kevind2112

With respect back, I have been a musician for most of my life, and I'm by no means a Van Halen or Michael Anthony "fan boi". Also, no one ever said he's the "one of the best in rock" or anything of that magnitude. However, your blatant disregard for him as a bass player is misplaced. The one video you presented of him was a "show piece" which is part of the Van Halen show. It's not inclusive of what he actually is as a bass player. Do yourself a favor and look up some of his other live work with the Waboritos or Chickenfoot. His playing is very tasteful, and he shines when it's appropriate. Not to mention, he still has amazing vocal capabilities. I'm not saying he's a bass god or anything else ridiculous like that. But, he's better than people give him credit for because he was "stuck" in the Van Halen machine. Anyway, I'm not going to continue to defend my opinion of Mike, or Neil for that matter. That's what's fun about opinions. We all have one! :)

Aranoff is absolutely in the same league as Peart, and probably a much more well rounded drummer. I love Peart, and he, along with Steve Smith, are the main reasons I started playing drums. But we need to stop putting him up on this ridiculous pedestal. I can think of a dozen drummers off the top of my head who are much more well rounded and have better feel and approach (and chops) than Neil. Neil would be the first person to acknowledge his limitations. That's exactly the reason why he started taking lessons so late in his career. He was very one dimensional in his playing for years. Yes, he plays some great fills and can play in odd times, but his musical "vocabulary" was very much lacking, and relegated to "rock drums". He's improved that vocabulary over the years, but like I said, there are tons of drummers who have better chops and are more well rounded. (Notice I'm trying very hard to avoid saying anyone is "better" than him. The word "better" is way too subjective). Listen to Arnoff, Steve Smith, Todd Sucherman, or any other of dozens of drummers. Also, (while I'm here, lol) Michael Anthony is a VERY underrated bass player. His playing on VH albums is simplistic, but that's what the music calls for. He is a great bass player. Whew, I feel better now :)

Is there video of this somewhere?! Youtube, etc. That's hilarious! Here you go. :) I've watched this video a few times, and here is what I think happened. It sounds like Alex broke a string during the first chorus (you can really hear it when he lets that last chord ring), so he takes it off to give it to his tech (who was right there, he didn't have to find him). The issue is, 2112 is tuned down, and Alex only had one guitar on that tour tuned for it (if I recall correctly from reading his gear list from that tour). So, the tech had to restring it in real time. This can be done pretty fast, in a matter of seconds. But, of course while waiting for it, every second seemed like an eternity.

Definitely this. It's very easy for the sound guy to add an effect to the vocal (or anything mic'd at all). It's probably just a simple flanger effect. We do it all the time in our band, changing the lead or background vocals for specific points in a given song (for flange, reverb, "gang" vocals, etc.). It's not magic :)

That actually had me laughing out loud this morning. Thanks! :)

What a great, great interview. Thanks for posting it here!

...WOW...

Alex!!!

Sounded good to me. Alex got it back now too.

If he did his head would explode, and the tour would be over.

Video is froze up for me, but audio is still good.

No, it's just tuned down so low it sounds that way.

Jacob's Ladder is SOOO epic.

Yes just look it up 18 pages back Seriously? What page? alt control left arrow rotates - alt control up arrow puts it back! You are the man! Doesn't work for me for some reason :(

Geddy sounding good there on RB.

That would be tough...if they wanted to make it look like ONE show, then they'd have to have a "continuity" guy making sure they wore the same clothes every night...with the two night shoot, they could pull it off with little to no difficulty, and if something on the first night got messed up, they could re shoot it the next night. Plus the expense of hiring and setting up a production company to record multiple venues would be ridiculous.

Those reasons you give for the change to single bass drum, I remember all those years ago, and saw it as a rational logical move. However, as I have become increasingly aware of sonics over the years, and listening to dave Lombardos opinion on double bass drum, has made me wonder on the transition. As Dave lomabardo points out, having a double bass drum gives the skins time to breathe or resonate; more of a pulse if you will. Mr Lombardo points out, having a single bass drum, this element is cut off. A small difference thats hardly noticable, probably, but considering mr pearts search for more of a pulse (amongst other things) it made me wonder. I am just really pleased he had given this kit a go again. :haz: I think the thing with Lombardo is he uses the double bass much more within the context of the song, a lot more that Neil does. Neil uses it mostly for some flam flourishes or big endings. There are not a lot of Rush songs where he's using the double bass for extended amounts of time, so I don't think those issues are as apparent for Neil. I agree, it's great nostalgia to see him behind that kind of kit again. :)

As a few people have commented on here, there are a number reasons why he went to the single bass (way back on RTB, like 23 years ago now!). Makes it much easier to move parts of the kit around, like the high-hat, to more comfortable positions. Double pedals had finally gotten to the point of being just as good as having two bass drums. (While I HATE the sound of DW drums, the 5000 and 9000 double pedals are amazing. I own a set of 5000s.) Easier to mic both in a studio and live setting. Obviously one bass drum is easier to mic and level. Plus you lose the other big booming chamber (paraphrased from Neil) that can cause mic bleed, etc. No need to spend time laboring to tune a second bass drum to the exact pitch as the primary. I'd love to see a close-up from behind the kit. I'm wondering if the second bass is actually for show, and he's still using the DW 9000 double pedal behind there. Has anyone been able to ascertain from the video feeds?

They're related? I never knew that. Wow, I had no idea either. That's pretty cool !

:(

They may "look" like the old Slingerlands, but they sure sound like DWs. Muddy as hell.

Aye, but how did you feel the first time you heard 2112 tuned down? I actually LOVED that! This one is going to take some getting used to.

I can't get used to the sound of the first Hemispheres chord tuned down :)

YES!!!!!

Last show of the Permanent Waves tour :)