Van Halen – Page 2 – Mike Slayen ~ Guitarist

Van Halen’s “Women and Children First” Turns 33

on March 26, 2013March 26, 2013 By mikeslayen

I cant believe this album is 33 years old today. I was young when Van Halen originally debuted in 1978 and I didn’t really know about them until after their fourth album, “Fair Warning,” my favorite VH alum, which was released in 1981. The upside to this was I had four incredible guitar albums to digest at one time including this one. When you are 12 years old and have nothing else to do, I really got to delve into these collections, “Van Halen,” “Van Halen II,” and the two previously mentioned albums.

Last night I watched, “Argo.” Yes, I know I am the last to see it. Director, Ben Affleck, utilized Van Halen’s, “Dance the Night Away,” to create the vibe of 1979/1980. This did put into perspective how old these albums are. Images of Jimmy Carter, Ayatollah Khomeini and the whole Iranian Hostage Crisis were memories from my childhood. Glad the music sounds fresher today than these old news stories!

“Women & Children,” the bands third album, was a little heavier in sound then their first two albums. A trend that continued through, “Fair Warning,” which was the bands worst selling album, although critically at least in my opinion and the fans I know, their best! Of note, on Women and Children, was Eddie Van Halen a notable pianist, as well as, guitarist’s first effort using keyboards on a VH recording. Ironically the sound of the keyboards on “And the Cradle Will Rock…,” was masked by running the sound through a guitar amplifier and virtually sounding, well, like a guitar. Also ironic is the fact that the use of keyboards propelled Van Halen’s popularity with songs like, “Jump,” “I’ll Wait,” and many of the Van Hagar Era hits.

In 2012 the boys teamed up once again with frontman David Lee Roth for a new album, “A Different Kind of Truth,” and subsequent tour. The best part of this tour was the fact they could play the true Van Halen songs that Sammy Hagar would never sing. From, Women and Children, they included, “Everybody Wants Some,” “And the Cradle Will Rock…,” and “Romeo Delight.” Check out the Setlist from the San Diego show, June 14, 2012.

Here’s to listening to these albums in another 33 years! Watch out grandkids cause you will be the wrath of my old man tunes!!!

This video contains the complete album, 33 minutes in length.

Enjoy!

The Guitar Gods Smiled Upon Me….

on March 6, 2013March 6, 2013 By mikeslayen

While I always feel ‘crazy’ lucky to be a guitarist for a living….I had a nice little gift from the Guitar Gods this morning during my workout.

Every morning, I trudge out to get my blood flowing, trusty IPod always in tow, shuffling though 8000 or so songs! I like to shuffle, both for the randomness and the fact that with so much music I get to hear stuff I would probably never pick or even remember that I own.

Anywho, first up on this sunny morning was Joe Satriani’s “Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing,” a classic to be sure. Followed by, Dokken’s, “Tooth and Nail,” with George Lynch’s extended guitar solo, Jimi Hendrix’ classic, “The Wind Cries Mary,” “Espiritu,” by the De Lucia, McLaughlin, Di Meola trio and capped off with, “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love,” Van Halen’s live version.

Good thing it was a short workout or the next song that may have popped up could have been my daughter’s Little Einsteins and ruined my Guitar Gods Smiling on Me theory.

Peace…have a great one everybody!

Why Music Is Better Than Words

on January 21, 2013January 19, 2013 By mikeslayen

This is a pretty cool infographic on the use of words in Van Halen lyrics from the David Lee Roth era. Yeah seems to have taken the top spot over Love and Baby. I think this is the appeal of Van Halen…high brow guitar work with party lyrics…a winning rock n roll combination.

VHVocab — Check out VHND Van Halen News Desk..for all things Van Halen

If it included Sammy Hagar tunes Yeah Love and Baby probably would’ve tripled…

Making a Halloween Music Playlist? Deviate From the Norm!

on October 26, 2012October 26, 2012 By mikeslayen 3 Comments

Happy Halloween Week everyone! Always one of my favorite holidays.

