My Opinion of Wolfgang Van Halen Just Got a Big Bump

Now that VH is more or less on permanent hiatus, is Wolfie subbing in Eilish’s band?

 

Who?

 

My cat's breath smells like catfood.

 

Hahahahahahaha
y'all

 

Why should Billie know/care about Van Halen? I would imagine that the band is even irrelevant to her parents. On the other hand, I’ve been dismissive of the band since the late ‘80s. And that was 30 years ago.

 

I think the reason people are taken aback is because she often wears band merch that is much more obscure than Van Halen (stuff like Type O Negative and Cradle of Filth), but I think it’s obvious that it’s just a fashion thing and she probably doesn’t even choose those outfits for herself.

 

I don't listen to REM for a similar reason. In an interview years ago when the interviewer asked (I think) Stipe about comparisons being made of their music to The Beatles, he said: "The Beatles? Who are they?" Needless to say this turned me right off REM. To each his own and I admire Wolfie's answer.

 

Seems like different situations to me.
I'm sure that was Stipe just messing with the interviewer. REM has acknowledged its debt to '60s music many times. They were doing Velvet Underground covers from the beginning. And I watched a 1984 concert recently where they did encores with both Roger McGuinn and John Sebastian.

Also, for perspective: Stipe was born in 1960, so he certainly knew of the Beatles. Billie was born in 2001--Van Halen has released one album since then, and it still hasn't gone gold, never mind platinum. I think it's very realistic that she truly has not heard of VH.

 

Yeah, I’d say that was a rhetorical “Beatles? Who are they?” out of Stipe. Keep in mind he was just the singer/lyricist. If born in ‘60, the Beatles were not going to be the ‘soundtrack of his life’; sure, he heard them growing up but it wouldn’t be as meaningful of an impact as whatever was going on in the early 70’s, Bowie or whoever. Guitarist Peter Buck, who is older and closer to my age, exhibits influences from The Byrds and Velvet Underground, and “South Central Rain” always sounded like a CCR song to me. They once cited English art/punk band Wire as an influence, which left me scratching my head, even though I love that band. Just didn’t hear it, but overall, I can see where the whole Punk revolution that happened before they formed would be more important to them. I was hearing Andy Williams in grade school(because of my mother), and I can’t say he’s any kind of influence(in other words, who is he to me?) although I always got a kick out of the English Beat covering “Can’t Get Used To Loosing You”.

 

I can’t believe Billie Eilish wasn’t born in the 70’s. Outrageous! Why would a 17-year-old know Van Halen? Their peak came almost 20 years prior to her birth.

My dad was a big Phil Collins fan, but let’s just say that I’m requiring a jacket.

 

My dogs breath smells like catfood. He eats the cat's food.

 

His mother raised him right. She was always the brains in that family.

 

Wolfy can play. Billie can write. Put them together in Billie’s brother’s room (where her first record was recorded in case you didn’t know) Keep Billie’s Bro on acoustic guitar ( that’s how they wrote the songs for her debut). Dang - we may be on to something HUGE

I’d buy that before I’d shell out to see Motley Crue, Def Leppard, Joan Jett and uhhhh... the other band with them....

 

uGGHH. My wife just entered a contest for tickets in Detroit. Now I gotta figure out how to weasel out of that one.
The other band, never gonna happen.
Joan Jett, perhaps in a small club.
Def Leppard. Just burned out on the radio play.
Motley, I like Tommy and Mick 's playing. Enough said.

 

Have you seen the video of David Lee popping into a party at hotel room where he's staying. Van Halen is playing on the stereo. He thinks he's going to get a starry eyed rock star response. The kids just look at him like he's a creepy old man. lol

 

Wolfie's just looking to score. Billie turns 18 this month. Don't ask me why I know that.

 

I just listened to several of Billie's tunes & I don't hate it, but don't love it either. And the biggest reason is the heavily auto-tuned vocal effects & half-techno/clubish music. I would like to hear her (probably rather) with her brother on acoustic all stripped down. And as far as Wolfie, well can you say nepotism?

 

I prefer this over what I've heard on the album.

 

Agreed, but Billie Eilish is happened right now. I still don't know who she is.