Nothing will top the version from "Live Without A Net". Eddie's solo in it was perfect.

I have been going back and revisiting the Hagar years, and I forgot how much of a really good song this is. Love the chorus.

5150 was my favorite song off of that album, closely followed by Summer Nights. Both underrated.

5150 was my favorite song off of that album, closely followed by Summer Nights. Both underrated.

Totally agree. If they were ever to get together again with Hagar/Anthony (which I think is rather unlikely, but never say never), I hope they do what they did on the last tour with DLR and dust-off lots of deep tracks. The last two Hagar tours were a bit too focused on the biggest hits we've all heard a million times. There are lots of solid Hagar tracks that haven't had the live treatment since the 80s or early 90s.

I think the 5150 guitar solo on LWAN is a master-piece, and love how he incorporated the Cathedral style soloing into a song instead of it just being a gimicky thing. While it's a mood-changer, I think it also takes the energy out of the song and I like that on OU812 tour and the European 1993 tour that he more or less stuck with the spirit of the album version with the Alan Holdsworth-y legato runs.

There a solid pro-shot of the 93 European tour that I can't place my mouse-click on at the moment, but the Norway audience shot EVH does some tasty things on it:

.

The 1989 Tokyo Dome show is incredibly good too overall. They should've officially released that one long ago. The one thing it has going for it over LWAN, in addition to more original material, is the real drums. Markedly better sound than the simmons drums on the 5150 tour. Just wish ol' Spammy hadn't ruined things with his yoga stretch pants. Lol.

VH is the only band I have seen live as much as the ABB. There are so many concerts that the VH camp should have long ago released on CD/DVD. It's a shame that so little archival footage is just sitting in a vault somewhere. Sounds like another band I know.

Van Halen singers and fashion is a topic all to itself.

There are some hidden gems from the Van Hagar years that I would love to hear live again.

5150
Summer Nights
Pleasure Dome
Crossing Over (which I am sure was never played live since it was left off of Balance)

The trouble with the original DLR era is that the sound is terrible on most recording that they have and the singing is terribly out of tune most times. Also the playing can be sloppy at times as they were running all over the place.

EVH will not release stuff with sloppy playing. I know a guy who listened to hundreds of hours worth of shows. Anything close to acceptable - Eddie rejected.

I love VH but they never really had good sound in those days. Just loud.

They got themselves stuck when they went back to Roth as he is shot at this point. now they are back in limbo land.

I think I have - Live: Right Here Right Now - (can't locate it at the moment) but man that thing is painful to listen to, not a fan of that release at all.

Well they also re-recorded so much on Right Here, Right Now that it barely classifies as a live album. The recording sounds so distant, just an awful mix.

I'm good with a warts and all release of any of the tours from 78-95.

Oddly enough, I don't recall them ever sounding tighter as a band than at the Cherone tour that I saw in 98.

I don't remember the VH shows I saw in 92, 95 and 98 being that loud, but I was also 16, 19 & 22 so my perspective on what was loud wasn't the same as it is today.

However on the Hagar reunion of 04 and with the recent Roth tours their sound mix was way too loud to the point of distortion in a few cases. So I agree the sound mix isn't the best at their shows.

[Edited on 12/21/2016 by WarEagleRK]

The trouble with the original DLR era is that the sound is terrible on most recording that they have and the singing is terribly out of tune most times. Also the playing can be sloppy at times as they were running all over the place.

I think the best we could hope for of the pre-85 vaults would be some sort of compilation of live material similar to what Page did with the Zeppelin live DVD. I'd imagine they could find a song or two from several different pro-shot concerts where DLR is relatively in tune, and then piece something together. The three Oakland tunes (more?), Largo 82, US Fest, etc. As long as EVH and AVH are in tune and in sync, I think EVH could be better persuaded to release it nowadays with only DLR out of tune. It didn't hold up the Tokyo Dome album release a couple years ago. If not, then it may have to wait until Wolfgang has control of the catalog a couple decades from now.

If EVH could acknowledge any version of VH existed between 1985-2007, there are things out there that are release-worthy. The 1995 PPV special (most of it, anyway) from Toronto is great. The 1989 Tokyo Dome show. The 1998 PPV show from VH3 tour. Other bits and pieces they could buy from MTV/VH-1 snippets. Plus aborted pro-shot recordings, such as the the first attempt of LWAN and the actual live recordings from RHRN.