Are you one of those people who loves to make a playlist for your Halloween parties or to scare trick or treaters as they come hit you up for their Snickers fix?

Well if so this post is for you, and for those of you looking to treat your ears to some new music, as well.

Year after year we hear the same ol’ Halloween standards….Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” “The Monster Mash,” “One Eyed One Horned Purple People Eater” as festive, quirky pop tunes. Then there is the sophisticated setlisters who employ classical music. Pieces like; Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue in D min,” Edvard Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mtn. King” and Orff’s “O Fortuna” from Carmina Burana.

Lets ‘Deviate from the Norm’ this year….to borrow a line from Rush’s Geddy Lee and Neil Peart. Here are a few ideas that are not quite as trendy but every bit as scary and quirky. Add some of these tunes to your Halloween Ipod playlist and you will be the coolest ‘evil’ DJ this side of Transylvania.

Scary

Everyone and their mother uses the theme from the Twilight Zone or Michael Myers Halloween movies.

Here is a modern take on the horror theme song genre. Try the end credits from Dexter…you know the serial killer who kills serial killers. Very haunting melody. The version here unlike the show has an extended drumtrack mix through the second part.

Quirky

How this song hasn’t become a Halloween classic I’ll never know. The Who’s tale of a creepy crawly spider named Boris is a great replacement for the overplayed “Monster Mash.”

Megadeth’s, “I Ain’t Superstitious” is a can’t miss, as well.

Rock Tunes

Any of the following would make a perfect addition to your playlist;

Black Sabbath…The demonic Metalers were masters of the tri-tone and chromatic power chord songs.

I would recommend “Black Sabbath” or “Electric Funeral” if you want heavy metal with a dark tinge but their super studio effected intro to the “Mob Rules,” entitled “E5150” will scare the kids right off your porch.

Most people when they think of Van Halen think great guitar but not so much spooky sounds. Eddie, however, had a few tricks up his sleeve. Check out “Tora Tora/Loss Control,” “Intruder” and the prepared piano piece “Strung Out.” All would add a little edge to your Goul-list. My Van Halen pick, however, goes to the synth based “Sunday Afternoon in the Park.”

Classical

I hesitate to put these pieces on this list because they are ‘real’ music written by ‘real’ composers but not for the purpose of being dark, scary and Halloweenish where as the rock tunes above were. These are composers who have experimented with sound systems, emotions and humanity for much deeper reasons than being background for a bunch of frat boys in costumes drinking as much beer as they can on Halloween. That said I am here for you! I am here to offer you some new sounds and that is what I am going to do.

Charles Ives, “Hallowe’en”

Schoenberg, “Pierrot Lunaire”

Bartok, “String Quartet #4, 5th Movement”

Check back next year for a new list.

1,000,000 Sold = Platinum not Gold

on September 5, 2012September 5, 2012 By mikeslayen

I just noticed an exponential theme in my last two posts and now am uncontrollably on a mission to see how high I can go with this!

Worlds Top 1o Richest Drummers

What Does 100 ‘Likes’ on Facebook Mean, Thank You!

____________________________________________________________________________

Land of 1000 Dances, Wilson Pickett

10,000 Lovers in One, TNT

100,000 Artists for Change

1,ooo,ooo is a lot of records to have sold! And 1,ooo,ooo units sold equals a Platinum Record according to the RIAA(Recording Industry Association of America). Certainly a lofty standard for all musicians.

Platinum Van Halen II — Van Halen II, Platinum Record

Concert Ticket Sticker Shock! Save the Children

on June 22, 2012June 22, 2012 By mikeslayen

Remember when Rock & Roll was ‘about the music’ …?

