ALEX VAN HALEN Says 1985 Split With DAVID LEE ROTH “The Most Disappointing Thing I’d Experienced"

[@tubewrestler59]

The band definitely needed a long break after the 1984 tour and Roth should have never left. PERIOD. Spot on.

[@goodquestion1105]

Why not leave? Eddie VH spent 20 years pulling a Brian Wilson. Why wait around to collaborate with THAT? Roth doesn't deserve the hate he gets for boldly and bravely leaving the Biggest Live Band In The USA.

[@philipreedwallace]

Broke my heart when he left.

[@SteveSteeleSoundSymphony]

@@goodquestion1105I wouldn’t say he pulled a Brian Wilson. If you saw the 1984 tour, (I did, and also saw the 1978 tour), it was obvious they were losing control. They seemed unorganized and maybe burned out. They should have taken some time off, let Dave carry the PR weight for a year, then regroup in ‘86 with another hit album. As long as the songs Eddie wrote fit Dave, they could have carried on just fine.

[@goodquestion1105]

@@SteveSteeleSoundSymphony if Eddie was refusing to write with Dave and locking himself away in his studio writing music for his wife's movies, what do expect him to do? Continue being a little weiner? We all know the direction VH music went... glad Dave bailed

[@seanprendergast3907]

@@SteveSteeleSoundSymphonyNah they got way too big. They would’ve gone down eventually and been affected by the grunge movement

[@derekstone8564]

Michael’s voice is very important

[@bradhardisty1652]

Roth said Anthony's vocal parts were one of the three or four keys to the bands sound even when they toured with Wolfgang.

[@ssgdean1969]

Mike was a team player, and if he would have had a bigger ego they would have never made it out of Pasadena as a band.

[@humanactivated1017]

@@ssgdean1969no way Alex didn’t even remember Anthony was in Van Halen .

[@ssgdean1969]

@@humanactivated1017 of course he did.

[@BigBass-xf5yi]

So important. And his bass playing was perfect for VH…

[@victorblack6995]

Absolutely! 1985 was a heartbreak! Van Halen would never recover from that split, and I think deep down Dave truly REGRETS his decision. Or at least he should!

[@83marceloa]

I doubt it...

[@petemartinez9971]

I think DLR felt like he was on the road to superstardom, and didn’t regret his move in ‘85 to go solo. Only when it started to go south in 1991 did he finally realize he made a huge mistake, and publicly started yearning for a return to VH to regain his credibility

[@Twotontessie]

Both sides were distraught about it. Shouldn’t have come to that. Dumb asses

[@ericcurry-pitcher5493]

The classic six pack is the only Van- Halen, I recognize. It's a damn shame things went the way they did, we lost the Zeppelin of our generation.

[@chriscromelin413]

Years ago, a buddy of mine summed up both eras of Van Halen perfectly. He said "DLR era Van Halen is all about party your ass off with all your buddies, and Hagar era is drink alone and remember the good times you had with your buddies before life kicked your ass." LOL

[@VanHalenStarWars]

Yep, they had the world in the palm of their hand..would’ve kept getting bigger and bigger. Darn shame.

[@slayerdogg]

I'm glad it happened Eddie got to make the music he wanted to make and it was with Sammy Hagar. They made more great music and had tremendous sucsess with a little bit more mature music. I'm glad that we had both versions of Van Halen. Alex don't like Sammy because this father in-law who use too manage RUSH didn't get along with Sammy and the way they treated Micheal Anthony was a discrace. Mikey was having a great time on stage and the brothers didnt like it he was having to much fun so they took some money and his share of VH from him and if he didnt agree to it he would be replaced. Calling the Sammy years Van-gina is beyond ridiculous and juvenile, sounds like a high school teenager comment and sexist too. My favorite VH era was with Roth but the Sammy years were great too. I do agree that Roth was the reason for the split though. Just like Guns n Roses, what if the original lineup stayed together probably would have been the biggest rock band ever behind the Rolling Stones. Just enjoy what we got good music and great times. What an era to live in because todays music sucks i think we can all agree on that.

[@Grommok]

100%. Sorry Sammy, you could NEVER replace DLR!

[@stepanbandera5206]

​@@slayerdogg Phuk Sammy 😿 and his feelings. 🍼

[@stepanbandera5206]

​@@slayerdogg Van Hagar is Pop/Top40. VanHalen is R&R.

[@radiomindchatter7994]

After Dave I never listened to VH again.. I saw them every time they came through Nashville..from 78 to 84. Bought their records the day they came out. It was part of the soundtrack of my life then. With Sammy...I just couldn't.

[@keithparrish6469]

Good times at Municipal Auditorium!

[@radiomindchatter7994]

@@keithparrish6469 It's a music museum now right? Was you there at the VH/Black Sabbath show where the riot broke out ? 1978.

[@SteveSteeleSoundSymphony]

@@radiomindchatter7994I saw Sabbath/Van Halen in Houston on Thanksgiving night 1978. What a concert. Sabbath were asleep but it was still one of the best double billings of all time.

[@acorn-yy1gi]

I saw VH in 78, 79, 80, 81 and twice in 1982. After 1982 I lost interest in VH; they had lost their fire.

