The decade couldn’t have gotten to a better start for Van Halen when they returned in 1991. Another number-one album (For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge), more hit singles (“Poundcake”, “Top Of The World”, “Right Now”), and a lineup with a seemingly unbreakable bond. At least it seemed that way until internal tensions led to Sammy Hagar’s departure in 1996. Looking back on the decade, veteran rock journalist Gary Graff wonders what could have been if Hagar had remained with the band.
“They were separated by non-musical issues within the band, which was too bad,” said Graff during a recent appearance on the Booked On Rock podcast. He just released his latest book 501 Essential Albums of the ’90s: The Music Fan’s Definitive Guide. “I enjoyed where the music was going [in the 90s], even if it didn’t seem to have the same mainstream rock appeal. I didn’t think it had to. They made their case as a commercial band so now let’s see where [they go]. Kind of where they tried to go on Van Halen III, but with Sammy’s popsmart songwriting sensibility. What could that have been? Maybe he could have reigned some of that into song format. And even if we weren’t getting the “Jump”s, the “Right Now”s, whatever, I think we would have gotten some very interesting songs. And I say songs that you could listen to both with Eddie and maybe Alex taking it out a little bit more with the playing and the arrangements and what they might have done.”
Just last month, Alex released the instrumental “Unfinished”, a track he called the last written with his brother Edward. The song dates back to 1996 but shelved for nearly 30 years until it was released along with Alex’s new book Brothers.
“When hearing ‘Unfinished’, you can hear where their heads were at when they were going into Van Halen III [with Gary Cherone],“ said Graff. “[Edward] just needed a collaborator who was a better fit to pull some of that stuff into song shape.
But Graff feels an album without vocals would have suited him just fine and hopes there is enough in the 5150 vaults to produce one in the future.
“I even would love to hear a great instrumental Eddie Van Halen album,” added Graff. “When it comes out [many fans] are going to say, ‘Oh, it doesn’t sound like ‘Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love’. That’s what I want. What is this crap?’ When, in fact, it would be genius.”
Getting back to what’s in those vaults, Graff is very interested in knowing what’s inside and Wolfgang Van Halen is the right man for the job.
“I would love to see Wolfgang get into the vaults with his ear knowing where his dad was headed and knowing what his dad’s intent was,” said Graff. “I think Alex knew it too but I think Wolfgang maybe knows even more what his dad was trying to do, what was getting his dad off, and I would love to see him have some say and do some curation of the music and bring it out for us to hear. I think his take would be would be really really interesting and really valid.”