After going to the big Van Halen, David Lee Roth reunion show the other day I experienced some ticket sticker shock. The concert was a blast and my wife and I had a great night with some friends, but, really? Don’t they know the economy sucks? Well I guess it’s not that bad since people still go to concerts, and have Iphones and fill up their gas guzzlers…

Before I stashed my ticket away with a bunch of old concert tix, I took a close look. I am not one to complain about prices. I can either afford something or not, but, the dollar numbers really got me thinking…

The tickets were $79 each. So for me and my wife it was a $160 date night. Nope, there was a $16.50 fee per ticket on top of that. Okay now we are at a $200 date night which doesn’t even include dinner, trolley tickets, etc. Like I said…it is what it is and I can buy or not buy depending on if it is worth it to me.

But as I am putting the ticket stub away for safe keeping I took a look at the prices of some of my old concert tickets. All the shows I went to in high school, the tickets themselves, were less than the current $16.50 ticket fee…what the heck? How can any kid afford to go to a concert these days?

Some of my old concert tickets

Minimum wage in California is $8 last I checked. A Justin Bieber fan would have to work two hours plus just to pay the ticket ‘fees’, without the ticket. That’s not even accounting for taxes deducted from their paychecks.

So if a kid today wants to take a date to a concert at roughly $200 that kid would have to work approximately 33 hours. Just for a crappy mid-hall concert ticket. How many high school kids even work 33 hours a week? No wonder they rip so much music for free online. I always thought I would have to help put my daughter through college or help her buy her first house. Didn’t realize I needed to start her a concert ticket fund.

Guess the economy is not so bad…

Van Halen Week in San Diego – Concert Review

on June 15, 2012June 15, 2012 By mikeslayen 9 Comments

Last night was the big show I’ve been looking forward to for basically 28 years.

It has always been a regret of mine having never seen the original Van Halen lineup with David Lee Roth, even though, I have seen them a handful of times with Sammy Hagar since.

After going to the concert last night my first thought is….I really wish I would have seen them with DLR back in the day!

The Bad:

They have lost their fastball. The show lacked a rockin’ forward motion that I have seen in their past shows. They have also had some recorded tracks in the background(unless they have musicians behind the scenes)

David Lee Roth is a nut job. Good to see him back in the band but he looked like he should have been in a Broadway show…and glad he loves dogs but didn’t really get the video montage of his dogs herding sheep.

The crowd! They should have started the show at noon cause I think everyone was asleep. I have never seen so many people sitting down at a rock concert. There are still plenty of bands in Van Halen’s age group that the fans are up on their feet.

The Good:

The sound!

I could hear all of Eddie’s guitar riffs and licks clearly and although Dave didn’t really have anything important to say you could definitely hear him.

The whole band sounded great, instrumentally!

Eddie played guitar the whole time…no keyboards (although as mentioned before they were recorded or played by someone behind the scenes)

The setlist was awesome! “Beautiful Girls,” “Romeo Delight,” ” Women in Love,” “Hear About it Later,” etc. It was great to hear lots of the old songs! View Setlist

I like the fact that they have dropped some of the Rockstar histrionics and focused more on the music.

Even with Roth’s antics it was good to see the original lineup together.

Smart idea to have Kool & The Gang as opening act. I think it made the concert more fun for the wives of all us guitar geeks.

The GREAT!

The greatest thing for me was to see Eddie! He looked and played really good. He has been through so much the last several years with the cancer, addictions and crazy cat lady pictures. He just looked healthy even put on some weight.

Van Halen Week in San Diego – 10 Facts You Might Not Know About Van Halen

on June 14, 2012November 28, 2012 By mikeslayen 1 Comment

10 Van Halen facts, some you might know, some you might not…in no particular order.

Eddie and Alex Van Halen’s dad was a professional musician and played clarinet on the song “Big Bad Bill is Sweet William Now,” from the Diver Down album.

Drummer Alex originally started on guitar and when he was gone his little brother Eddie would play it.

In their early days the band had a contract rider that specified there was to be M&M’s in their dressing room, but there was to be no brown M&M’s.

