Van Halen's Redemption Song

After decades of decadence that would make any id ache, after endless stories of wasted talent and mortifying screwuppery, Van Halen — the real Van Halen, mind you, not that Van Hagar stuff — has become a genuine redemption story.

Hedonistic ’80s buffoons long left for dead are now getting rave reviews as they maturely rock the globe’s largest venues. The most debauched of the debauchers have turned their lives around. Talk about comeback stories. Somewhere, Danny Bonaduce is planning a run for Congress.

If you ever thought Van Halen would happen again, you’re either lying or you died in 1985.

Last year’s Police reunion tour was considered highly unlikely, but Van Halen’s reunion tour, which comes to the St. Pete Times Forum on Monday, is downright miraculous. And not just because of the hatred between guitarist Eddie Van Halen and frontman David Lee Roth, which made the Sting & Co. feud play like a sandbox tiff.

Fighting is one thing; surviving is another. The band bragged of Runnin’ With the Devil, but they might be indulging in some divine intervention as well.

[AP photo]

The original version of Van Halen, which hasn’t functioned properly since 1984 (or 1984), was one of the most successful rock bands of its time. Roth, Van Halen, drummer Alex Van Halen and bassist Michael Anthony were a quartet of strutty L.A. scruffs blending blues, booze and showmanship. The became the preferred fuel of adolescent nights and Camaro cruises: Everybody Wants Some!!, Unchained, Hot for Teacher. Unbeatable rock.

But Roth, whose ego battles with Eddie were the stuff of legend, left the band to become Just a Gigolo in 1985. Red rocker Sammy Hagar became the VH frontman shortly after, and while the band still sold in the millions, the magic, the danger were essentially lost.

Over three decades, gobs of cash have been thrown at Eddie Van Halen and Roth to make nice. Such was their dysfunction, not even big smackers could make things right.

But time can change a man, even a drug-gobbling egomaniac who used Jack Daniel’s as an assault weapon. Indeed, David Lee Roth, now 52, became a laughingstock, a balding cautionary tale. I saw a DLR solo show a few years ago, and it was brutal. When he wasn’t forgetting lyrics, he was singing them with Jack Klugman’s voice. And when it was time for Diamond Dave to do his famous spread-eagle split off the drum riser? Oof. My toddler gets more air falling out of bed.

Eddie stumbled just as badly. Just a few months ago, one of the greatest guitarists of all time was soundtracking porn movies. That’s right: Those same supernatural fingers that spun the fury of Eruption were now being wasted on X-rated action. After two battles with mouth cancer, plus a hip replacement, plus an assortment of bad habits, the 53-year-old also looked like he was giving the Grim Reaper a piggyback.

But Eddie went to rehab, and word is that his fingers are as fast as ever. And when Eddie talked reunion, Roth, finally getting his own life together, decided to listen. The reaction from fans who have seen the reunion show is one of astonishment. They’re not just back — they’re good.

As for the rest of the band, that’s working, too. Habitually shirtless drummer Alex, who’s always been a little scary, is again attacking that monstrous kit. And while original Sasquatchian bassist Anthony has stayed loyal to Hagar and has opted out of the reunion, his replacement is almost more of a natural fit: Eddie’s son, Wolfgang, who will be 17 next month, is proving as prodigious as his pop.

In the year 2008, we hold out little hope for our pop-culture head cases. But Van Halen, an unlikely pedagogue to be sure, has taught us that life is long, and that redemption, even for the most unbalanced, isn’t such a nutty notion after all.

Comments

[Marissa]

This will warm the cockles of Al's heart when he reads this.
I have never had the pleasure of seeing VH, but a friend saw them in Cleveland on Diamond Dave's birthday. He said it was out of this world fantastic.
Great read as always, Sean!

[NickWithAnAxe]

You really think something other than money made this happen?? I wish I could agree. They may as well call this the "Back Up the Brinks Truck" tour. Eddie and Dave flat-out hate each other. They have for years. However, a nice payday seems to bring out the forgiveness in everybody. Roth has become a cartoon character - a living rock-n-roll cliche. Eddie is just, to be brutally honest, half crazy. I think the winner in all this is Hagar. He had the sense to stay away from this train wreck and will instead spend the summer touring with Kenny Chesney - far away from the VH psycho-drama. Anyone want to wager on when this tour implodes?

[Bassnote]

It's been going strong for almost a year Nick, and they are adding dates. You don't add dates if things aren't going well. I'm not trying to dis you Nick. Frankly I think VH has become a joke, and I would never go see them, but something must be working. I have not yet heard one story where Dave and eddie are ready to kill each other. I know people who have seen them on the tour, and they loved the show. So if it's working, more power to 'em, but I'll save my money.

[Jeff in Cuba]

Precocious teen hits the road with his dad, his uncle, and the flamboyant family friend who has come back into their lives after a 20 year absence.

This isn't a concert tour, it's a sitcom pitch!

[Al]

True Jeff, but they were steamin' when I saw them live last November.....keep the tour going, boys!

[Al]

Awww Marissa, it certainly does. It made me feel like I was 15 years younger when I saw them in November.

The friend I went with, was more excited when we saw Van Hagar in 2004 and that was a decent show......but I enjoyed every single song with Dave. He doesn't have the kicks anymore, but he sure still has the charisma and showmanship that made rock fun back in the '80's.

[Al]

Sean, excellent work as always. Onwards!

[Al]

P.S. The coolest thing after the show, was that every one was phoning in at the rock stations, and just sounding so darn excited, that they felt like teenagers again.

Even the local CBC radio station (our public broadcaster) played "Jump" in the morning. Sign of the Apocalypse!

[Tonka61]

I'll be there! Somehow, my aunt landed floor seats from a guy at her work for 75 apiece. Can't wait!

I wish they would have got their heads out of their tails and done this the right way. But if you are going to miss one member of the band, why not have it be the bass player, and why not have him be replaced with Eddie's son?

And Bassnote, the tour has only been going on since September 27. Still awhile before they hit the one-year mark. Quite frankly, as long as they make it past Monday, I don't really care!

[Diezel]

This guy is a hack! I'm a TRUE Van Halen fan and us true fans never referred to the Sammy Hagar era as Van Hagar. You probably also called them Van Cherone in 1998 didn't you? Sammy one-handedly saved this band from mediocrity from 1985 - 1996. If it weren't for him joining the band, they were actually considering hiring Patty Smyth (of Scandal) to front Van Halen. How'd you have liked that? I'm glad to see that Edward's back on the wagon and he and Dave are able to work together again. And for the record, Mike Anthony hasn't "opted out of the reunion". He was fired by Eddie for being friends with Sammy. Mike wanted to be on this tour, but wasn't asked by the brothers Van Halen. I will be at this show regardless, as I think it may be the last time we ever see Van Halen in any incarnation perform live again.

[Sean Daly]

I had a dude who actually named his son "Halen" call me up yesterday and gush about my story. He also has two VH tattoos. Tell you what, Diezel, if I'm good with THAT guy, I'm cool.