[@robycip9715]

I stayed with VH thru all there different bands their professional musicianship Bass/drums/guitar was alway my focus because of their beat rhythm always on time....ear candy

[@bobbymauro3721]

VH brothers were a revolving door of criticism whenever it suited them. They mistreated Michael Anthony for years up by trying to recruit Billy Sheenan. It was a circus up until Sammy joined. Sorry but without Sammy they would’ve fallen off the face of the earth!

[@acorn-yy1gi]

DLR was not only the lead vocalist. He was, for better or worse, their alpha. When DLR left they lost their alpha. Neither Ed nor Al knew how to lead, despite outsiders telling Ed VH was his band. Sammy, like him or not, was an alpha. I didn't care for the music Van Hagar made; but I was already disinterested in VH by the time of the split.

[@patrickhill3260]

Had a lengthy haul on the highway today for work. Got through about 80% of the audiobook so far. I’d give it 2/5 stars at best. Really no new insight into the inner workings of that band that hasn’t been said or written about a hundred times already (funny enough he quotes other peoples books regularly throughout his book). It’s like he wants to give you the history & his experience, but it’s Wikipedia surface level at best. Only covers up to the end of the Roth era as well. Just leaves so many unanswered moments of that band’s history that fans actually want to know about. I’d like to hear his take on the how things went down with the failed Roth reunion in the 90’s, the failure of VH3, the botched Sammy reunion in the 2000’s, his estrangement from Michael Anthony & how he felt about the final incarnation of the band, his brothers battle with his demons & how it affected the band, his battle with his own demons & how he overcame them. The list goes on. If this is just a crash course on the Roth era, Noel Monks book on the classic VH lineup is a million times better than this.

[@arthurrimbaud7287]

Monk’s book is excellent.

[@adrianlee3497]

Thank youuu👍👍👍

[@stephenkodrich8763]

The Tapes Archive KZbin channel did those great VH docs and you are spot on regarding the final straw for Ed with Dave asking him to do the soundtrack for his movie. I too am a Dave defender and it’s clear to me that Dave’s EP and movie might not have happened if Ed didn’t do something outside the band first. Maybe Dave’s ego was so huge he still would have done it. The problem with Roth was he overvalued himself in the process and it caught up to him in the early 90’s. That doc is fascinating because the person behind it doesn’t think Roth quit or was fired. They just parted ways after that soundtrack conversation and Ed put the wheels in motion to replace Dave with his 5th choice, Hagar. Can’t imagine how big a follow-up to 84’ would have been. Great video!!!

[@glock0292]

Still pretending Mike Anthony didn’t exist. What a douche.

[@suek9456]

Now that’s it’s been stated by Alex Van Halen himself….IT IS. The four guys are Van Halen…everything after 1985 is rubbish. Thank you Alex for settling this.

[@philipreedwallace]

I agree with you 100% . I’m so glad I got to see the original Van Halen 2/11/84. I was 12 going on 13 . It was rowdy . Packed house. Fights in the crowd before the show. Autograph opened the show and got pelted with cups non stop. They had to sweep the cups off the stage before the magic began. That was Van Halen. Still have my ticket stub. Then Unchained started and that beautiful huge stage lit up and everyone stood the whole show. Non stop madness from the crowd the whole show. I will never forget. That was Van Halen.

[@TheCountofToulouse]

There is a channel called "The Tapes Archive" that did an incredible series on Van Halen. They also dropped a few interviews that had NEVER been heard. One of them was David Lee Roth speaking to a female interviewer. I listened to that entire interview and something becomes very clear about David and his position in Van Halen that went all the way back to the beginning of the band. Despite Roth's bombastic projections, his hyper machismo, his consummate dedication to showmanship and his Alpha male personality, he never felt secure in Van Halen. I hear you saying "NO WAY!" but I assure, it's true. In the interview, in a moment of vulnerability, apparently coaxed out by the women asking him the questions he said that he always felt like one day he was going to call the brothers and no one would pick up the phone. When asked "why" he felt that way, he refused to elaborate but anyone that has ever read the book "Van Halen Rising" would know. Roth had auditioned for Van Halen early on and the audition went HORRIBLE, with Roth leaving, feeling embarrassed. Roth then formed another band called "red ball jet" that both the Van Halen brothers hated and at times mentioned how glad they were that Roth wasn't the 'guy'. Roth ONLY got in the band through a strange set of circumstances involving renting Roth's PA system and while most would agree that Roth is the perfect singer for that group he never formed any sort of close relationship with ANY of them, not even Michael Anthony. There is an interview where Eddie is mocking Roth for 'thinking he's the big cheese', so, it's clear that, in Roth's eyes, he could be thrown out at any time. Roth used the 1984 album to place his star front and center. He starred in all the videos, he made sure HIS production company shot the video's, featuring him as the main focus. Behind the scenes, he had already began forming his band, keeping it as LOW key as possible. He even put out an EP, 4 song solo album to test the waters leading up to his departure. In truth, Roth had been planning his exit out and he did it when his star was at his highest. The simple truth is, he wanted something that HE was in control of, HE guided the direction of and where HE signed the paychecks. Side note. When Van Halen was signed, Sammy Hagar, also under contract with the same record company, was touted as a possible replacement to DLR. That's not a rumor, either, it's come out in public a few times, though, Eddie was NEVER told about it and Roth did well enough on the first album that the 'replacement' conversation just evaporated.

