Michael Anthony on That Metal Show

[80'sRocker]

I thought it was a great interview from one of rocks most underrated bassists. Cool dude

 

[mcapote]

Yeah the RH HOF is complete bullcrap. I think I read somewhere that LL Cool J is getting in next year? That's LAME!

Some dude said that it's called the Rock'n'Roll Hall Of Fame because it includes ALL offsprings of Rock'n'roll be it rock, hard rock, funk, metal, etc, etc. I just still thinks it's bull to include all these pop acts, because the bands and artists elected should at least ROCK!

madonna is in, and kiss isnt didnt know like a virgin did more for rock than rock and roll all night

 

[lousybassplayer]

I thought it was a great interview from one of rocks most underrated bassists. Cool dude

Here goes the underratted thing again

Seriously though, I have always pictured EVH as a typical guitar god, essentially since all guitar players feel that they are guitar gods, justa typical guitar player (attitude wise). I'm not terribly surprised that it takes the bassist to take the "higher ground".

 

[KPJ]

I was a huge Van Halen fan all through the 80's. Actually all the way to Van Halen III. (I really was a fan!) After being turned on to bass by John Paul Jones, Michael Anthony was the first big time bass player I became aware of. I have always enjoyed his playing and attitude. Bummed by how the Van Halen saga played out, but glad to see MA is still hanging in and kickin' it. He seems to have life and everything that goes with it in perspective.

 

[RexNFX79]

Reading some of the comments, I think one of the saddest things about all of this is that an iconic band such as Van Halen is basically just the butt of jokes now. Does anyone take them seriously at this point? Maybe MA is better off in Chickenfoot. I loved the comment about Wolfgang having the stage presence of a potted plant! True Dat! The kid may be a great guy but he looks completely out of place and ridiculous on stage with that band or at least from the pictures and videos on youtube that I've seen as of course the boycott continues

 

[eSmith]

but he looks completely out of place and ridiculous on stage with that band

Could it be that he is fully aware how many of the fans think he IS out of place up there? Do you think the fans noticed? Think he ever gets unflattering comments from the front row?

I don't know but those questions have to go through his head. I would think he of all people grew up listening to Van Halen, you would think he would be very aware of the situatition.

Even though it's dad's band and he can do what he wants they must know how the rest of the planet views this.

I remember hearing stories about him getting on stage (EVH) at MIT with Allan Holdsworth, Jack Dejonette and an unnamed banned Talkbass member. I'm pretty sure thats what led to Jeff getting the offer to join VH that he turned down. The hearsay is EVH couldn't play much more than a note before they completely lost him in the progression and from that day on he personally worships Holdsworth.

Imagine... how do you get from: "Hey guy's, Let's ask Jeff Berlin to join VH" to: "Hey guy's, my kids 16 now, lets get him in the band!" I think it is a clear indication of the mental slide the drugs put Eddie through.

-eSmith.

 

[jacksonguy95]

not to mention kip ****ing winger said he was boycotting the VH reunion tour because micheal anthony wasnt there

 

[markkoelsch]

Not to turn this into an Eddie-bashing thread, but based on what I read in Roth's book and a lot of stuff I've read online over the years, ol' smilin' Eddie evidently can be a real dick. Total control freak, too. Kinda stings since I was a HUGE VH (and EVH) fan back in the day (as a guitarist).

Now that I'm concentrating solely on the bass, I'm only interested in what Anthony's doing these days. And truthfully, has Eddie really done anything interesting musically since '5150', or even '1984'? Just my two cents.

Ed was great in his day. That being said, he probably has not done anything really new or interesting on guitar since about 1980-81. Everything after that was a mashup of previous licks.

 

[Toronto Bassist]

I was just listening to the Chickenfoot album the other day and Michael gets a great fuzztone on there. He really rumbles through the whole album.

 

[Rockmusician]

I think Michael Anthony is better off without VH. Eddie is an arrogant A-Hole. Anthony's playing doesn't really impress me but he is better than Wolfgang. In my opinion he is average but he is fun to watch. He has a great voice and I've always wondered why he didn't take over the lead vocals after Sammy left the band.

 

[Greyfin10]

I think Michael Anthony is better off without VH. Eddie is an arrogant A-Hole. Anthony's playing doesn't really impress me but he is better than Wolfgang. In my opinion he is average but he is fun to watch. He has a great voice and I've always wondered why he didn't take over the lead vocals after Sammy left the band.

+1, My take exactly. He's great not because of his bass lines, but because he sings his @$$ off while playing.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I think Michael Anthony is better off without VH. Eddie is an arrogant A-Hole. Anthony's playing doesn't really impress me but he is better than Wolfgang. In my opinion he is average but he is fun to watch. He has a great voice and I've always wondered why he didn't take over the lead vocals after Sammy left the band.

play along with this, try to play it note-for-note:



fingers tired yet?? Mike is SICK on this track!!

 

[RexNFX79]

play along with this, try to play it note-for-note:



fingers tired yet?? Mike is SICK on this track!!

+1

I don't want to get into the under rated conversation but the guy is a solid player, I don't get the criticism. Maybe he's not Victor Wooten but he doesn't need to be.

 

[pnut166]

madonna is in, and kiss isnt didnt know like a virgin did more for rock than rock and roll all night

Until SRV is in, the RnR HOF doesn`t even exist to me.