tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post8911234982086684725..comments2024-03-27T22:32:17.055-05:00Comments on Jeffs Gameblog: Van Halen is back! Uh, sorta.Jeff Rientshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493878980535235896noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-91784239854780521652007-08-20T10:31:00.000-05:002007-08-20T10:31:00.000-05:00Not that I'm a huge Van Halen nut or anything, but...Not that I'm a huge Van Halen nut or anything, but the biggest thing that will be missed by not having Michael Anthony around will not be his bass playing (which is quite simplistic), but his background vocals. If Wolfie's voice is anything like his dad's or his uncle's, then there will be a huge hole in how the songs sound.<BR/><BR/>peace... Davethe Red-Haired Maniachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16824933276649607370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-4490931291702697012007-08-17T18:50:00.000-05:002007-08-17T18:50:00.000-05:00Of course, it's safe to assume that young master W...Of course, it's safe to assume that young master Wolfgang, being the son of EDDIE VAN HALEN, is probably a total prodigy and thus suddenly Van Halen shows will feature shredding bass solos and the like... that is if they ever really go on this reunion tour. Didn't they announce the same thing, like, a year ago?<BR/>--horrox (who posts "anonymously" 'cause he can't remember his new google/blogger sign in...)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-48033757851504236162007-08-16T12:35:00.000-05:002007-08-16T12:35:00.000-05:00I'm still on board with the "stuff he could play w...I'm still on board with the "stuff he could play while drunk" theory. That feels very right to me :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-28355437142095466072007-08-16T11:18:00.000-05:002007-08-16T11:18:00.000-05:00I picked up the bass back when guys like Flea and ...I picked up the bass back when guys like Flea and Les Claypool were huge. (Not to say they've vanished, but you know what I mean). I'd sit around for hours learning "Tommy the Cat" and "Higher Ground."<BR/><BR/>Then I'd listen to VH, and... yeah, on "Hot for Teacher," if memory serves he's just playing straight open-E. A lot. <BR/><BR/>I think he probably came from an older school tradition of just keeping it in the pocket and rounding out the bottom end of the song. <BR/><BR/>Or maybe the Van Halen brothers wanted to make sure no one was going to outshine Eddie. <BR/><BR/>"This is a GUITAR BAND, dude! Not a SUPER GROUP! Get your hand off the fretboard and shut up!"Mike Kuciakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13345342370898964077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-56241861581161366372007-08-15T14:31:00.000-05:002007-08-15T14:31:00.000-05:00Re axe-grinding: Yeah, I'm the same way about game...Re axe-grinding: Yeah, I'm the same way about game writing (in the RPG business, much like the film biz, the writers are either the bassist or the drummer as far as the publishers are concerned, and depending on which old musician's jokes that come to mind at the time).<BR/><BR/>Well, except that one time at Avalon Hill when I felt like a fill-in for the Beau Brummels, but that's a very long story ...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-55348960251004049982007-08-15T14:14:00.000-05:002007-08-15T14:14:00.000-05:00Oh, I know where you're coming from, S. John, and ...Oh, I know where you're coming from, S. John, and I had a feeling your comments were VH-specific. I just love my chosen axe, and I gotta say it whenever I can! :)<BR/><BR/>I love that scene in Spinal Tap:<BR/><BR/>"Can you do Nigel's bassline in 'Big Bottom'?"<BR/><BR/>"I've got two hands, yeah."KenHRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11613789646908929989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-75363685009036294732007-08-15T13:49:00.000-05:002007-08-15T13:49:00.000-05:00I didn't mean to suggest that bass isn't ever impo...I didn't mean to suggest that bass isn't ever important ... But in the case of Van Halen, specifically, I picture that scene from <I>This is Spinal Tap</I> where they're asking Viv (?) if he's able pull a Ray Manzarek* and hold down the bassline with his keyboard since Nigel has walked, and Viv's response is something like "Yeah, I got two hands; I can do that."<BR/><BR/><BR/>- - - - <BR/>* They don't actually say "pull a Ray Manzarek" in the movie, but IMO they may as well have ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-34299307579269437472007-08-15T12:53:00.000-05:002007-08-15T12:53:00.000-05:00Been a long time since I've been in these parts......Been a long time since I've been in these parts...glad to see the blog still up!<BR/><BR/>As a bass player myself, I have to echo mike's sentiments: VH basslines are not exactly...how to put this nicely...<I>musicianly</I>. My pet monkey could thump root eighth-notes 'til the cows come home.<BR/><BR/>Bass is VERY important in many bands' sounds (Led Zep, King Crimson, Jane's Addiction to name but three), but not so much here. It's all about the guitar wankery.KenHRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11613789646908929989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-23467001179996344752007-08-15T12:33:00.000-05:002007-08-15T12:33:00.000-05:00And ... it's the bassist.Not to disparage any musi...And ... it's the bassist.<BR/><BR/>Not to disparage any musician or his craft, but ...<BR/><BR/>It's just the bassist.<BR/><BR/>The real risk of this Roth-fronted Van Halen is exactly the same risk as ever: that even in the age of adult diapers and Geritol, they'll still get on each other's nerves and call the whole thing off mid-show :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-732397533561473592007-08-15T11:16:00.000-05:002007-08-15T11:16:00.000-05:00Van Halen bass lines are usually pretty simple, es...Van Halen bass lines are usually pretty simple, especially the older stuff. (Perfect example: "Hot for Teacher.") <BR/><BR/>I have a feeling Anthony kept himself to stuff he could play while drunk.<BR/><BR/>So it shouldn't be too hard to Wolfgang to jump right in...Mike Kuciakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13345342370898964077noreply@blogger.com