Geddy Lee / Eddie Van Halen

[GeminiRising79]

An obvious rumor by virtue of the part about Geddy getting his nose broken (hence the "reason" for his large proboscis.

[LeaveMyThingAlone]

I've never seen a forum where threads always get so sidetracked. Came back on here seeing 2 pages and was optimistic there would be a lot of feedback about the incident...instead it's 2 pages of whether Eddie Van Halen is an overrated guitarist or not!

 

[softfilter]

I posted long ago a interview with David Lee Roth in Circus magazine talking about both Rush and Van Halen were playing London England,Rush and there crew had a hotel bar, just reserved for them. Well the Van Halen entourage so happen to stumble into the bar unaware it was a private affair. Roth mentioned both Lee and Eddie were extremely drunk. Geddy played a cassette tape of there yet to be released album and Eddie proceeded to "spill" a entire bottle of beer on cassette player. Setting off a series of altercations Van Halen and crew being kicked out of the bar, Then year later Geddy visited Halen when they were on tour back stage in Los Angeles concert, security threw Geddy out and Roth said they broke his nose.

[softfilter]

QUOTE (snowdogged @ Dec 24 2010, 08:10 PM)

There was a magazine out in the mid eighties that had an interview with Geddy Lee in it. Geddy was asked about Rush getting into a fight with Van Halen. Geddy said that Rush was staying at some hotel and had rented the bar out there and Van Halen showed up at the hotel and started drinking in the bar with them. The guys from Rush brought a radio into the bar to listen to music and Eddie spilled his drink on it and fried the radio. All the guy's from Van Halen acted like it was a big joke and the guys from Rush were highly insulted that Eddie thought it was a big joke and did not apologize. They got into an argument and eventually had Van Halen kicked out of the bar.

Should of read all the post first, that's the gist of the Circus magazine interview!!.... Sorry!!!

[pratt53]

QUOTE (softfilter @ Dec 25 2010, 07:58 PM)

I posted long ago a interview with David Lee Roth in Circus magazine talking about both Rush and Van Halen were playing London England,Rush and there crew had a hotel bar, just reserved for them. Well the Van Halen entourage so happen to stumble into the bar unaware it was a private affair. Roth mentioned both Lee and Eddie were extremely drunk. Geddy played a cassette tape of there yet to be released album and Eddie proceeded to "spill" a entire bottle of beer on cassette player. Setting off a series of altercations Van Halen and crew being kicked out of the bar, Then year later Geddy visited Halen when they were on tour back stage in Los Angeles concert, security threw Geddy out and Roth said they broke his nose.

Why would Geddy go back stage to see VH if there was bad blood and get kicked out? Why would Geddy go to the show period and in Los Angeles? Seems unlikely on all counts.

 

The off topic part of this, regarding Eddie's talents, I would be the first to say I have no use for VH music, can't stand it actually, and yes there are many gutarists of that style who I believe are "better" (IMO) but you have to give props to Eddie as an innovator. The first album was groundbreaking for guitar...Eruption anyone? There's something to be said for being first or even one of the first.

[Rod in Toronto]

QUOTE (New Digital Man @ Dec 25 2010, 08:21 AM)

was over rated. Are you kidding me?

No, Eddie IS over-rated. Like Jimi Hendrix, and Jimmy Paige.
The only thing Eddie ever did that was worthwile, was Eruption. Even that was blegh.

It is spelled Page. Come on man!

And he is not overrated. Nor is Hendrix. Van Halen is a fabulous guitarist no doubt. [/quote]
I think you meant to say WAS a fabulous guitarist! No longer the case!

Yup...Eddie hasn't been the same for YEARS!!! I think the last remarkable thing i heard him play was "Humans Being", a song from the Twister soundtrack, way back in 1996.

 

David Lee Roth's book is quite entertaining actually. I read it some 13 years ago, and don't remember the Rush fight story, to be honest. But it's got some interesting stuff there. HE even hammers Eddie due to the ill-fated reunion of 1996. It was actually "dictated" by Roth and had Henry Rollins (from Rollins Band) as a ghost writer.

[IChoseFreeWill]

How come I had not read about this before, yet had read about the Alex Naples incident, which seems tamer overall?

[Duck]

This is all bullshit. Story comes around periodically on the VHLinks site too.

 

 

While both bands probably don't have a huge liking for each other's work, they don't hate each other at all.

