Rod in Toronto

Show me where Eddie was not EXCELLENT in the Hagar years? Even Van Halen III has moments of brilliance, and an incredible tone.

I listened to the second to last album when it came out, and it didn't grab me...they sounded like Porcupine Tree part II. Even the band's initials are the same, and the meaning of the name is just as puzzling.

I got the album today. I wasn't a fan of the singles, but absolutely love this album!!!! It's a step ahead of Distance Over Time. So melodic!!!

His channel is incredible. And as I was watching another video of his today, I realized he also lives in Toronto. I want to meet him someday.

I think the Van Halen fans on here back Eddie over Roth and that's the true deciding factor. Sammy is just a bystander. Eddie and Dave > Eddie and Sammy, Dave > Sam. It`s simple, whatever Dave`s on brings the best out of Ed. Yeah but my point is as long as it's Eddie on one side and Roth on the other, a lot of VH fans will always back Eddie come what may. I get it, I know some people here think that and lots on VHND did too. I love Eddie more than any other musician but it`s nuts to say anything after 1986 was as good as `78-84. I know. After 1984 there was something missing from Eddie's playing, the tone wasn't the same, the energetic attack, the swing wasn't there, the grit was missing. Absolutely! The Brown Sound turned into the Frown Sound! What the Fukk Eddie? Greatest guitar player ever. Yeah, he "sucked". Here's an example of Eddie and Sammy KICKING ASS, my man...tell me this tone is not spot on, and that his playing is not jut as aggressive as it was when Roth was in the band:

You guys are delusional. Eddie's playing changed as he got old, and aged like a fine wine right up to his last show. Sammy's voice is still AMAZING. The human voice never stops changing, and his voice is obviously no different.

"I'm not saying a trans woman is not a woman...I'm just saying that those p*ssies that they got...d'ya know what I mean!?!?!?!" LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

Apparently he's fully dedicated to finishing his album - I heard that through unofficial sources though. The event was today - my first live show in almost two years!!!! It was fun, and Rik Emmett from Triumph played there:

DT as a brand are HUGE, and they cater for their audience and nurture the legacy well.

All this talk about Phil and Nick Collins, Nicko McBrain and Tommy Aldridge reminded me of the drummer that started it all - Mr. Carmine Appice, who influenced 100% of rock drummers, including Neil. Here's a chat I had with him two weeks ago:

I like both singles so far, but don't love them. But do I have tickets to see Dream Theater in November? Hell yeah!!!!

They don't.

I've been thinking this for ages. My biggest issue (and pretty much my only one) with modern Maiden is that all the albums really sound like they could all have been written at the same time. A fresh new perspective, a change of hands with producer, could really work. Colin Richardson and Brendan O'Brian come to mind as two that could have done wonders. Their work with metal and rock musicians is fantastic overall. Both would be awesome. I would suggest Andy Sneap, who has been doing an incredible job with Priest, Saxon and Accept.

I think Kevin Shirley is a GENIUS, and he got the job with Rush to do Counterparts precisely because he wasn't shy in criticizing some of the stuff Rush had been doing before him. He's done an amazing job with Dream Theater's Falling into Infinity, and was the mastermind in putting together Black Country Communion. But I think it's time that Maiden tweaked things up a bit and changed producers. Kevin is so ensconced now in the Maiden machine that he himself is not seeing how to improve the songs anymore. Bands that have been around for a while should always try to shake things up a bit, while preserving their identity. Again, I'm glad you're enjoying the album, and far from me to try to ruin the party, but to me it's a missed opportunity to do something INCREDIBLE at this stage in their careers, as opposed to just another entry in their discography.

Just trying to substantiate my criticism of parts of the album, guys. I'm happy you're enjoying it, and I myself have been listening to it a lot.

who cares Rod? Bands spend entire careers being a lot more self-plagiaristic than Maiden do. What next? An entire list of every time Maiden include galloping riffs? 06:12 here: And 08:50 here:

Almost the same riff, used towards the end of a long song: At 08:54 here: And at 09:53 here:

- Steve: "so guys, how many solos do you think The Parchment should have?" - Jannick, Dave and Adrian: "Yes"

It's better though. And so what? My point is that a lot of moments and sometimes FULL songs here have been done before, and are not necessary. I would scrap Death of the Celts completely, because we already have The Clansman for example.

The final lyrics, when Bruce sings "meet me...theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeereeeeeeee" gives me chills!!!!