Edward Van Halen: A Definitive Biography (45 page)

Just one week after Dave’s brief interview,
Rolling
Stone
followed up with: “The Official Word: Van Halen Tour Kaput; Van Halen’s road plans have taken a rocky turn.” Finally, on March 8, with Janie as Van Halen’s publicist, Eddie released a public statement:

I would like Van Halen fans to know how much I truly appreciate each and every one of you. Without you there is no Van Halen.

I have always and will always feel a responsibility to give you my best. At the moment I do not feel that I can give you my best. That’s why I have decided to enter a rehabilitation facility to work on myself, so that in the future I can deliver the 110 percent that I feel I owe you and want to give you.

Some of the issues surrounding the 2007 Van Halen tour are within my ability to change and some are not. As far as my rehab is concerned, it is within my ability to change and change for the better. I want you to know that is exactly what I’m doing, so that I may continue to give you the very best I am capable of.

I look forward to seeing you in the future better than ever and I thank you with all my heart.

Love, Ed

The story was carried by other outlets with the headline “Eddie Van Halen to Enter Rehab.” It was yet another profound admission directly from Edward himself. He made no bones about it—no dancing around the issue, period. He was going to rehab to work on himself. There was a new circle in place, and you were either within the circle or not in the circle. Those on the inside of the circle now had a policy of keeping everything inside the circle
inside
the circle. Those people were Edward, David, Janie, Alex, and Wolfgang. Virtually no word regarding Van Halen would
ever
be released to the media again without the careful orchestration and consent of some or all of the above parties.

Unfortunately, March 12 was the date of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, so there was no way Edward was going, and Alex would never have gone without his brother. Dave expressed interest in attending. In Van Halen’s place would be short-lived supergroup Velvet Revolver featuring Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots and members of Guns ’N Roses. Discussions over Dave performing with Velvet Revolver did not go well. They offered to play “You Really Got Me,” but Dave didn’t want to perform a cover song at his own induction. He insisted they learn and play “Jump,” but that wasn’t going to happen. So Dave bailed on the ceremony as well.

Scott Weiland gave the opening remarks, and then Slash said, “Eddie Van Halen. Guitar genius and innovator. God to fans and musicians alike. David Lee Roth, the ultimate front man.” Finally, drummer Matt Sorum stated, “The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame would like to induct Sammy Hagar, David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, and Michael Anthony.” Only Mike and Sam appeared to accept the award—both of whom were no longer even in the band Van Halen. “Right Now” played as they took the stage.

For all the acrimony with Michael Anthony, what he said when he first took the microphone will never lose its impact, and shows what kind of a man he truly is. Knowing how much Edward disliked him at the time, he said “First off, I’d like to, uh, say God bless you to, uh, Edward Van Halen.” He continued. “I wish you were here, buddy. You couldn’t be here tonight.” The crowd gives applause for the selfless, caring act. Mike continued, “He’s home gettin’ some help, and I love you, man.” Once Michael concluded his remarks, Sammy took the microphone. The first words out of his mouth were, “Well, I can’t tell you how much I wish, uh, everyone could be here tonight. And it’s out of our control, and it’s out of some other people’s control. And I think it’s a good thing. I think Eddie’s gonna come out on the other side a better person and maybe we can get our buddy back.” Only Sammy referred to Roth even once during their remarks, simply adding an “and Dave” to one of his statements.

A Complete Transformation

Edward entered rehab in mid-March a pale, scraggly looking shell of his former self. Wolfgang turned sixteen while Eddie was checked in. By April 22, Ed’s first post-rehab public appearance was at an all-American NASCAR race. He was an honorary race official and he greeted all of the drivers as they were introduced. Edward Van Halen looked like a
completely
different person. He had, between March 6 and April 22, completely transformed his appearance. The ratty matted hair was shorn. In its place was a sharp, short trim with highlights on top. In place of his pale skin was smooth and tanned skin. He was sporting a short Van Dyke. And in place of those yanked, brown, rotting teeth were sparkling white, beautiful veneers. His thin frame had some bulk back on it. He appeared so smiley and healthy and happy it was enough to stop you in your tracks. In fact, some fans put up before and after pictures and the difference between March 2006 and April 2007 is nothing short of a complete and total physical transformation. He could easily have been the winning contestant on one of those extreme makeover shows—his physical recovery was that magnificent.

On May 25, Eddie released yet another public statement acknowledging his recent rehabilitation experience:

I want to say thank you to all the Van Halen fans for the tons of emails and all the support they provided when I was in rehab earlier this year. It was an intensely personal thing that I’m not really comfortable talking about right now, but I want everyone to know that their support has and always will mean the world to me. I want everyone to know that I am truly grateful.

Just one day before the race, Ed unveiled his latest amazing guitar venture. He entered into a deal with Fender’s Chris Fleming, senior master builder in Fender’s custom shop, to produce one hundred identical replicas of the classic Frankenstein guitar—these things would sell for $25,000 a piece. As part of Ed’s NASCAR appearance, he presented the winner of the race with one of the replica guitars. Doug, a close friend and bass player for one of a few bands this author plays in to this day, was a Guitar Center employee at the time the Austin store received their one Frankenstein. At such an incredible price tag, special clearance was required to even touch the guitar, much less play it. Doug worked it out so I could not only check out and hold the guitar, I was actually able to plug it in and play it for ten to fifteen minutes. A small crowd gathered around me in awe—clearly not at me, at the guitar. However, I did Edward proud and plowed through “Hot for Teacher,” “Unchained,” and “Eruption” to the delight of the small crowd. I can easily say it was the most financially valuable object I have ever held in my hands, period. It was an amazing experience and absolutely electrified me. The detail of the reproduction was insane—down to the rust marks and date on the quarter nailed to the guitar! I had Doug snap a picture of me with the guitar, but it has sadly been long-lost on an old, crappy 2007-era cell phone.

