Comparing the last five years with the first five years of Van Halen's career as recording artists is quite depressing. In the same time period from 1978 to 1982 inclusive, Van Halen recorded and released their first five albums: Van Halen (1978), Van Halen II (1979), Women and Children First (1980), Fair Warning (1981) and Diver Down (1982). Those five years also included many hundreds of live shows.

Sure, nobody releases albums annually any more, and Van Halen have had their share of issues to deal with in recent years. As fans we realize that making music isn't the #1 priority for Van Halen any more.

What annoys me though, and I'm sure most of you will agree, is that if/when Van Halen get around to releasing a new album, they'll be rattling off the same tired old lines such as "we love our fans" and "Van Halen fans are the greatest fans in the whole world".

Yep, we're "the greatest" when you've got something to sell us.

Does anyone else remember Ed & Al whining about Sammy Hagar's "poor work ethic" not long after their split in 1996? Hagar may be trying to prove a point, but his fans have been the winners with four new studio albums since the split. Point proven.

The only word we've had from the official site for the entire year of 2002 is Eddie's message about getting a "100% clean bill of health". He also said "now it's time to really get back to the music and fun.....so party on and you'll be hearing from us very soon."

Ed, we've been "partying on" and celebrating the news of your good health ever since. Any idea when "very soon" is? We're all getting older and can't party as hard as we used to.

If it's not too hard, how about giving Brad a call and get him to post a holiday audio message to the official web site on your behalf. Heck, just get him to whip up a nice "Happy Holidays from Edward, Alex and Michael" message and stick it on the web site. Anything!! It will take 5 minutes.

I'm no PR man, but something this simple can only be good for the relationship between Van Halen and their fans. You may just restore their faith.

Usually around this time I do a "year in review" piece. Here is this years:

Van Halen did nothing. Sammy toured with Dave but the two didn't jam with each other. Mike joined Sammy for a few shows. Eddie jammed with Leslie West. Eddie and Valerie broke up. Dave spent more time dealing with law suits than roadies. Eddie trademarked everything that wasn't nailed down. Van Halen split with Warner Bros. Records and sacked Scotty Ross. Sammy released a new album. All members (including Gary) had a birthday. :)

2002: the most forgettable year in the history of Van Halen.

I leave you with a reprint of an email that was sent to the [vh] mailing list at Yahoo. It's fairly critical of the band so if you only want to read nice stuff then stop reading now.

Date: Mon, 9 Dec 2002 15:51:34 -0800 (PST)
From: Chris Wise
Subject: Van Halen VaporWare

Well, it is time to get flamed again. I am getting tired of the Van "Vaporware" Halen projects. I just seen a message stating they they are working on something. Could this be that they are doing something musically? I mean come on people, they could be working on perfecting the perfect toilet!!

We have all heard it before, "I ran into Ed and he said this" or "He said that". Well if he is saying that to one person then why dont he go to the website (that is NEVER UPDATED) and say something. It takes a lot nowdays to be a Van Halen fan. Heck let me drag out my Commodore 64 or Amiga and wish that they would create something for that. They were great in their day, but newer things have come along.

Dont get me wrong, I am one of the biggest Van Halen fans, and even got the VH necklace around here somewhere. But enough is enough. They have enough money to last them for the rest of their life, but if they want to make music then make it. It makes sense since they "have always done it for the love of music". I get so tired of hearing that phrase. I like the Gene Simmons phrase of "If anyone tells you they started playing the guitar for the love of it, then they are crazy. You do it for the women and money". If you do it for the love of it, then you pick it up and play on the street corner, when was the last time Edward did that? Almost like the old phrase "Gas, Grass or *ss no one rides for free.".

These guys are getting too old to rock and roll, I just saw David Lee Roth, and man someone should blow the dust off this guy. I mean he was the poster child for Geritol. He could no longer do the signature kick, jump or scream.

Has anyone heard Eddie Van Halen's solo since 5150? Sounds exactly the same, plays Mean Street, Eruption, Cathedral, and other mashed together. Same solo, just different volumes. I remember the days that the new Guitar Player came out and Eddie graced the cover. He had a look in his eyes like he was ready to kick some butt. Don't believe me? Look at his picture on the Van Halen CD (or better yet album), and then look at his picture on VHIII. Notice a difference? He looked locked and loaded and ready to rock and roll. On the VHIII photo shoot he was wearing a jester hat, you think he would have done that on the VH album. Heck no. It is time for all of them to get that fire back and make some rock and roll. Sadly I do not think that will happen, because they are fiddling with things.

Fiddling is about what you are going to get out of Van Halen these days, I do hope Brad sees this and lets the band see it. It is the truth, and they know it..

chris

July 2, 2002 - Notice
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