[@arthurrimbaud7287]

Just discovered this Tapes Archive too. Great stuff.

[@Scottocaster6668]

I just got my hardcover copy today!! 2:30 Awesome pic! There ya go!! VH TUESDAY! "Listen to Fair Warning, and One Break..coming up!"

[@jakkahz]

Bro. Everything you said was awesome. Sounds real and humble. Makes sense to me. Love your channel.

[@flazjsg]

Did a long comment but somehow it disappeared. In a nutshell: Eddie pissed off Dave by: 1.) Playing on "Beat it." 2.) Bringing in too many keyboards and not being as guitar heavy as the early stuff. 3.) Marrying a celebrity. 4.) Building his own studio. That ticked off Roth and Templeman. 5.) Not playing on Dave's solo album. Dave was the Alpha guy aka Top Dog in the band. After a while he said screw it - I'm outta here!

[@derangedhermit2879]

@@flazjsg I’ve found recently that certain words tend to get my comments deleted automatically, for instance I’ve learned to type out swear words like W@ll $treet, or P!ss in a more tactful manner…LoL…& I’ve been utilizing copy paste to notes, before entering my rambling comments, just so that my long winded diatribes aren’t disappeared & lost all of a sudden to the AI censors…😖

[@flazjsg]

Thanks. I still feel like an idiot for commenting on any KZbin videos., but sometimes I can't help myself.​@@derangedhermit2879

[@azjoe_6310]

Crazy that he brought in keyboards on his Skyscraper album.

[@meyerbuttreeks8589]

I never felt more let down than the first time I heard the opening notes of Jump. I roll my eyes to this day.

[@acorn-yy1gi]

The "Hot For Teacher" video was really great. Otherwise, 1984 was too much a departure from the Mighty Van Halen.

[@meyerbuttreeks8589]

@@GuessWho-i5o Yeah, I get it. And theres still some great riffs and licks. But at the time, it was a huge change and we who loved Van Halens edgier hard rock were disappointed. To my 15 year old self it sucked. lol

[@MrOctober44]

"According to Noel Monk, Eddie had an ego". Do we really need Monk to verify this? 😂

[@Twotontessie]

I liked Roth’s description that the real Van Halen sound was akin to the sound of two Sumu wrestlers slamming into each other and shaking the atmosphere. The conflict and tension …. it really did create the magic. Then you get Mike to provide that sweetness up top and that enthusiasm. Brilliant

[@leoshaw1328]

Awesome take, full agreement! Very well articulated (2 year college degree word) and spot on. Thanks 🤘

[@kyrongolston5691]

I wish that lineup would’ve last longer

[@JIMJAMSC]

I picked up this vibe you love Roth and really despised Hagar hahaaha............ Great random pics of the band btw!

[@RobertRagolia]

They never wanted sammy but were desperate but they in no way liked those crappy sappy songs sammy wrote, he turned them into air supply

[@RickKarkau]

Those aren't lame commercial songs. Their compelling to listen to!​@Mark3-16

[@RickKarkau]

​@@Mark3-16Those aren't lame commercial songs. They're compelling to listen to!

[@derangedhermit2879]

@@Mark3-16 LoL…Right! Van Halen, with their multi part vocal harmonies, were their era’s return of The Beach Boys, after Hendrix had single handedly killed off Surf Music, Van Halen stuck past the censors with radio friendly innuendo’s, which was their charm. Dave was all, “Ain’t Talkin Bout Love!” & Sammy was all, “Is this Love?” But either way, Van Halen only rocked hard on the early bootlegs from their club days. When Van Halen got known, they were always more of soft pop, party rock, top 40’s act, than a hard rock band…🤟🏼

[@MichaelMaxwell747]

@@derangedhermit2879 You are not wrong! I remember being stunned at how great their vocals and harmonies were! I was in a band with a young, hotshot, guitarist. Some of his secret sauce was his writing and vocal ability that he earned doing Beach Boys vocal harmonies with his sister. I thought we were a great band when I was a rookie bassist but there is no universe where I could touch Michael Anthony's pitch or high range. Ed and Alex were really good background singers too. Or maybe it was all Dave, Michael and Ed? A+ for playing bass or guitar and vocals live. That was what cinched it for me. Fast guitar wizardry, solid backline, Van Halen were the real deal!

[@deanrane1961]

Dave was magic & Hagar was tragic! Man you had us dying lol! But yeah you're right, those were pivotal times in their lives both musically & as young men coming up in this world. So I'm not surprised Alex has lotsa love & respect for DLR looking back in hindsight.

[@Kinger1625]

The Mighty Van Halen is what Alex Van Halen speaks about…..and we all know that’s true! The chemistry is undeniable. I’ve been listening to the audiobook….and it’s fantastic! But Ed had admitted crying in 85, so after that it was not the same, as we know. This book and hearing his voice is cathartic. Loving it, but have to finish. SCHAMAKAMAGOB! I shall return later to hear the rest of this….cant have spoilers Ralph! Love ya man! 🤘🍻

[@AlexVanHalen_tribute]

vanJina🤣🤣 ...same dude said Alex dug my channel too& what He says is facts... Excellent content as always!! 🪖🥁✌

[@Abefroman-lq3md]

Vangina!!!