Eddie Van Halen played the guitar solo on Michael Jackson’s “Beat It,” on his mega hit album Thriller.

In the early years Van Halen toured as the opening act for Black Sabbath and to the dismay of Ozzy and the rest of the band rabid Van Halen fans booed Sabbath off the stage.

Eddie’s signature guitar of the 80’s was named ‘Frankenstein’ due to it being pieced together or ‘created’ in his lab. Also used as the cover art for their 2004 greatest hits CD, Best of Both Worlds.

The numbers on the song title, “316” from the For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge CD stand for Eddie’s son Wolfgang’s birth date, March 16. The song is now part of Eddie’s live extended solo that includes bits of “Eruption,” Cathedrals,” and “Meanstreets.”

Before the band was discovered, Eddie used to turn away from the crowd when performing his trademark right hand tapping technique to keep others from figuring out how he was making those sounds.

The Van Halen boys grew up in Pasadena but were actually born in the Netherlands.

“Hang ‘Em High,” from Diver Down was influenced by the Clint Eastwood movie of the same name.

Van Halen Week in San Diego

on June 10, 2012June 10, 2012 By mikeslayen 2 Comments

You probably know by now that I’ve dubbed this Van Halen Week in San Diego. Eddie, Dave, Alex and Wolfgang are coming to San Diego for the first time since DLR leaving the band after their “1984” tour. Unfortunately, as a kid I missed this last chance to see the original lineup although I saw them several times with Sammy Hagar.

Now they are back touring the world again! Yeah, they are older and a bit kookier, but, no way I was going to miss them this time. Of course it still isn’t the original lineup as Eddie’s son Wolfgang has taken the place of original bassist Michael Anthony.

Eddie was my biggest guitar influence growing up and to this day, as well. The new album, “A Different Kind of Truth,” is sinking into my brain more and more as I catch the nuances that Eddie always supplies…crazy rock star or not the guy is an incredible musician.

The setlist looks great too. I thought they would go with a lot of their more poppy tunes but it looks like they have gone with a healthy mix of their hits, as well as, some of their more obscure classics.

I am really stoked to hear songs that I never thought I would hear live. “Women in Love,” “Ice Cream Man,” and my all time favorite Van Halen song, “Hear About it Later,” from the album, “Fair Warning”.

Seeing how it has been 28 years since they made an album and toured with David Lee Roth, I thought I would offer some historical perspective.

Things we never heard of:

Global Warming, carbon footprints, declining California Home prices, CD’s, cell phones, Internet, DVD’s, Taliban, Clinton, G.W. Bush, Obama, ‘President’ Bush (The first one was still VP for Regan who was still in his first term when “1984” came out.), Florida Marlins, Colorado Rockies, Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, St. Louis Rams, Taliban, 911(may we never hear of another), DVR, reality TV, American Idol, Aerosmith reunion, flat screens, Wii, Like A Virgin, boy bands, Grunge, Death Metal, Satellite Radio, Derek Jeter, Brett Farve, High Definition, Van Hagar, bungee jumping, Fresh Prince, The Terminator….

Now that is a long time to wait for a concert…a wait that ends this Thursday!

Van Halen Setlist

on June 6, 2012June 10, 2012 By mikeslayen

One more day and it will officially be Van Halen week in San Diego as the boys from Pasadena get set to play Viejas Arena June 14th.

For you San Diegans who have been wondering about the setlist check out the link below. It looks like they are fairly settled on their selections now. It seemed to flutter from show to show earlier in the tour. Most notably it looks like they are exchanging The Full Bug and Romeo Delight every other show. From time to time they throw a ‘new’ old classic into the mix. The last show, June 5, featured their first performance of Bottoms Up! since 1983.

Added bonus is Kool & the Gang will be the opening act.

Time to get excited San Diego!!

Van Halen Setlist

Kool & The Gang Setlist