Hell, at this point I would just be happy for a remastered release of the 4 Hagar records. Apparently the Japanese release a few years back of both 5150 and OU812 sound exponentially better. Why not just release those here? Oh, right, must acknowledge Hagar years. EVH is too embittered to in any way contribute to Hagar's or MA's wallets any longer.

Van Halen singers and fashion is a topic all to itself.

Never understood the affinity for overalls, or why they think it embodies the 'rock star' look.

The trouble with the original DLR era is that the sound is terrible on most recording that they have and the singing is terribly out of tune most times. Also the playing can be sloppy at times as they were running all over the place.

I think the best we could hope for of the pre-85 vaults would be some sort of compilation of live material similar to what Page did with the Zeppelin live DVD. I'd imagine they could find a song or two from several different pro-shot concerts where DLR is relatively in tune, and then piece something together. The three Oakland tunes (more?), Largo 82, US Fest, etc. As long as EVH and AVH are in tune and in sync, I think EVH could be better persuaded to release it nowadays with only DLR out of tune. It didn't hold up the Tokyo Dome album release a couple years ago. If not, then it may have to wait until Wolfgang has control of the catalog a couple decades from now.

If EVH could acknowledge any version of VH existed between 1985-2007, there are things out there that are release-worthy. The 1995 PPV special (most of it, anyway) from Toronto is great. The 1989 Tokyo Dome show. The 1998 PPV show from VH3 tour. Other bits and pieces they could buy from MTV/VH-1 snippets. Plus aborted pro-shot recordings, such as the the first attempt of LWAN and the actual live recordings from RHRN.

Hell, at this point I would just be happy for a remastered release of the 4 Hagar records. Apparently the Japanese release a few years back of both 5150 and OU812 sound exponentially better. Why not just release those here? Oh, right, must acknowledge Hagar years. EVH is too embittered to in any way contribute to Hagar's or MA's wallets any longer.

I'll take a Live compilation. Give me 4 discs of whatever is deemed to be the best. It would never be enough, but it's a start.

Dreams from the Toronto 1995 PPV show is my favorite version of that song.

A couple of times I've looked into getting those remastered 5150 and OU812 Japanese releases, but they always were a bit too expensive. OU812 could really use an update.

The Tokyo Dome show isn't the greatest release, but I'm glad it is out there. The band sounds great, I didn't expect too much from Roth and so I wasn't disappointed.

Either way, the time to act is now because physical media is going away and if you are going to make as much money as possible on it there will never be a time like the present.

The trouble with the original DLR era is that the sound is terrible on most recording that they have and the singing is terribly out of tune most times. Also the playing can be sloppy at times as they were running all over the place.

I think the best we could hope for of the pre-85 vaults would be some sort of compilation of live material similar to what Page did with the Zeppelin live DVD. I'd imagine they could find a song or two from several different pro-shot concerts where DLR is relatively in tune, and then piece something together. The three Oakland tunes (more?), Largo 82, US Fest, etc. As long as EVH and AVH are in tune and in sync, I think EVH could be better persuaded to release it nowadays with only DLR out of tune. It didn't hold up the Tokyo Dome album release a couple years ago. If not, then it may have to wait until Wolfgang has control of the catalog a couple decades from now.

If EVH could acknowledge any version of VH existed between 1985-2007, there are things out there that are release-worthy. The 1995 PPV special (most of it, anyway) from Toronto is great. The 1989 Tokyo Dome show. The 1998 PPV show from VH3 tour. Other bits and pieces they could buy from MTV/VH-1 snippets. Plus aborted pro-shot recordings, such as the the first attempt of LWAN and the actual live recordings from RHRN.

Hell, at this point I would just be happy for a remastered release of the 4 Hagar records. Apparently the Japanese release a few years back of both 5150 and OU812 sound exponentially better. Why not just release those here? Oh, right, must acknowledge Hagar years. EVH is too embittered to in any way contribute to Hagar's or MA's wallets any longer.

OU812 could really use an update.

Yeah that one is LONG overdue.

Thanks for the first post. I love that album. I am admittedly not as well versed in VH as you guys but the thing I noticed about this album when it came out was how much their sound had changed. With David Lee on vocals, they seemed to be more guitar driven. When it was Sammy, I don't think the guitar was as heavy. Don't know if they had someone on synthesizers but it sure sounded like it to me. Maybe because it was the 70s vs. 80s Almost seemed like two different bands in a sense. At least that was the way to seemed to my ears. Not saying one was better than the other but I sure detected a difference.