[@ManuelGarcia-fq1js]

Agreed! & Great Post! 👍

[@stevew6910]

1984 was really the first record they made decent money because of record deals, Without Sammy they would have had to beg Roth to come back by 1990 or they would have faded away,,,

[@ministerofdarkness]

Hey I hang out with Sammy Hagar and he says......tell Alex "Why Can't This be Love?"

[@BadWolf762]

Top or Bottom?

[@killereverb3928]

I totally get Alex for writing the book to cover the DLR years. I’m glad he decided to leave the Sammy shit out. That thoughtful editorial decision says so much! Sure, some people won’t dig that. So what? I named my son after Alex and I’m a guitarist. Lol This is why.

[@juanparrilla3630]

Van Gina! Hahahahaha 😂 I can't stop laughing! I spit out my smoothie all on myself when I first heard it.

[@almosthuman56]

Sorry 😁

[@juanparrilla3630]

@@almosthuman56 Hahahahaha!

[@sgtboz9730]

Went from magic to tragic when Diamond Dave left.

[@couchwarrior2449]

Dave was right to leave VH when he did. 1984 was a disappointment to me as a kid, expecting a kick ass VH record like their previous albums and getting...synthezizers??? The DLR band was an awesome iteration of a counter VanHalen band that was BETTER on every level than what VH was doing once Sammy joined the band. Too bad they didn't last.

[@davidzabel5195]

Makes you wonder how much Alex was really into the Hagar era.

[@DashChicago]

If I may ...if it wasn't for Dave's ego, we may have never heard of Van Halen ...DLR is the guy who discovered Van Halen, thank God!!!!

[@muziktrkr]

I think Alex to VH is Malcolm Young to AC/DC, you didn’t hear much from him but he had a LOT of say behind the scenes. After watching the Rock Hall induction, Belcher will forever also be known as “Juke Box Zero”.

[@Rutherford12]

7:08 I love Dave on the Love Boat

[@RussellFoisy]

Classless Alex Van Halen # 1 albums with Sammy

[@herbcanter2114]

Wrong

[@RussellFoisy]

@herbcanter2114 right Over the course of 11 years of the "Van Hagar" era with Sammy, Van Halen released four U.S. number-one, multi-platinum albums (5150 in 1986, OU812 in 1988, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge in 1991, and Balance in 1995).

[@RussellFoisy]

Do u know what Google is?

[@RussellFoisy]

Young Roth great old Roth sucked could not sing anymore, Hagar bailed the brothers out and was disrespected when fired

[@RussellFoisy]

I'll give Roth credit for tattoo. That's a great track

[@Twotontessie]

Being 14 when they happened … can’t tell younger folks how shattering and unthinkable it was that Roth was out of that band. That cheesy solo EP seemed like a lark. I was shocked. A rock and roll tragedy. Incredible they blew that thing.

[@ugaais]

I was 15 in 1985 devastating..

[@shaunclifton5281]

I love DLR, but you are 100% correct, Ralph. It was Dave's Ego.

[@Ruffneckz_73]

I agree with Alex.. The Original VH was the only VH.. They Lived that Wild Crazy Life at the right time and Had this crazy energy that influenced so many bands.. From The drums to the Guitar and Dave's Charismatic Frontman skills there was only one VH.. Also Dave's Song Topics and lyrics.. Eddie was a Guitar God.. All great things come to an end.. When Hagar joined times had changed and the whole Vibe was changed.. The Original Van Halen was More Like Led Zeppelin Meets Jimi Hendrix and the Later Version with Hagar was like Foreigner..

[@Buddycoop1]

Dave, Ed, and Alex grew up together. Enough said. Always family.

[@retarteddwarf2182]

Instead of hey man you go make your ode to vaudville stuff for a minute and I'll do some keyboard side stuff and we will meet again in the middle and do it all over again in a com-ba-yah kinda way but NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! It had to be Fukyoooz all the way around. That's the way they wanted it. That's the way they gots it. Victims of their own success all the way around. It's the way it always goes. This is Rock-n-Roll.

[@retarteddwarf2182]

​@@GuessWho-i5o Thx for the story.

[@derangedhermit2879]