Along with the Frankenstein replica guitar, Edward had also been working on a new amplifier with Fender built exactly to his specs with no questions asked. The EVH 5150 III amplifier first became available on July 1, 2007. Although made in collaboration with Fender, the guitar and amplifier manufacturer marketed all of Edward’s gear under the name EVH Brand with his very close friend Matt Bruck as his business partner in the venture. This not only included the Frankenstein replicas and the 5150 III amplifiers, but also picks, cables, amp covers, straps, strings, and even low-friction volume knobs. The EVH brand, however, also extended to a deal with MXR to make custom effects pedals (painted with red, black, and white stripes)—essentially reissues for their classic phaser and flanger pedals which were critical to Edward’s early sound. Taking it one step further, one could now purchase EVH Brand sneakers. Edward said he got the idea after seeing so many fans make their own custom striped shoes. About the clothing venture, he said, “I’m not trying to be a clothing designer… I just think that my tennis shoes are cool.”

“A New Brother”

Edward was back in good, sober shape for the first time in a decade, and the newly christened foursome returned to grinding out rehearsals for four straight months. The machine was as finely tuned as humanly possible. Once they were ready, they stepped out to no holds-barred press conference fielding questions of every kind imaginable. All four appeared together on August 13 on a stage in front of the classic original
Van
Halen
album cover logo. Facing the stage, from left to right was Alex, Dave, Ed, and Wolf. A transcription of the press conference follows with commentary:

DLR: Good afternoon, everybody! How are you this afternoon? This is the press conference that you probably never thought that you would see happen. Certainly not while we are all young, skinny, and good looking. Welcome, one and all. Make yourselves at home—we did. I think, uh, you know all the names of everybody here. And, uh, I thought I was newest guy in the band, but, uh, that turns out to be even part of the colorful Van Halen, uh, history. It is a new band. Man, when you hear the sound of what we’ve got going now… We’ve been rehearsing this more often than not. I’ve done more rehearsal in the last four months than I’ve done in the last twenty summers. We started this, uh, approximately last October. And, uh, the whole sound has, is better than it’s ever been. Wolf brings a young energy and a spirit to this that’ll knock you out of your socks. The vocals—

EVH: He kicks all of our ass.

DLR: The vocals are better than ever. He’s a task masker. It was Wolf who picked the song list. And we’ve got close twenty-five of your greatest hits. All of the favorites that you’ve been hearing tearing out of the back of a pickup truck at the Burger King drive thru over for how many summertimes. It’s all very well intact. The same attitude but with a whole new look. Stereo sound and hi-fi style. I think you know everybody here. Wolfgang, Edward, myself Diamond Dave; here, this is Alex. I’d like to start out with this.

[As Dave said “myself Diamond Dave,” Ed, standing next to him, pat Dave on the back several times. Then Dave embraced Edward and Edward embraced Dave in a beautiful moment. Their hug was tight and meaningful, and Edward used both arms to really grab Dave, unlike his one-armed non-hug back in 1996. After several seconds of holding each other tight, they backed away, Dave with a huge smile. There was much applause to accompany their hug. Ed stepped up to the microphone.]

EVH: I got a new brother. [After saying that, Ed put his arm around Dave’s neck and pulled him for a big kiss on the cheek. Dave’s million dollar smile was in full effect. It was a beautiful moment that was a long time coming.]

DLR: Questions, please! Who’s got a question? Somebody yell something out. Go ahead right there.

[A mostly unintelligible question from the press corps asked about performing “Me Wise Magic” and “Can’t Get This Stuff No More.”]

DLR: Are you talking about the two new songs from back when? You know, there is a, uh, catalog that is as familiar as “Duh-duh-duh-DUH!” [Beethoven’s
Fifth
.] People, uh, to this day, stop me at crosswalks and act out the guitar solos in front of me in twenty-three different cities here. It’s sort of a provided thing. You know, when the Three Tenors get together, you only wait for “O Solo Mio” and the rest of it you can barely pronounce. With this, you know
every
single
song
. You know every guitar lick, every “Wooo!,” every kick, every jump, every drum lick, and we can’t afford to shirk that duty.

EVH: Besides that, we haven’t learned those two songs yet. [Edward shrugs to some laughter.] I gotta take responsibility, okay? [More laughter.]

Question: . . . How does it feel to be together on stage for the first time in, oh, so many years?

EVH: [Very calmly.] Incredible to me, man. I’m very excited, uh, you know, to be makin’ music with my son, my brother, my new brother… [He throws his arms up as if he has all he could ever ask for.] It’s, it’s the shit. That’s all I can say.

DLR: It feels completely natural. Strangely enough, after this many summers, I myself am certainly more aware of that than ever. Of how valuable this band is to me and my history. How valuable it is to the neighborhood, to the communities that this music appeals to. And that’s a
lot
of communities. [Dave says a few sentences in Spanish.]

EVH: It is totally blowing—it is totally blowing our own minds, and I think it will yours, too. It’s better than it’s ever been.

Alex: I grew up on this stuff! [Laughter.]