Thanks for the first post. I love that album. I am admittedly not as well versed in VH as you guys but the thing I noticed about this album when it came out was how much their sound had changed. With David Lee on vocals, they seemed to be more guitar driven. When it was Sammy, I don't think the guitar was as heavy. Don't know if they had someone on synthesizers but it sure sounded like it to me. Maybe because it was the 70s vs. 80s Almost seemed like two different bands in a sense. At least that was the way to seemed to my ears. Not saying one was better than the other but I sure detected a difference.

Van Halen's sound was changing as early as Diver Down, but really showed up on 1984 with Jump and I'll Wait. The 80's messed with a lot of bands sound. I think Eddie was changing with the times and writing different songs. Hagar might have been more open to a change in sound, since he was new to the band. However I suspect that had Roth hung around for the follow up to 1984 that the music would sound like 5150, just with different vocal melodies and lyrics. Since by Roth's second solo album he had keyboards all over the place, it wasn't the change in sound that drove him off.

I have always viewed the Roth and Hagar eras of Van Halen as two separate bands. I like both, but favor the Roth era more.

Eddie played keys and synths on the albums and live for the 1984 and 5150 tour. After that they sometimes had Alan Fitzgerald play off stage and sometimes it was pre-recorded.

[Edited on 12/21/2016 by WarEagleRK]

I have always viewed the Roth and Hagar eras of Van Halen as two separate bands. I like both, but favor the Roth era more.

I think you succinctly articulated my thoughts better than I was trying. That was my point.

And regarding the album 1984, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Jump sucks. And that album was SOOOO popular at the time. Remember how big MTV was at the time? Goodness, that was on all the time.

Amazing that a song that had a verse that went like this...

Hey you, who said that
Baby how you been
They say you don't knoooow
Until you begin

was such a huge song.

The 80's were an odd time.

Interestingly, there is a "not fake" rumor thread over at VH Links started last night that is now 30+ pages long started by someone who is a semi-insider with the VH camp and it discusses a lot of what's in this thread here for 2017 and 2018.

Basically, Hagar remasters in works possibly with bonus material, a full box set or some sort of compilation multi-disc set that will include bonus material of outtakes and alternate takes of classic VH tunes, new material already recorded with DLR, Wolf's solo album release and his departure from VH to focus on his own band's tour, leading way to a full reunion of classic VH for 40th anniversary tour in 2018.

It seems entirely believable or completely unbelievable. That's for sure. Or somewhere in between.

[Edited on 12/22/2016 by Zambi]

Interestingly, there is a "not fake" rumor thread over at VH Links started last night that is now 30+ pages long started by someone who is a semi-insider with the VH camp and it discusses a lot of what's in this thread here for 2017 and 2018.

Basically, Hagar remasters in works possibly with bonus material, a full box set or some sort of compilation multi-disc set that will include bonus material of outtakes and alternate takes of classic VH tunes, new material already recorded with DLR, Wolf's solo album release and his departure from VH to focus on his own band's tour, leading way to a full reunion of classic VH for 40th anniversary tour in 2018.

It seems entirely believable or completely unbelievable. That's for sure. Or somewhere in between.

[Edited on 12/22/2016 by Zambi]

I meandered into that thread at Vhlinks the other day and was amazed at how much attention it's getting. What the poster mentioned sure seems plausible if you've followed Wolfgang's instagram for the past year or so along with a few other tidbits. For instance the dude that posted photos of the Transtrem guitar rebuilt work he's apparently doing for EVH...

I think there will be one final hurrah with Van Halen; including Mike, Hagar, and of course Roth. As a long time fan, I'm actually most intrigued to hear young Jedi Wolfgang's solo album as well as one last album with original material with Roth....I'm not into seeing them live as they're just too loud for my old ears. But new material? Oh yeah, baby...

The Van Halen News Desk has pretty much shot down those rumors.

I think there is something definitely going on with VH, but it might be one of the rumored things, but to think it was all of them would go by the assumption that the VH camp actually wants to give the fans everything they want, which has never happened before.

This is from the Steve Hoffman forums...

The guy that runs VHND says none of this is true.

Here's what he posted on VH Links:

I feel the need to chime in here with a public service announcement, guys. I read the first half of this thread, and I hate to see fellow fans get so excited about this rumor.