Alex Van Halen is wrong to attempt revising history, in this openly inauthentic fashion, under the guises of grief, trying to erase Micheal Anthony’s contributions to Van Halen’s historic rise. Perhaps Alex partied far too much, & got too many pats on the back, before reaching his full potential, to be abled to accurately recall, what all had transpired in the 1970’s & 1980’s? After their band came out the gates red hot & immediately stumbled, onto the double edged sword of fame, like a lucky punch champion, that celebrated too much, & got big headed. & Then didn’t work out, got all fat & bloated, just to lose the title in the rematch. Like a flash in the pan, that melted down off its initial rise, before imploding in a senseless, overly dramatic clash of infighting ego’s. All while Mikey quietly kept his head down, in loyally playing out the remainder of his narrowly defined allowed role. Mikey’s live bass playing on the pre WB bootlegs is particularly phenomenal. His background vocals & bass playing live, had long been key components of Van Halen’s sound, Eddie initially fought to award Micheal Anthony a equal quarter share of Van Halen, in stating that they were all a team of Brothers, when the band first signed their initial deal, before anyone’s ego’s ballooned out to absurd proportions. & That’s all that really matters to be said about Mikey. Nobody dogs out Rudy Sarzo, because he wasn’t a songwriting contributor in the studio. Rudy somehow gets more love then Bob Daisley, who had helped write 30 of the biggest hit songs in Ozzy’s career in the studio & played live, & wrote the vast majority of Ozzy’s lyrics & was practically the real producer of Ozzy’s first two albums, yet today if Bob is known at all, he’s relegated to the footnotes, as the bass player, replaced by Rudy’s picture on the album covers. & That’s what really sticks out to the fans, who boldly supported, bought fully into & loudly cheered & championed any of these bands, that sold B.S. narrative’s as a soundtrack of the culture, but lied & faked it, after they’d made it. If Van Halen’s music continues to live on in a live setting, it certainly won’t be due to Alex’s disingenuous brand of leadership, after his more accomplished Brothers passing. Everyone knows that Eddie is solely responsible for all of Van Halen’s songwriting & was even more so, after Ted Tempelman & Dave were out of the picture. Eddie & Alex could have fired Mikey & brought in Billy Sheenan, Stu Ham, or practically anyone his age, to play the bass & assist him with his songwriters block, & long before 2006. Eddie was certainly wrong about not covering California Girls, and was wrong for dismissing Grover Jackson. Eddie could barely take a compliment & had no care for his legacy, or influence on other guitarists. Eddie was wrong in so many other things as Van Halen’s de facto leader after his ill fated mutiny of the sinking ship. For instance when Eddie pushed aside the experienced guidance of Van Halen’s producer Ted Tempelman, in order to grab the ships wheel, in hindsight it could have been smooth sailing, had Eddie taken a few years off from parting on the road, to focus solely on regaining his songwriting vision & drive that had blossomed out during Van Halen’s hungry club band era. Probably Eddie should’ve branched out on solo voyages from Van Halen, & maybe assisted his skipper Dave with the soundtrack for his dumb movie. Certainly Eddie should never have lost touch with listening to the waves of current music’s rapid evolution, instead of tuning everything out while plugging his ears like a marooned cast away. Van Halen should have sought out opening acts who could challenge them on the stages, as they had challenged Black Sabbath. Steel sharpens Steel & yet Van Halen certainly didn’t want any part, in giving Ozzy his shot at a rematch, after Ozzy righted his ship when Randy Rhoads had stormed onto the scene axe in hand like a conquering Viking, eager to place the high water mark up on the pinnacle peak of rock music. Eddie far too often caved in & did 180’s, swirling in constant a sea of change, increasingly contradicting his past statements in subsequent interviews, far too eager to jump ship, turncoat in total retreat from what he’d just previously championed in public. Clearly Alex followed & backed up Captain Eddie’s every snap decision, to where Alex isn’t even a primary Eddie Van Halen source, at best he’s a biased secondary source, who played a blind followers role in dividing his band mates, against his own interests, long before they could surpass Led Zeppelin. Initially, Van Halen had 6 critical main components, when it was still a functional band, firing on all of its cylinders; Eddie, Dave, Alex, Mikey + Ted Tempelman & Don Landee. Inarguably Van Halen’s 1 album is by far, the bands best work that came directly from the era when Van Halen was a humble hard rocking band. The Van Halen 2 album had its moments to a lessening degree, before Van Halen ran out of their early material, & lost much of its hard rocking appeal, in altering its course into a soft synth pop direction. Van Halen got worse & worse with each subsequent release. Where if Van Halen’s albums had gotten released in reverse order, Van Halen arguably never even would have blown up. Undeniably Micheal Anthony was a key part of the first 2 albums that initially put Van Halen on the map, before losing their way, getting separated from each other & tangled up in the weeds, at an after party detour of excess, where everyone but Mikey morphed into donkeys out of Pinocchio’s circus!…🥁🫏

[@GIGMUSIC-o6z]

Boy you could write a book on VH hate alone.😂

[@richardthompson6366]

You seem passionate, cheers.

[@MichaelMaxwell747]

I thought I wrote a short story or novelette, about Alex live in 1988. I admit the true wise magic that launched them instantly to World wide fame and acclaim had a lot to do with Dave as front man. Then I proceeded to defend Sam and Mike while saying Alex played one of the best and most memorable drum solos I have ever seen and heard. The closest to boring that show got was Ed's guitar solo medley and improv. I never saw the original lineup live, but videos are out there and Dave became less of a vocalist and more the whole effn' show. He was pretty great, in all phases on the first and maybe second tours. a Fresno, CA show stands out. But Sam was good to great in all phases the night I was at the show. Anyway, I think you said a great deal of truth and were accurate with simile and metaphor!

