. They might be burning out just a little...

Could be. Another possibility, early in the tour (like when they went through Massachusetts), Valerie and Wolfgang were with them. With Valerie and Wolfie around, he may have been able to (and would have more incentive to) stay clean and on his game.

 

[vestast]

Could be. Another possibility, early in the tour (like when they went through Massachusetts), Valerie and Wolfgang were with them. With Valerie and Wolfie around, he may have been able to (and would have more incentive to) stay clean and on his game.

Funny I was thinking about that as well. I know that they have a cottage just north of Toronto so maybe Valerie was with them at that point as well.

I'm sure that their seperation hasn't been easy for him, and if he already had problems with addiction it could easily put him over the top.

I really hope he gets his act together because I would hate to see him go out this way.

 

[bigdaddyd]

For me, I realize we are all human. We can fall under pressure at times in our life. But it seems to me that all the problems that EVH is encountering can be attributed to his drug problem. People have marital problems all the time. Thats why bands postpone tours. They clear the air and go on and put on a good show. This public humiliation eddy is putting on himself in front of the world is, in my opinion, a drug induced BAD DECISION.

He is loosing his wife, singer( doubtfull theyll ever find another one) and respect. my guess is its not worth it. and his drug use may be at the core of all of it.

But if youve made enough money to be filthy rich reguardless, maybe he doesnt care. he certainly reserves the right to not live up to a bunch of other peoples high expectations.

 

[typi]

I agree with all the uptalk about VH, and in spite of how much of "Everything" EVH was, he should be, IN MY OPINION, man enough or proud enough to keep his act together in front of his fans.

If you have enough money to do ANYTHING you want to, out of respect, you put on a good show for those who put you there.

D

BigDaddyD, I think this about squarely hits it on the head. Talk about going back to the woodshed, I think at first I wanted to lay down the guitar for good after hearing Eddie, he was (and is) so good!!

A little respect for the paying fans (and their KIDS) would be in order. It's ashame if what appears to be happening to such a talent is true. It's happened a few times before tho, and will happen again, unfortunately.

 

[JR#97]

A little respect for the paying fans (and their KIDS) would be in order.

As tragic as his personal life may be, he does have an obligation to put on a sober show. If he can't fulfill that, then cancel and refund. I mean, how many of us would last if we snorted and were drunk at work? If he does it on his own fine.. but if I'm forking out a few day's worth of pay to see him and buy merchandise,then it better be at least a sober show.

 

[bigdaddyd]

Im not starting a brag session, but how much did all of YOU fork over. Me and my two boys ended up spending $80 for the seats, and another chunk on stuff. It was about a $300 evening. My guess is that is about average. Multiply that times how many seats, Our venue holds about 6,000 people. At an average of $100 a head, and it sold out, U do the math. Thats 600,000 bucks. Sure there is overhead and paying for the venue, but a lot of people drop more than $100, and a lot of venues are more than 6K people.

Multiply that times how many shows, and you know that we deserve an awesome show for the payroll they pull.

My hats off to Sammy, Alex, and Mike-hole for putting on a good show inspite of that other dude.

Eddie, you maggot, give me my $300 bucks back!

D