Hows that sound? That could rock.

Van Vai.

That's happened in some ways.

When Roth went solo, Vai was his guitarist for the first two records, Eat 'Em And Smile and Skyscraper.

• David Lee Roth – vocals
• Steve Vai – guitar, horn (alto)
• Billy Sheehan – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Gregg Bissonette – drums, percussion, backing vocals

Sheehan is a great bass player, and Bissonette has a jazz background as well as rock and roll. (Bissonette went on to play with Joe Satriani - arguably Vai's biggest music rival in the 90s - and Vai on later solo projects, too.)

In every way it was Dave being Dave to the Nth degree. In many ways, it was a reboot of VH. VanHagar was a totally different mood and approach. Not better or worse, just different. But Dave's early band was great. The talking guitar stuff in "Yankee Rose" was - at the time - brilliant on Vai's part.

PS it would be VaiHalen, not Van Vai. haha

[Edited 10/12/20 12:32pm]

2freaky4church1 said:

Van Vai.

Vai Halen!!!

Nah!!!!!

The CLOSEST We got 2 THAT was David Lee Roth's Band (Vai/Sheehan/Bissonette)

Pretty much done when the name of the band is gone.

Cinny said:

Pretty much done when the name of the band is gone.

I mean, there are two Van Halens in the band. But you're right - I doubt Alex would ever consider reforming VH without his brother. However, I think after some time has passed, a super group project would be interesting. Of course, he doesn't ever have to work again if he didn't desire it.

Yeah it's done it won't work without Eddie, and they've had three singers.

CynicKill said:

Yeah it's done it won't work without Eddie, and they've had three singers.

I always wondered what kind of environment it was with Eddie and Alex in charge of stuff. I mean, when Michael Anthony left, it was pretty shocking. Sorta like Jason leaving Metallica. Three lead singers, Roth and Hagar in and out like a revolving door, whether on tour or just on record. I remember Eddie talking about Roth being on stage w/ them when Beck got an award, and how Roth was disrespectful. He also bashed either Roth or Hagar about being unprofessional or not working, or whatever. Not that Eddie and Alex are bad people, but they clearly ran the show... to the point that Roth, Hagar, and Anthony said "enough."

I've read Sammy's book and I've read Noel Monk's (former 78-85 VH road manager) book. Eddie and Alex created an unpredictable, toxic (and somewhat brutal) enviornment as time went on. Those two were known to have full on fist fights (offstage and during rehearsals at 5150)..sometimes over a cigarette..Their 90's manager Ray Daniels didn't have VH in their best interest either..plus Sammy hated him....the 2004 reunion with Sammy was worse when Eddie's condition was at rock bottom. There's some chapters that were supposed to be in Sammy's book that were removed because they were too rough....They also treated Micheal Anthony like crap as time went on...Micheal said they tried to reunite three times with DLR (in the late 90's and early 2000's) and each time was worse than the previous one......As far as reforming, it's finished. The only guitarist that I could see doing a tribute concert with them is John 5. He knows them, they know him and he can play Eddie's licks very well.

2freaky4church1 said:

Hows that sound? That could rock.

That sounds like the most stupid idea ever.

SPYZFAN1 said:

I've read Sammy's book and I've read Noel Monk's (former 78-85 VH road manager) book. Eddie and Alex created an unpredictable, toxic (and somewhat brutal) enviornment as time went on. Those two were known to have full on fist fights (offstage and during rehearsals at 5150)..sometimes over a cigarette..Their 90's manager Ray Daniels didn't have VH in their best interest either..plus Sammy hated him....the 2004 reunion with Sammy was worse when Eddie's condition was at rock bottom. There's some chapters that were supposed to be in Sammy's book that were removed because they were too rough....They also treated Micheal Anthony like crap as time went on...Micheal said they tried to reunite three times with DLR (in the late 90's and early 2000's) and each time was worse than the previous one......As far as reforming, it's finished. The only guitarist that I could see doing a tribute concert with them is John 5. He knows them, they know him and he can play Eddie's licks very well.

Kinda makes me wonder - was it DLR or the VH brothers? Or both?

In fairness, there is one one common denominator to all the incarnations of Van Halen, and that's the brothers.

It was all three of them (DLR, Eddie and Alex). The three of them couldn't even get it together to appear at their own RARHOF induction.

SPYZFAN1 said:

PatrickS77 said:

SPYZFAN1 said:

It was all three of them (DLR, Eddie and Alex). The three of them couldn't even get it together to appear at their own RARHOF induction.

Yeah. With the members who were not in the band accepting. Pathetic.

There's always that one troubled soul in a band, isn't there? The one who quits, tries to break out on their own, fucks things up, fucks up the vibe, whatever.

McVie then Buckingham left Fleetwood Mac, for various reasons.

Timberlake left Nsync.

Lennon left the Beatles.

McDonald left the Doobies.

Lionel left the Commodores.

Dawn & Maxine (?) left En Vogue.

DLR left VH, then Hagar, then Anthony. (Not even counting Cherone at this point.)

It's just endless and so fucking typical sometimes. But yet fucking Bon Jovi is going strong. woopie

Yeah, go figure...lol... But Bon Jovi lost their rock and roll once Jon decided to become Springsteen Jr....and Richie Sambora (the MVP) left.

SPYZFAN1 said:

Yeah, go figure...lol... But Bon Jovi lost their rock and roll once Jon decided to become Springsteen Jr....and Richie Sambora (the MVP) left.

Honestly - missed that one.

Won't happen would be insane to even try something. I can see if you want to play a tribute show and plug in a bunch of guitarists but to replace with VAI and tour with Roth or Hagar or both never will happen other than maybe a one off send off for Eddie. The similarity with BON JOVI is the fact of the name also the sounds of Eddie to bring a new guiar player and do what? I mean BON JOVI is a band but lets be real they are all hired hands, if Jon wants to end the band then he would end it, they are far past that point of being a "band" as opposed to being Jon's most trusted musicians at his side, as for Richie leaving he lost it too, I mean it was a great duo but what Rocking stuff has Sambora done since? His work with Orianthi is horrible and his last solo record was not good either and far from being a rocker.