[@derangedhermit2879]

@@MichaelMaxwell747 I tend to get long winded. My listening to Van Halen is limited to VH 1 & 2 & a few later VH songs with Roth & favor Sammy in Montrose…EVH like Eric Clapton, drastically fell off & stagnated, both partied too hard in shying back from the pressures of fame, & changed their styles, alienating their old fans, while gaining enough new fans, to carry on in a much more underwhelming fashion. Like Prince, EVH after passing away, has received far too much undue credit for being the best guitarists ever, that should go to players like Jimi Hendrix, Randy Rhoads, SRV, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Tony Iommi, Robbie Krieger, Harvey Mandel, Alex Lifeson, & Carlos Santana…If anything Eddie Van Halen more belongs on lists of influential guitarists with players like Scotty Moore, Les Paul, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Dick Dale, BB King, Steve Cropper, John Lennon & George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Ace Freyley, Willie Nelson, Jerry Garcia, Bob Marley, Angus Young, Prince, Joe Perry, Slash, Kirk Hammet, Kurt Cobain, & Joe Bonamassa, who were all innovative players in their respective era & yet were never the best guitarists…The band Van Halen, like the Allman Brothers may have been the hottest ticket, for only one year in the 1970’s…Alex Van Halen like Ringo Starr never sent the chills down my spine, like the following more noteworthy world class master drummers: Tony Williams, who sounds like separate 3 drummers playing together on his drum solo’s, along with Jack DeJohnette from Miles Davis, Joe Morello from Dave Brubeck, Ginger Baker from Cream, Mitch Mitchell from Hendrix, John Densmore from the Doors, Michael Shrieve from Santana, Doug Clifford from CCR, Paul Lagos from Harvey Mandel, Sly Dunbar from Peter Tosh, John Bonham from Zeppelin, Bill Ward from Sabbath, Neil Peart from Rush, Micheal Narada Walden from Jeff Beck, Chris Layton from SRV, Lee Kerslake from Ozzy, Dave Lombardo from Slayer, R.J. Herrera from Suicidal Tendencies, Gene Hoglan from Death, Nick Menza from Megadeth, Igor Cavelera from Sepultera, Herb Alexander from Primus, in no particular order, rank among my top 20 favorite drummers…🥁

[@MichaelMaxwell747]

@@derangedhermit2879 Well thought out. I still love Ace Frehley but it has been a long time since I thought he was or is among the truly great guitarists! I have a friend who evolved into a classical guitarist and now composer. I think he is great more than most of my rock, blues jazz, favorites. Al Demiola is someone I still hold in highest regard! Ever since my lead guitar player got me interested 43 years ago. You have a great understanding of there are levels to this stuff! Stevie Ray Vaughan yes greatness!

[@83marceloa]

How awesome to see what everyone knew but it had never been so much exposed: Van Halen is 1978/84. It comes straight from the horse's mouth. I am delighted reading Belchior's fans reactions and still on denial.

[@jmonty2005]

"only one singer and persona like Roth". Jim Dandy may have something to say about that

[@almosthuman56]

Jim did say that Dave was his own man. In the Van Halen early years dvd. I don't really agree 100%. But Jim had something to say.

[@JamesHenri99]

Alex laughing at your videos rippin on sammy would be the hilarious!

[@markbirchette8740]

Dave and Eddie for sure in my oopinion.

[@eccentric85]

Does anyone know the story at the 6:39 mark it looks like Dave with Billy Squire, I wonder if that was on tour or for MTV New Years Eve. I never seen Dave onstage with hardly anyone before.

[@phaigemartin]

Omg can you even imagine... and feelings were hurt deep on a lot of levels and then everyone reacted emotionally and blew things in all directions... I always felt it would have been a good time to take a break and get back in a year or two stronger than ever... ah well it is what it is... hard emotions there.... cheers !! PS.. I mean I did like some of the other stuff they did after but Al was already feeling the magic that was VH had come and gone unless it was the original 4... wowz

[@StarWorld_Records]

I often wonder how different the whole dynamic became when Eddie hooked up with Valerie...? - Love is the death of duty.

[@grego7345]

Man, it's pretty obvious that Al can't stand Sammy and that's probably why Al doesn't acknowledge Mike's contributions, because him and Sammy are buddies.

[@SteveSteeleSoundSymphony]

I think Dave felt like his time was running out and was in a hurry to release music and tour, and do a movie. We got the Eat ‘em and Slime album and tour which is awesome. But we also got Van Hager. At least we go ADKOT. Imo, other than Tattoo, that was an amazing album.

[@saltpeter7429]

Eddies guitar work on a different kind of truth was INCREDIBLE. Hell of a final statement, musically. Best playing I can think of...

[@SteveSteeleSoundSymphony]

@@saltpeter7429Totally agree. He definitely put a lot of effort into those recordings. Some of his solos are unearthly. The way he used sustain and feedback to phrase some legato passages was beautiful. His tone was off the charts too.

[@Twotontessie]

I didn’t think much of the songs. “Me Wise Magic” to me was the final creative statement from the real Van Halen.

[@Abefroman-lq3md]

Ralph preaches, I listen!! Salutations from Belfast Northern Ireland 🇬🇧

[@stevew6910]

I think some of the friction between Ed and Dave also was Valeri related, Ed got married in 82 , Dave would not be a great influence on a married man LOL,,, Dave was pointing women out like Gene would do,,, Dave loved his blow, Jack and Gals

[@Diesel65-tl3zv]

Watching Alex on the streaming interview Tuesday night for the book it lasted an hour, i said than he should take that show on the road telling old VH stories, I could listened another hour, I love Dave too but could you imagine being around him more than 10 years ?

