• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Michael Anthony and Van Halen

#41
Must say I always hated Michael's solo spot but he did a good job otherwise. When you're playing with not only one of the world's busiest guitarists but also his over the top drummer brother somebody has to hold it down or you have a non-stop train wreck. Sure, someone like Billy Sheehan would have sounded incredible with the brothers VH but do you really think that would have worked?
 
#42
In my opinion, Michael Anthony is very over rated as a player. He did a good enough job for the songs they played though. He has a great voice and I always wondered why he didn't take over the lead vocals. If he was a great player, Eddie would have never played with him in the first place because he would have been worried about being upstaged. Eddie is an egomaniac who doesn't want input from anyone. That's why he has his son playing bass. If was really interested in making great music he would realize that he is a terrible player.
 
#44
I suggest people read the article. Basically, Sammy is saying EVH is beyond a drunk crazy person.

Sammy's comments about Michael center around how the VH brothers regulated MA to a sideman position on the 2004 tour and really lowered his income as opposed to the four way split it always was. I get the impression Sammy thought it was uncalled for, mean spirited and down right low.

I was impressed in the article how well it seems Sammy has his head screwed on.

One exmaple he gave was at the end of the tour, he had bottles of his tequila his company produces. He had a bottle for each of the 127 employees on the tour he was autographing and was planning on giving to each employee. Apparently, while signing bottles, EVH came and started to grab a bottle to drink. Sammy explained to EVH that he has an exact amount and not to touch them because that meant an employee would be left out. EVH didn't care and basically made comments it's all about him, etc. Very sad really.

Sammy also talks about the lack of personal hygiene, EVH pulling his own teeth, missing many teeth and the remaining being black anyway. really, really sad.
 
#45
Sammy's comments about Michael center around how the VH brothers regulated MA to a sideman position on the 2004 tour and really lowered his income as opposed to the four way split it always was. I get the impression Sammy thought it was uncalled for, mean spirited and down right low.
Click to expand...

It sounds like what Henley and Frey did to Felder. Like Felder, MA could write a book about it and make a ton of money.
 
#46
I was a huge VH fan for years. Saw them live three times (with David, Sammy and with Gary) and all times they kicked. I always thought that MA was the right guy for the situation. His ability, his singing and his persona were PERFECT for that band. He played what the songs needed. Isn't that what a good musician is suppose to do? Believe it or not, there was a time when Eddie had huge praise for MA and was quick to defend him if anyone tried putting him down.

Seems like Eddie started to come apart during the recording of VH III. When the album didn't sell well, when the tour didn't go well....that's when he really crashed hard. But in an article afterwards he even said "yeah, the album bombed out. If you want to blame anybody blame me because everybody did everything just like I told them to."

Seems like the man never recovered after that.
 
#48
prd004 said:
I've heard him play and sing, thus my post. For years and years I thought the only reason he was in the band was because he could sing the high harmonies, and then I heard him live. No talent.
Click to expand...


Guess it don't matter what you think because Van Halen with Michael Anthony already sold millions of albums . A feat I don't think you have accomplished yet .
 
#49
I can't hate on Antothy too much. ****ing rock solid bottom, and backup vox that made the band soar. Less is more sometimes. It could be a lot more interesting if it were Les Claypool back in the day but you'd of never heard it crank out of your Camaro's 6x9's off of the FM dial while blasting a doob w/ your buddies on the way to the beach. Cause that **** wouldn't have made it to radio in the first place.
Just sayin.
 
#50
Yeah, he can't play . . .



:rolleyes:

Ok so Jaco or Victor Wooten he's not, but VH didn't need a virtuoso on the bass. They got rock solid playing and stellar background vocals to boot, nothing more nothing less.
 
#51
Thudstaff said:
I can't hate on Antothy too much. ****ing rock solid bottom, and backup vox that made the band soar. Less is more sometimes. It could be a lot more interesting if it were Les Claypool back in the day but you'd of never heard it crank out of your Camaro's 6x9's off of the FM dial while blasting a doob w/ your buddies on the way to the beach. Cause that **** wouldn't have made it to radio in the first place.
Just sayin.
Click to expand...

Now thats funny !!!! :bassist::bassist:
 
#52
prd004 said:
It's well known that Eddie is an ego maniac, controlling fool. He's let his own sense of self-greatness get in the way of the band for a long, long time. That being said..........

I have alway thought Michael Anthony is one of the luckiest, least-talented musicians I have ever heard.
Click to expand...

You know it's funny I hear things like this alot about bassists who do what is necessary for the music. Eddie left him no room to be creative so he dumbed it down and did his job. If you listen to what he did with Chickenfoot you will know he was held back. MA is an amazingly good bassist.

H
 
#55
I like Mikes playing and vocals.

Dunno why people think you have to be flashy or a virtuoso to be good. You don't get to stay on with Eddie Van Halen for all those years and not be good. Nor do you not pick up a few new tricks along the way. Based on who he's played with, and his background in music, I'd be willing to bet, he's a lot better than what you hear in his VH and Chicken Foot tracks.

I've also heard (via Sammy or Mike) that he and Sammy were removed (at least in part) from the band because of their business dealings. Sammy's with being tequila and Mikes with being hot sauce. Long story short on what I heard about that is, Eddie didn't like that too much.
 
#59
Back in the day, I was all like "whoa, dude" and "no way, man!" I think they were pretty sloppy. When they hit, I was discusssing EVH with an old local guitarist. He told me "you know, he didn't invent that s***?" Then he proceed to do all the double hammer stuff, just as good or better than EVH.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back