Do you think Michael Anthony is underrated??

[D.M.N.]

I'll throw this out there:


Deceptively tricky to get that right groove, I love the bass line in that song.

And again, when it comes to groove, the shuffle in this is right on and impressive:

 

[L. L. Elwood]

Both Anthony and the other Van Halen could have been replaced without the band missing a beat. IMO their musical contribution added nothing unique to the band's sound and in that sense they were actually probably overrated.

This is a laughable sentiment. I find it quite unusual for a musician to have such an ego as to state something as uninformed, simplistic and shallow as this.

 

[Spiketronic]

Michael Anthony is not overrated if he gives me the million dollars.

"My name is Michael Anthony". Wait for it...

 

[FRoss6788]

This is a laughable sentiment. I find it quite unusual for a musician to have such an ego as to state something as uninformed, simplistic and shallow as this.

Bingo!

Well said.

 

[2F/2F]

He’s appropriately rated as a bassist, but tragically underrated as a backup singer.

 

[Larryfales]

Just heard this unreleased track and I really dig the groove he is laying down on this one. There is nothing wrong with keeping the bottom down in a 3 piece. Keeping the sound full is the bass players #1 job.

 

[Low-Five]

The Van Halen’s and Anthony all played second fiddle to David Lee Roth though am I right?

Maybe among people who don’t play an instrument and think the lead singer is the boss in every band?

 

[FRoss6788]

Maybe among people who don’t play an instrument and think the lead singer is the boss in every band?

 

[Topkat13]

Compared to who? What?

 

[Aussie Player]

Yes. His vocals added more than most bassists and his basslines were inline with the songs and complimentary to the guitar layers on top.

 

[KenD]

The Van Halen’s and Anthony all played second fiddle to David Lee Roth though am I right?

IMO Roth was a unique and indispensable part of their band persona that brought such huge success but Eddie Van Halen never played second fiddle to anyone as a creator and guitarist.

 

[prowla]

fine player and who the hell cares about rating bass players?

Amen to that - everyone thinks they're the judge in a popularity contest.

He's an amazing bass player. You have to be deaf (or conceited) not to hear that.
Great bass lines, great tone and always in the pocket.

One out of three ain't bad!

 

[DaveParker39]

Ian Hill has chops, we just don’t see them in JP. Although, some of their earlier stuff he was moving around more.

Yeah… if you look you’ll find them. Desert Plains. Hell Bent For Leather. Pretty much their whole live set at Power Trip when we could actually hear him. But honestly it impresses the heck out of me when guys lay down consistent bass lines that are perfect for the song, regardless of complexity… in fact his use of playing the root note of the key they are in even as chords change is a big part of Priest’s sound, IMO.

 

[MrClassicMetal]

I mostly found the VH bass lines a bit disappointing; I suppose if you're in a band with the flashiest guitarist in the universe, someone has to hold it down, but the only two bass lines I can recall are the ploddy "Running With The Devil" and the awful disco-ish one in whatever song that was.
He plainly had a job to do and did (very) well out if it, but I've never thought "I've just got to learn that great bass line!" there.

David Lee Roth had a very flashy guitarist in the band he put together post Van Halen, and and he had a monster bassist in the line up as well. It worked out great between them.

Sheehan is no stranger to playing with virtuoso guitarists. He was in Mr Big along with the phenomenal Paul Gilbert and later Richie Kotzen.

Years after leaving DLR, Vai and Sheehan toured together multiple times.

And interestingly Van Halen asked Sheehan to join them on 3 occasions: Unusual Rock Trivia?

 

[FRoss6788]

David Lee Roth had a very flashy guitarist in the band he put together post Van Halen, and and he had a monster bassist in the line up as well to play along with him. It worked out great.

Sheehan is no stranger to playing with virtuoso guitarists. He was in Mr Big along with the phenomenal Paul Gilbert and later Richie Kotzen.

Years after leaving DLR, Vai and Sheehan toured together multiple times.

And interestingly Van Halen asked Sheehan to join them on 3 occasions: Unusual Rock Trivia?

Did it?

There were some cool tunes, how long did that last?

Ego's...

 

[MrClassicMetal]

Did it?

There were some cool tunes, how long did that last?

Ego's...

The Eat 'Em and Smile album was pretty awesome, and it got great reviews when it was released. I particularly remember one in Guitar World magazine that summed it up nicely.

It went along the lines of: "It's a phenomenal band and the record kicks some serious ass. Is it going to last? Probably not. But for a short while DLR can rightfully claim to have one of the best bands in the world ever assembled."

 

[Heiwa]

I think evh was a an ***hole and ruined the band. Michael and the singers were better off without him, they couldn't shine with him around.

 

[J Wilson]

I think of Michael Anthony as a full-grown man for having to be the middle of the sandwich between a ground-breaking, unconventional guitarist and in many ways an unconventional drummer, and what seemed like a never-ending soap opera, if even a little of the back stories are true. I'd argue that between Alex and Eddie, if he'd have played really busy stuff as well, their stuff would have had no center at all, as it's more than obvious to me that Ed never rehearsed or played the same thing twice.

 

[MrClassicMetal]

I think evh was a an ***hole and ruined the band. Michael and the singers were better off without him, they couldn't shine with him around.

Do you think Van Halen should've replaced Eddie, and if so which guitarist would've been a better option from the top of your head?

 

[FRoss6788]

It's possible to acknowledge EVH as the key to the success and ruination of VH at the same time.