[@stevenholquin2127]

In a Strange Way When Diamond 💎 David Lee Roth Bounced From Van Halen His Move To Leave Saved My Life ….From 1978 The Only Thing That Matters Was a Van Halen Concert 🎶 and My Van Halen Albums Booze 🥃 Beer 🍺 and Drugs You Name It and Getting Laid By 1985 I Was a Reck I Was Smoking 🚬 3 Packs of Cigarettes Non/Stop Boozing Doing Coke No Sleep 💤 and The Parties Just Wouldn’t Stop I Looked 👀 Twice My Age I Looked Like I Just Got Out of a Nazi Death 💀 Camp….Then David Lee Roth Left Van Halen I Turned My Life Around I Found Jesus I Have a Fantastic Wife and 3 Beautiful Girls You Can Say ….If Dave Didn’t Leave Van Halen I Would Be Dead 💀 In Other Words Dave Saved My Life…..!😮

[@stevenedwards4470]

The main problem was that Dave thought StageDave was a viable entity 24/7...which made for an impossible human being. That and believing that Catskills/Vegas was the future. I agree with you. After 1984 I walked away. Not out of animosity, I just didn't care. That last tour was my first concert. If ever a band was perfect it was VH mark I. He must have been impossible to be around. To this day, I don't feel like I've ever seen footage of David Lee Roth being a genuine human being or really trying to answer a question. Always 💎 Dave. 😝

[@rich52569]

I loved Dave in VH. It was a totally different band with Belcher, especially after 5150. Dave WAS THE MAN.

[@seanprendergast3907]

They were so big by 1984 that it couldn’t go any further. I never listened to Hagar with them, I had a friend who didn’t like them until Hagar and it’s started many fights through the years 😂

[@randyperfecto7468]

Absolutely spot on!!!!

[@BigBass-xf5yi]

They were amazing in their time. I dont know if it would have been as great as everyone thinks if they labored onward . The music with Dave is untouchable. Compared to other music, the “sammy era” had some good music. Infact, i consider f.u.c.k. to be an excellent album. No keyboards, just straight up quality rock.

[@bentheredonethat-lx6nh]

Always liked the Original Van Halen. ✔

[@regandunn4850]

It is what happens when you have all the money in the world you don't need each other anymore like they used to and they were so famous and had to fall apart Shame about that but it is rock n roll it's rehab death or the wheels fall off

[@mwilso2]

The Fukk News Network now has a roving reporter giving us scoops? Thanks again Dr. Fukk the news segments are always great. Amazon just delivered Brothers to me today! It’s not a big book and hopefully it’s a good brisk read. Looking forward to seeing the Almost Human review.

[@Marshall-o2j]

And 1 more thing. Eddie was the one who went and searched for Michael after he saw him live with his band when Anthony was the lead singer. It was Eddie who asked Michael to join his band in the 1st place because of his bass playing and his vocals. It's kinda funny how all of the sudden Michael Anthony's bass playing and backing vocals weren't so great after all according to Alex and Eddie! Lol whatever. I think Alex must have had a stroke somewhere along the way Lol

[@Rock-n-rod-7946]

I’ll wait for the movie 🍿 “Alex” Alex had his chance to play for Van Halen FANS. Dave fucked it up as well. Sammy & Mike saved that Band. Alex sold his soul & Drum kits ??? Who does that. Eddie would of never sold his guitar’s or stopped playing. Edward is a musician who can write music for any type of singer he chooses and does a damn good job at it. I respect Alex space as well as his health. Hope he’s taking care of himself. Alex & Mike are brother’s to , Dave’s the one “I want to be brother’s just don’t know how.” 🎃Holly shit🎃forgive Alex ✝️🕊*OU812*

[@6StringBuckeye917]

He actually said the magic was in the early years when the band didn't know what they're doing and later said the two eras were different not better or worse.

[@6StringBuckeye917]

@GuessWho-i5o i don't think so. When he said early years I'm thinking he's talking about the first 2 or 3 albums, not the the whole Roth era.

[@JohnF-007]

i blame Sammy for saying 'yes' to joining Van Halen, that's what ruined Van Halen

[@BadWolf762]

I was lucky enough to see the real Van Halen in 1980 during their "Invasion" tour. Excellent show. I liked Sammy when he was in Montrose, but hated VanGina.

[@diamondd2778]

We ❤ ALEX! This is honestly a treat.

[@briandietrich1373]

Alex is lucky to have Ed. Otherwise, he would have been playing clubs, instead of arenas his whole life. The way they treated Mike Anthony is cruel.

[@herbcanter2114]

Anthony left on his own .

[@Bumonthebus]

Can't stand that he just dismisses Michael Anthony. It's just disrespectful. They were spiraling into a bullshit sound. Jump sucked. Just admit it. Sammy brought Eddie's spark back.

[@rokarolla]

Dave only had another VH album and tour in him. He used it for his solo reach. He earned it, like Robert Plant and Vincent Furnier. But he got old fast.

[@BrianRay-y7l]

Would of thought losing Eddie or his parents would of been but he always was big on Roth.