This morning, after reading this, I reached out to Fudd through email and he called me back right away. We had a long talk. He is a good guy. And he knows I’m going to post this...

I told him what I’m about to tell all of you right now…. this rumor is simply not true. I believe that you could sum it up as "none" of what those people told him is true. When I first read it, I didn't believe any of it. And by now, four of my tried and true sources have confirmed that none of this is true.

I do not believe that Fudd intentionally put out false info. He was simply excited to pass along what he was hearing. I told him that I believe that his sources are wrong about everything. I don't know who they are, or why would they would say these things, but I guess it does not matter to me.

When I see fans get excited about something that is not going to happen, I feel it's best to just try nip it in the bud, to avoid more disappointment later.

What is true right now? Only this:

*The band is Dave, Alex, Edward & Wolf.

*The band is currently still on hiatus. The band itself is not doing anything right now.

*The band is not yet retired, though.

*Wolf, of course, is still working on his solo album, off and on. I’m guessing that it might be released next year, but that's just a guess because I haven’t heard any details in a long time, nor a release date.

*As far as remasters? I don’t know. IF they are remastering the Sammy-era right now, then that would be the only part of this rumor that is true, other than the fact that Wolfgang is still planning on releasing his own album.

I wish all of it were true. I wish the Sammy & Mike rumor was true, too. I would love for them to be more active. But the band isn't doing anything right now.

I get no pleasure is posting this, believe me. Hopefully VH will do something really cool in the future. But this rumor isn't it.

[Edited on 12/25/2016 by WarEagleRK]

Thanks for the update, WarEagle........

I wish the rumors were all true. The first band I ever loved as a kid was Van Halen. However, their lack of fan interaction, and and odd decisions over the years have a lot in common with the band associated with this webpage. At least with the ABB there have been some archive releases though.

There is way more to that thread than VHND shooting it down and putting things to rest, given it is 75 pages long at this point. But one must consider that VHND is now an official mouthpiece of the band and no longer a true fan site unaffiliated with the band. So the official mouthpiece 'shoots down' rumors with possibly carefully worded statements that could be technically true if reading in certain past/present tenses, but still doesn't negate the veracity of the rumors.

The rumor was posted by a mod at the VHLinks who spent two weeks putting everything together using 5 or 6 different sources that don't know each other. And he finally gave up his sources:

Someone who works with Irving Azoff
Someone who works for MSG entertainment
Someone who works for Live nation
Someone who works for a merchandise vendor
Someone who works at EVH gear

Plus one more source that there was no way to reveal without disclosing who it is, but is (apparently) a much better source than the other 5. And the OP saw physical evidence that backed up at least some of the rumor. Whatever that might be.

Then another poster 'in the industry' living on the other side of the country noted that he also had 2 sources, who also had no way of knowing each other, and had IDENTICAL information as was posted in that thread.

Thing that gives me some hope in all the rumors is that time is starting to run out with those guys and there is limited time for one or two last cash grabs, and let's face it, at least for the Brothers, they ARE largely about the cash. Or have been since 2000, if not earlier. And there are some facts out there that would be consistent with some rumors: Michael Anthony has been in touch with AVH and spoken by telephone, and the Brothers don't otherwise stay cordial or in touch with former members for personal friendship reasons. And the DLR sighting (photo on FB) at a cigar shop down the street from EVH's house (5150 studio), which would be an out-of-the-way and random place for DLR to be.

Soooooo.....it could be true. Or might not. Thing is with that band and the level of dysfunction, and past rumors.... well, I'll believe it when I see it.

There is way more to that thread than VHND shooting it down and putting things to rest, given it is 75 pages long at this point. But one must consider that VHND is now an official mouthpiece of the band and no longer a true fan site unaffiliated with the band. So the official mouthpiece 'shoots down' rumors with possibly carefully worded statements that could be technically true if reading in certain past/present tenses, but still doesn't negate the veracity of the rumors.

The rumor was posted by a mod at the VHLinks who spent two weeks putting everything together using 5 or 6 different sources that don't know each other. And he finally gave up his sources:

Someone who works with Irving Azoff
Someone who works for MSG entertainment
Someone who works for Live nation
Someone who works for a merchandise vendor
Someone who works at EVH gear

Plus one more source that there was no way to reveal without disclosing who it is, but is (apparently) a much better source than the other 5. And the OP saw physical evidence that backed up at least some of the rumor. Whatever that might be.

