[Yahoo] Van Halen to Record First Studio Album in 12 Years

I seem to recall Eddie incessantly b****ing about what a pain in the ass making a new album was. In that same interview, he also complained about how fans expect new albums and don't appreciate what all is involved.

I think this was back when Eddie was drinking.

I'm sure they will eventually get around to making a new album but I wouldn't expect it for quite a while. It's almost like an act of God if it happens. The problem with Eddie is he is too content to just sit around most of the time in his home studio making music. I bet he has a ton of unreleased stuff that he has laid down that will never be released while he is alive. It will end up coming out when he is no longer with us.

 

I saw them open for Black Sabbath in 77 or 78 at the Sam Houston Coliseum. They rocked, but Sabbath blew them off the stage.

 

I was in the same boat, only 14 when 1984 came out and never got to see the DLR version live....
That changed a year or so ago, got to go to vegas and see them for new years, or close to new years eve. It wasn't 1984 but it wasn't bad either.

And, there's always these guys

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I'm probably in the minority here, but I actually enjoyed the reunion tour in 2008. I saw the show in San Antonio and had a blast.
(I'm a lifer with =VH=, so...it was much better than nothing.)

 

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I'm still waiting for this d00d to respond to my posts in the other thread...



On topic: I really want to see Van Halen in concert. If nothing else, that alone would make this pretty sweet.

 

I saw the Dallas show and thought it was good. I think most people enjoyed the shows on that tour.

 

I went to the show at Toyota Center and I loved it. It was so good seeing Diamond Dave back on stage with Van Halen.

 

I enjoyed this at least. Rollins talking about when he first saw unknown Van Halen opening up for Ted Nugent in the 70's

From 4:20 on...Sound isnt good

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Update: (True, just heard last night, was told to keep it on the down low so I'm posting it online)

Background: I'm not a huge Van Halen fan, haven't listened to them since DLR left when I was 14. (Hagar's voice grates on my nerves)
I know a guy who does some things around 5150 Studios. He says:

DLR is spending tons of time/late nights in Coldwater Canyon (at the studio) with Eddie. They seem to be getting along great (says likely due to age & sobriety.) Apparently they are kicking around ideas of the new album being called "2012" (to mirror their last album together "1984"...also a doomsday year. Also interesting sidenote, I thought: They share management (or something I wasn;t clear) with the Eagles who had an "end of the world" reunion album/theme with "When Hell Freezes Over"...they like the idea of acknowledging the oddity of it all) Eddie has an opening instrumental he's calling 2012 which is insane and will "change the guitar landscape like Eruption did." A couple other instrumental tracks will be on the album as well. Supposedly the things they are kicking around combine the classic VH sound w/ the new. Even using tons of original gear and equipment, but talks of modern editing and studio trickery to take it to the next level. (Including crazy ass vocal stuff for DLR)

Eddie (everyone, but especially Eddie due to health history, etc.) sees this as a possible last / best chance in the studio (The time being right / fans being ready & receptive) and wants to get it right and they are approaching it as "a swan song...just in case it is." Cool idea: they may even being using "sampling" some instrumental bits of the Van Halens' father (apparently a jazz guy?) on a track so that the whole family will be recorded together. Dude also says Wolfgang is actually a hell of a musician and "has a perfect internal metronome" and is a great bass player. (Ed apparently wanted Michael Anthony out for years)

They want to album out by autumn, plan to "test drive new material" first in a few places they haven't toured before making it stateside for a massive 2012 tour.

Take it for what it's worth, I've no reason to distrust this person though.

 

A sober VH making music. This must be a first.

 

I don't personally take this as a good thing for any rock group.

 

I never got the lasting appeal of Van Halen.

Must be a generational thing.

To me, they are the personification of what went wrong with rock during the early to mid 80's.

 

Yeah, I agree. I got the impression from this dude though, it was more along the lines of not trying to do solos in one take and double/triple track or add thick effects to vocals (to help DLR) more than trying to make it super post-modern or anything. I dunno.

 

First two albums were great and made quite an impression on my teenage mind.

 

Personally I think Depeche Mode still pumps out great music, part of four decades now.

Concerning VH, I didn't Dig anything after 1984. Hated VanHagar. I think it's cool with the reunion, DLR and the new album but it's probably far too late. Still, hoping for the best.

 

New album with DLR? I wonder if they choose a cover song to do?

When I saw R.H.C.P. with Gnarls, they accidentally started into "Dance the Night Away" while in between songs. John Frusciante was strumming some stuff on guitar warming up and I thought "that sounds like Dance the Night Away." Apparently so did Chad Smith who started the drum tom/ride intro. They all laughed it was funny, some of VH's songs are so memorable and instantly recognizable.