[@rjg2112]

Received my AVH book today, can’t wait to read it! Agree, DLR has an ego for sure!

[@VFCtoallJP]

Difference was night and day, Sammy is an awesome rock singer, Roth is just stage presence .

[@KarmaNDuality]

I can hear all the Samny lovers losing their minds with this Alex story. The fact is, Diamond Dave is, was, and will always be the only singer of that insane band. But yeah, all of their egos got in the way of greatness. Eddie and Alex said in the beginning that Dave left, but then later said they fired him... Still my favorite rock bad, simply lightning captured in a bottle magic.

[@bry-i-am]

Edward, Alex and Dave where the 3 original that what Alex is talking about

[@jgsrhythm100]

Sammy never should have left Montrose. It took Aerosmith until there 3rd album to break. Same could have been the case with Montrose. The chemistry with Sammy & Ronnie was on par with that of DLR & EVH.

[@thunderstruck6585]

Seems pretty simple that if Dave never left the best band in the world at the time, Van Gina would never have happened. Blaming Eddie is pointless. May as well blame the car mechanic that hooked Sammy and Eddie up if memory of my VH lore serves.

[@themobseat]

I'm sure book #2 will be the Sammy Years.

[@wmcruz8502]

Some stuff on the reunion years wudda been cool. Or. I smell sequel after Mike kicks the bucket. Alex and wolf should do a gSimmons vault type thing. With all the leftover sessions

[@clutch2827]

Did you get smacked for the intro too?

[@scottmartin6479]

The only consistent thing about Van Halen from the beginning up until now is that everyone has had a "Different Kind of Truth." Nobody can agree on why both versions of the band collapsed. (I don't consider the Cherone album a legit version) They're old men now and still can't agree on much of anything.

[@artbydanolive]

THE ORIGINAL LINE UP WAS THE SHIT! THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER " MGHTY VAN HALEN"!

[@bradhardisty1652]

The Dave story is a little messed up. The movie was a go and he put together the band for the movie The day for production CBS shut down their movie division and pulled the budget. Dave could have called Alex and Ed but didn't. The talk with Vai was we have a band here, let's just put out an album and tour the music. Vai wasn't even looking beyond that tour of the made for movie band at the time. Dave had a couple of opportunities but didn't take them . Maybe the solo deal was a better contract and he was short-sighted. Dave should have taken the movie being shut down as a warning.

[@michaelr.4878]

Just as Ralph said, 'there were FOUR components of the band', I was starting to type this message...in order to say the same thing. I don't know why Alex feels the need to disregard, minimize his contribution, and straight up ignore Michael....? Is it because he views him as a 'Sammy guy'? The VH bros always seemed to pick on Michael. Especially after the pay cut, reduced role BS that went on.

[@MikeHouswerth]

How much money did they make with the red rocker?😂

[@pituophisart6916]

Nice one Alex for joining me in refusing to acknowledge Van Belcher

[@jayjaytee9944]

1978-84 = ultimate party Metal band catalogue, then they got Sammy and I like many others lost interest. It was a different band and the fact they did fuck all Dave stuff live.

[@musicalchairs777]

Mike's vocals always brought the payoff to all those classic songs. The parts you remember most are Mike's harmonies. Whatever personal stuff, whether he wrote a note, doesn't matter. ADKOT is proof. Good album but it never gets over the hump. Me Wise Magic does, though.

[@peartfaldo]

VH1 VH2 Women and children first..Fair Warning(my fav) Diver Down...1984. THAT is VH

[@skkrrtskrrt1470]

Drop dead legs all-time favorite

[@HoosierDaddy_]

It had to happen. If Roth stayed and grew older in Van Halen, it would have been shit. That time period from VH1 to 1984 was epic magic. Some of THE best music EVER came from them. It was a totally different band with Sammy. It can never last in music. Let's be honest.... Rock stars are all little princesses in Spandex tights to try to get the chicks. Thats all it was about. VH just happened to have some of the greatest in the world.

[@ricktheexplorer]

I don't know those people, but my guess was, cocaine played a part. I only know that because I hate what cocaine does to people, and I hate it a lot after the first 5 minutes personally. Think about that come-down? That feeling of wanting more, how selfish people get on the drug. It takes 9 years after you stop coke, before the feel-good chemicals in your brain come back. But give the devil his due; without practicing guitar on coke, Eddie might have been just a regular guitarist. To practice alone on coke, well, that sounds like too much fun. I always hung out with the people who got me the coke for free-to-me, not going back home and practicing.

[@Twotontessie]

Yes. Could not have helped. If you’re doing cocaine you cannot be happy and feel content. It’s physiologically not possible. You’re fucked.

[@4444-LV]

i always thought it was a big mistake when Dave left the band!

[@amazingcaucasian4679]

I disagree that Dave is the reason for Sammy. Dave wanted to remain in VH and the "EP" Dave released had Eddie furious that Dave did a project outside VH. Ina my opinion EVH is responsible for the breakup

[@almosthuman56]

And Dave was furious Eddie did Beat It. Dave LEFT the band and thats what pissed Eddie off.

[@diamondd2778]

I think if Ed said yes to the movie it wld had been fine. It was have continued.