Then another poster 'in the industry' living on the other side of the country noted that he also had 2 sources, who also had no way of knowing each other, and had IDENTICAL information as was posted in that thread.

Thing that gives me some hope in all the rumors is that time is starting to run out with those guys and there is limited time for one or two last cash grabs, and let's face it, at least for the Brothers, they ARE largely about the cash. Or have been since 2000, if not earlier. And there are some facts out there that would be consistent with some rumors: Michael Anthony has been in touch with AVH and spoken by telephone, and the Brothers don't otherwise stay cordial or in touch with former members for personal friendship reasons. And the DLR sighting (photo on FB) at a cigar shop down the street from EVH's house (5150 studio), which would be an out-of-the-way and random place for DLR to be.

Soooooo.....it could be true. Or might not. Thing is with that band and the level of dysfunction, and past rumors.... well, I'll believe it when I see it.

And the intrigue continues....The sources you've listed would seem credible given they certainly would have the skinny given they're all industry people.

Not sure if this actually applies here, but...

I find when people talk about "sources" "insiders" whether they are in sports, music and etc kinda of interesting. Who are actually these sources and insiders people say they know and quote? You have this info you obtained from someone who says they have the inside skinny , but you cant reveal who it is though, because it could cause issues. So why would a person of importance trust someone with information, knowing they might be a source or that person could risk losing there friendship and a confident by revealing such info. To me it never made sense.

All I have to say is when it happens or is revealed by the band(VH) we will know, and then you can believe it.

Van Halen - Full Bug LIVE Largo 1982

Van Halen The Full Bug live 2012

Amazing that a song that had a verse that went like this...

Hey you, who said that
Baby how you been
They say you don't knoooow
Until you begin

was such a huge song.

The 80's were an odd time.

That's about every other DLR song. 😛 . I don't think the lyrics every really mater with this band.

Looks like that entire 1982 Largo show is on youtube, pro filmed, and Dave takes the time to sing. Nice to catch some great but lesser known songs like Full Bug and Hang Em High.

I find when people talk about "sources" "insiders" whether they are in sports, music and etc kinda of interesting. Who are actually these sources and insiders people say they know and quote? You have this info you obtained from someone who says they have the inside skinny , but you cant reveal who it is though, because it could cause issues. So why would a person of importance trust someone with information, knowing they might be a source or that person could risk losing there friendship and a confident by revealing such info. To me it never made sense.

The whole rumor mongering is curious. I'm not taking a side or anything, but I just don't think it has been definitively shot down b/c of the unofficial/official statement from VHND, and the guy who posted it does seem legit. But it also could be intentional misdirection from the band too that was planted with an unwitting accomplice. DLR has said in the past that VH works in 3 year cycles of activity, so the timing does seem about right too.

But who knows in VH LaLa Land? As Chain said, the intrigue continues....

And thanks for the YT links. Always fun to watch/listen.

I find when people talk about "sources" "insiders" whether they are in sports, music and etc kinda of interesting. Who are actually these sources and insiders people say they know and quote? You have this info you obtained from someone who says they have the inside skinny , but you cant reveal who it is though, because it could cause issues. So why would a person of importance trust someone with information, knowing they might be a source or that person could risk losing there friendship and a confident by revealing such info. To me it never made sense.

The whole rumor mongering is curious. I'm not taking a side or anything, but I just don't think it has been definitively shot down b/c of the unofficial/official statement from VHND, and the guy who posted it does seem legit. But it also could be intentional misdirection from the band too that was planted with an unwitting accomplice. DLR has said in the past that VH works in 3 year cycles of activity, so the timing does seem about right too.

But who knows in VH LaLa Land? As Chain said, the intrigue continues....

And thanks for the YT links. Always fun to watch/listen.

Yeah I hear ya.

Full Bug is probably my favorite song, and I know this may not be to popular with VH fans, but Diver Down is one of my top releases from those guys. I guess its the one that really brought me into the band.

Sometimes sources or "insiders" can't be named as they would be fired or at the very least cause big problems. In this era of the music business, just having a paying job is an accomplishment. Various sources that I have are from long time friendships and they know - my lips are sealed.

My sources involved with VH have never been wrong so far and as some here know - what I have wrote over the years has all come true.

VH is in limbo.

Now on the Jimmy Page Front............... 😉