DLR talks about Michael Anthony

[jaywa]

You can tell how things went south for MA over time by listening to the mixes.

First two albums that PBass is loud, proud and growling. By 1984 you have to listen hard to hear him and on 5150 and OU812 there is no bass AT ALL. Just guitar, cheezy keys and some of the shittiest sounding drums this side of a Casio keyboard. They were "Newsteding" him big time by then.

[mcm]

Very true

[natw42]

Originally Posted by Floyd Eye

It's all moot now.



http://kimgordonsrealage.tumblr.com/...ves-group-says

That was amazing! And it actually had me going for a second there lol

[mellowinman]

I was so excited when I listened to their debut album. I thought I was witnessing the beginning of one of rock's true heavy hitters.

That second album told me the real story, and it was all downhill from there.

I have said "Van Halen sucks" since about '82 or so, and "Jump" was when I knew I was right to say it.

[testing1two]

Keep in mind that Ed's (and Dave's) mistreatment of Michael goes wayyy back before the whole Sammy situation. In 1980, '82, '86, and '98 Ed and/or Dave had conversations with Billy Sheehan to replace MA but ultimately backed out (or sobered up)...which is unfair to MA and BS.

I choose to remember VH by their studio recordings as I refuse to let this pathetic, geriatric, inbred iteration tarnish the legacy or the music created by four young badasses.

[Ian Perge]

Anyone that's watched the Chickenfoot Live DVD can clearly see that not only is Michael Anthony a far better Bassist than he was... "allowed" to be in VH, but he's much happier playing with 3 other people that honestly respect him and what he brings to the table. Which is not just kick-ass basslines, nor high backing vocals, but bona fide co-lead singer abilities!

...and I was done with EVH once he started to write & perform music for pr0n movies as opposed to working on VH material or getting sober. Not that I have a problem with *them*, but for someone who pats himself on the back every time his shoulder moves it seemed more than a bit disingenuous.

[Duuuuuuuuuude]

Originally Posted by Signs

And for one of my all time favorite groups, they absolutely stunk live. Drunk, stoned, whatever (the band not me!!!) it was the worst concert I ever went to back in around 1981 or so. And I had been to a bunch of concerts at this venue where different groups sounded really great live. But with VH it was a bunch of noise where you couldn't even tell what song it was and they were just stumbling around on stage. Pathetic...

Really? I've watched the Oakland 81 video a bunch of times and the whole band was on fire. Seems like they were at their prime. I think Mike's playing is great.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1AHuN_aE8g

[jaywa]

Going from Alex VH as my drummer to Chad Smith would make me very happy too.

[BrianMarc]

Dunno. I think VH is a thing of the past. A great catalog, but it's a little like paying to see Mike Tyson box in the 90s. You know he was great, and you want him to keep being great, but reality is otherwise. So, I'd rather listen to Fair Warning 1x per year, read about Mike moving on and selling his hot sauce, and then from time to time unfortunately hear how EVH destroyed a really good thing for 4 musicians and many, many fans.

[Duuuuuuuuuude]

Did MA use a harmonizer on his voice live? Check out this video at around 2:52 and 3:15

http://youtu.be/W1wEo4CR8_4?t=2m45s

[walterw]

Originally Posted by jaywa

You can tell how things went south for MA over time by listening to the mixes.

First two albums that PBass is loud, proud and growling. By 1984 you have to listen hard to hear him and on 5150 and OU812 there is no bass AT ALL. Just guitar, cheezy keys and some of the shittiest sounding drums this side of a Casio keyboard. They were "Newsteding" him big time by then.

i don't think so.

the bass was always barely there unless you cranked the music way up (there was even an early interview where somebody, maybe dave, said that was the idea, you were supposed to listen to it loud);

this was true up until "poundcake" off the unfortunately-named F.U.C.K. first hit the airwaves; all of a sudden MA's rocco-worthy 16th-notes came booming out of the speakers like they should have been!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5rZV4C7lIw

[JumboJack]

Originally Posted by Duuuuuuuuuude

Did MA use a harmonizer on his voice live? Check out this video at around 2:52 and 3:15

http://youtu.be/W1wEo4CR8_4?t=2m45s

Did they even have harmonizers in 78?
Pretty sure EVH was singing in that clip too.

[Duuuuuuuuuude]

Originally Posted by JumboJack

Did they even have harmonizers in 78?
Pretty sure EVH was singing in that clip too.

I'm talking about when he's talking. Unless EVH is saying the same thing at the same time, there's something going on

[Mastermold]

Originally Posted by Duuuuuuuuuude

Really? I've watched the Oakland 81 video a bunch of times and the whole band was on fire. Seems like they were at their prime. I think Mike's playing is great.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1AHuN_aE8g

Yeah that's their golden age there, cool video. Mike's great, Wolfe's coming along but got a way to go still.

[Rip Topaz]

Originally Posted by Floyd Eye

It's all moot now.



http://kimgordonsrealage.tumblr.com/...ves-group-says

LMAO!!

I love the part about DLR's yoga warmups!

[jaywa]

The nice thing about those first two VH albums is, the bass was mixed hard left and the guitar hard right (or maybe vice versa) so with the balance knob on your stereo you could create your own mix!

Agreed that "For Unlawful..." was by far the best mixed VH disc. The drums finally sounded like real drums and you could really MA's work which was pretty tasty.

[timzrage]

While Anthony isn't the greatest bassist on Earth his vocals were a HUGE "hook" for VH.

[richntiff]

I don't think it can be argued that evh changed -FUNDAMENTALLY- the way rock guitar is viewed and played. He invented it-you can say what you want about it but there it is. That being said, the person he turned into and the way he has treated his former bandmates is so insanely disappointing it makes me ill

Does anyone know if its Wolfgang actually playing on the new (old???) disc? There is some fine work there.

[mcm]

Very true

[sok monkee]

Originally Posted by timzrage

While Anthony isn't the greatest bassist on Earth his vocals were a HUGE "hook" for VH.

Absolutely his vocals were 50% their chorus sound no telling how much that effected there direction and creative process!