MCChris

There's nothing wrong with it. Issues arise when there are complaints about prices, that the old band isn't supporting something new and therefore is doing a money grab, or if they are supporting something new, that the new stuff by the 60-year-olds somehow doesn't have the fire of their 20-year-old selves, blah blah blah. Again, reasonable expectations are the key here. And on the flip side of the rest of your post, I won't go so far as to call it "creepy" when 50-somethings take their teenage or 20-something kids to classic rock concerts, but i will say that there's something not right about it, and in fact is very anti-rock'n'roll. I was fine with my old man giving me a ride to see VH on the Diver Down tour and picking me up afterward, but I damn well didn't want him sitting next to me inside the venue. Nor was i interested in seeing Simon and Garfunkel or the 5th Dimension with him. On a side note, I'd like to clarify that while those of you who have met me in person know that I am indeed a prick, I'm not as much of a prick as perhaps I'm coming across in this thread. I just happen to be typing from a workplace that I've been let go from but still have to show up to until March 2 so I don't get dicked out of my severance, therefore I'm a bit salty. That also explains why i have so much time to respond lol. Now back to the spirited discussion, which I'm enjoying.

And what's that again?

Again, methinks your expectations are unrealistic, especially in this regard. Even Rush, who appear as genuine as can be and probably are to a large extent, are all about the cash these days. Which is why they didn't play "Caress of Steel" or even "2112" or "Permanent Waves" in their entirety on the Time Machine tour. Sure, the rabid fans would have eaten that up, but the *casual* fans (a.k.a. the ones who take things over the top from a revenue perspective) would have passed on it.

Just remember that while "people everywhere" are indeed talking about and spending money on Van Halen, only we music nerds give a rat's ass about their new material. All the edgy, middle-aged, casual-fan suburbanites at the concerts will be taking leaks, buying beers and posting to Facebook about how awesome they are when "Tattoo" or "Bullethead" creep into the set.

Those guys are the exceptions (add Lemmy to the list too). And yes, even though I don't doubt they were still awesome when you saw them, they've also lost a step or two. It's just the way it is. They're not superhuman. We should all aspire to *only* lose a step or two when we reach that age.

Totally agree. Which is why the vast majority of "classic" rock bands should have simply quit a long time ago. But ultimately, guys like David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen are no different than Joe Six Pack. As they close in on retirement, it behooves them to amass as much cash as possible while they still can, and ideally with as little effort as possible. In Van Halen's case, when nostalgic fans are all too willing to fork piles of it in their direction, well, so far only ABBA has shown the restraint to say no to that.

There was a time when '70s 3-bolt Strats weren't desirable. Just sayin'.... This is the operative quote IMO:

What does fidelity have to do with the band's songwriting ability or level of energy? VH has lost a step or two because they're pushing 60! I still say that if "Tattoo" (or, more accurately, the old song it's based on) were on 1984 and "Drop Dead Legs" were the new single, people would be saying "Drop Dead Legs" sucks compared to "Tattoo." It's just human nature. The things that strike you as fantastic in your youth stick with you into middle age, and that's the bar you set for everything. Very difficult for anything to live up to that later in life.

My take is that he'd like to preserve the cherry condition. Making it playable increases the likelihood of the guitar getting nicked up and whatnot.

Pointless factoid: I sold one of those to James Iha back in the day.

TIWIWD

This is true. I liked "Danger Us" even more!

No, it's more motivated by an ability to turn off my 18-year-old self, who did indeed consider everything Van Halen put out to be unassailable, and think about the new song objectively. But that too is neither here nor there. I'm pointing out that it's the same lyrical approach, and thus "Tattoo" is classic Van Halen in every way. Without, of course, Michael Anthony's backing vocals (they fired him), the energy (they're pushing 60), and the attitude (they're rich, sober and comfortable). We could argue about quality until the cows come home or the reunion crashes and burns, whichever comes first.

That's neither here nor there. Would you agree it's the same lyrical approach (that being, DLR's nonsensical, stream-of-consciousness rambling around a cursory theme)?

"Drop Dead Legs" came up on shuffle this morning and lyrically, I think "Tattoo" is in the same ballpark. That being, DLR's nonsensical, stream-of-consciousness rambling around a cursory theme. Nobody bashes DDL because it came out in VH's prime (or close to it).

One thing the song and video make clear is that this is the Dave show. I for one love that, but Eddie's not demonstrated an ability to be cool with that for a prolonged length of time since 1984, if not earlier. So it'll be interesting to see how long they can hold it together.

Wasn't expecting to like it, but I do!

Anything by D'Angelo. But first, consult your physician to see if you're healthy enough for sex.

The free consulting you're getting from resident Jimi expert Kiznaki should not be ignored. Go with his recommendations on this one.

Keep telling yourself that and maybe it'll come true!

Yeah, does that count, or was it technically purchased past year? All I know is, every time I consider selling mine, I play it, and then I don't feel like selling it anymore.

On the Frampton tip: Peter Frampton’s long lost Les Paul found in Caribbean http://www.burnsilver.com/?p=906

Yeah, jeez, The GC pics didn't do that one justice at all!

Whaddya gonna do next, Kiznaki? Sell your $1K SuperPro?

I go back and forth on that. But catch me at the right time and who knows?