Will Van Halen continue after Eddie retires?

[That 70s Guy]

blabbermouth.net

Could VAN HALEN Carry On After EDDIE Retires? - May 9, 2012
Could the band VAN HALEN carry on after guitarist and co-founder Eddie Van Halen retires? According to The Pulse Of Radio, Eddie's son, current VAN HALEN bassist Wolfgang Van Halen, seems to think it will be up to him to keep the name going. He told Esquire, "It kind of falls on my shoulders," adding that the band has plenty of material stockpiled on demos from the last three years for future albums. Wolfgang added, "I thought it would be really fun if dad and I just sat down and started jamming and see if we came up with something together, instead of him writing something and me putting my spin on it."

Wolfgang joined VAN HALEN in 2007 at the age of 16, replacing original bassist Michael Anthony.

He also told Esquire that his dad gives him plenty of responsibilities on tour, revealing, "I kind of come up with the set lists. When we've got a song that we haven't done, it's like, we should probably run through this before the show and figure out like the count of it. Because dad, for some reason, counts in odds. He'll land on three instead of four."

Wolfgang continued, "(Eddie) still, to this day, does not know the lyrics to 'Beautiful Girls'. You know how we go, 'Top of the world, beautiful girls'? He has it written down on his pedal board. On the last tour I used to have to go (mouths lyrics)."

VAN HALEN is currently on the road behind its new album, "A Different Kind Of Truth", which is the first with original singer David Lee Roth in 28 years.

 

[LG]

Kind of strange to be talking about Eddie retiring while they are touring supporting a very successful new album...

My take, no if Eddie retires that's it for Van Halen and the name should be retired, no offense to Alex and David and Wolfgang.

 

[Riff Raff]

Have to agree with the above statement. Eddie was really what made Van Halen what it was to me.

 

[Mr. Bob Dobolina]

They've had three lead singers and two bass players but, with all due respect to Alex, Eddie IS Van Halen. If and when he hangs it up, that's it.

 

[Jake T]

That would be like Santana continuing without Carlos. They could, but it would be more of a cover band than anything resembling the original group.

 

[AboutAGirl]

I don't like rock bands treated as dynasties with a line of succession. "Oh have you seen Van Halen VI? Nah they haven't been good since Eddie III quit and joined Kiss CCCXXV, Alex IX is pretty good though." A band is a particular group of people. I understand that bands lose members and get new members but when you're down to fourth generation members keeping the thing "alive" it's nothing but a farce.

But there's nothing I can do to stop them. I don't have to go see them, either.

 

[Slip'nn2Darkness]

My guess is it will happen without Eddie only because the way music is going these last few years and how much control the record companies have over bands.
They treat band names like a old reliable product they can sell for years.
I can see the name headlined as "The New And Improved Van Halen" But Wolfie better get on having a son.

 

[Magic]

No, it shouldn't. But I have a feeling Wolfie is being groomed to take over.


.

 

[METALPRIEST]

No Eddie? No show!

Sorry, something like this I just cannot see. VAN HALEN is not just the name of "the band" or the Van Halen brothers (or son) but Eddie himself.

If this is not what was intended, it's still who EVERYONE thinks of FIRST ( right? ) when they hear the name VAN HALEN

 

[coltrane2]

Happened to Lynyrd Skynyrd and Little Feat. I'm sure both of these bands have fun, but life is far too short to listen to a Skynyrd album without Ronnie Van Zant or a Feat LP without Lowell George. Probably make a decent live tribute attraction if they got a decent guitarist in, but it'd only be Van Halen in name and as far as new recordings by an Eddie-less VH...forget it!