Lack of Output from Van Halen

It’s been 22 years since we’ve had a real Van Halen album.  And that’s really sad.  The last real album was 1995’s ‘Balance’.  The final album with Sammy Hagar on vocals and their last album to go #1.  Capping off a streak of four #1’s in a row.  Now, some say that ‘A Different Kind of Truth’, the 2011 album with David Lee Roth counts.  But does it really?  The songs are all left overs from the D.L.R. era of Van Halen.  Sure they’re good songs and the album sounds decent.  But it’s not like they sat down and did fresh material.  It’s just a filler, left over album.  Then of course, there’s the dismal 1998 release, Van Halen III.  That obviously doesn’t count.  It’s not their third singer, Gary Cherone’s, fault by the way.  I find that most people blame the album on him.  It’s 100% the producer’s fault and the songwriter’s fault.  Cherone didn’t write too much for the record.  He was a  hired gun.  Also, he sings all era’s Van Halen with extreme ease.  Something David Lee Roth certainly can’t do.  Anyways ‘Van Halen III’ doesn’t count.  It’s not even close to Van Halen.  So without those records it’s been 22 years since a release.  Eddie is 62 now, 63.  So in those years there’s 10 easy that could be considered for many as the prime years.  40 to 50 for many professional musicians is their peak.  Look at David Coverdale.  His 40’s were by far his best decade.  Old enough to have plenty of experience and still young enough to remain spry and aware.  Plus his voice was at it’s peak as documented on the ‘Live at Donnington’ concert album.  Unfortunately that wouldn’t be Eddie Van Halen’s fate.  No, those years for him were spent supplying the cocaine dealers of Los Angeles children’s college funds.  And we got nothing.  The point?  There really isn’t one other than it’s just a big shame.  ‘Balance’ is such a great record and makes one wonder what could have been.  Yeah, they got back together in 2004 and did three new songs.  Followed by a massive victory lap tour.  But Van Halen could have flown the flag for hard rock through the late 90’s.  Something no band from their era really did.  The fact that ‘Balance’ debuted at #1.  After all the changes in music culture.  For them to debut at #1 in 1995 and have huge MTV coverage and a massive arena tour.  To have Jon Stewart introduce them live on their first concert of the tour on MTV.  After grunge, after the re-emergence of the manufactured pop star that began.  After the cancellation of Headbangers ball and the death of Kurt Cobain.  Forever immortalizing the Seattle scene.  Making bands of Van Halens ilk sit in time out for ten years.  Van Halen still debuted at # fucking 1!  Who knows what could have been if Eddie had stuck with Sammy and stayed sober.  It’s still not too late for one more fresh album with Sammy.  He still has his voice.  Even at the age of 70.  But the clock is ticking.  Enough with the nostalgic David Lee Roth stuff.  Do something original and progressive with Sammy.  Do a real Van Halen album.  The world needs it.

A terrific Van Halen song that makes one wonder what could have been.  The coverage, the sensation.  The real Van Halen.

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