 

Some facts:

 

- I directly recall Roth in a 1980's video discussing Rush -- basically wasn't his cup of tea, called them "Techo-rock" which descibes the synth-era Rush at the time

 

- Alex Lifeson has complemented Eddie in numerous interviews and has even used Eddie's line of 5150 Amps.

 

- VH used Ray Daniels as their manager. Why would they if they absolutely hated Rush, since that was Ray's prime client at the time?

 

- Eddie wrote a song called the "Pleasure Dome." Listen to it. It is a homage to Rush's Xanadu and there is a riff taken almost directly from the Rush material -- not to mention the subject matter.

 

Also, IMO, Eddie Van Halen is one of those few guitarists that was an absolute game-changer in the theater of guitar driven Rock&Roll. Say what you want about his ego and personality, but the man changed music for over a decade and his influence reverberates even today. A true great.

Edited December 26, 2010 by Duck

[1-0-0-1-0-0-1]

Many of the posts in this thread regarding Eddie and Randy and Satch and who's better or overrated are embarrassingly inane.

[GeminiRising79]

QUOTE (Duck @ Dec 26 2010, 01:11 PM)

This is all bullshit. Story comes around periodically on the VHLinks site too. While both bands probably don't have a huge liking for each other's work, they don't hate each other at all. Some facts: - I directly recall Roth in a 1980's video discussing Rush -- basically wasn't his cup of tea, called them "Techo-rock" which descibes the synth-era Rush at the time - Alex Lifeson has complemented Eddie in numerous interviews and has even used Eddie's line of 5150 Amps. - VH used Ray Daniels as their manager. Why would they if they absolutely hated Rush, since that was Ray's prime client at the time? - Eddie wrote a song called the "Pleasure Dome." Listen to it. It is a homage to Rush's Xanadu and there is a riff taken almost directly from the Rush material -- not to mention the subject matter. Also, IMO, Eddie Van Halen is one of those few guitarists that was an absolute game-changer in the theater of guitar driven Rock&Roll. Say what you want about his ego and personality, but the man changed music for over a decade and his influence reverberates even today. A true great.

Wow, I never thought in a million years that EVH would do an obvious rush/lifeson tune. The similarity in chords and deviation from EVH style is unmistakable. It's like the moment when the Grinch's heart warms in the Xmas cartoon. Knowing this, its really just a matter of time before Rush gets into the RnR hall of fame (i predict in 2012- mark my words)

[softfilter]

Then year later Geddy visited Halen when they were on tour back stage in Los Angeles concert, security threw Geddy out and Roth said they broke his nose.

Why would Geddy go back stage to see VH if there was bad blood and get kicked out? Why would Geddy go to the show period and in Los Angeles?.

 

I thought that was odd also, curious i went back in storage and found the article... my memory was not entirely accurate on several counts!!!

For starters it was CREEM magazine not Circus..... Here's verbatim of the Roth interview as pertains to Geddy& Rush: CREEM magazine October 1981

VAN HALEN GETS EVEN WITH EVERYONE! by J.Kordosh

David Lee Roth: Do you want to tell a Rush story?

Alex Van Halen: It's our turn!

David Lee Roth: OK,guys, I hope you read this issue!

- True Stuff, July 4,1981

"We gonna go back in time now-back a year's time to Leicester,England. You're gonna have to look that up; it's spelled with an'ie' or something. We'd just finished playing:great show,everybody's very up it was Michael's(bassist Anthony) birthday. And we'd come back to the bar and Rush was staying at the same hotel. And as it turns out later-they'd rented the bar with all the booze in it.And our guys didn't know that and they came in and said,'What,free booze?! Whoa!!' And they cleaned the place out,which put their guys on edge a little bit. And Edward was sitting at the table with Geddy Lee and they'd both been drinking a little bit, and Geddy was playing some Rush tapes on a tape recorder. He said something to Ed and Ed's beer got into the tape recorder, Roth laughed,obviously relishing his role as gossip monger. "Well that caused a little friction," he continued. Jump ahead one year-Las Vegas( not L.A. )1981. Rush is playing before Van Halen in Las Vegas and word goes out: nobody from Van Halen is allowed into the show at all.Nobody. No road crew, nobody.

" Is it true? I interrupted". "Just because he spilled his beer.?"

Roth considered the question."Well, the whole beer went went into the tape recorder," he and Van Halen laughed.

"Yeah,but how much could it've cost??"

" Well , the glass, too!" he roared. OK, I get it.

"Anyways: 1981. The word goes out that nobody remotely associated with Van Halen is allowed into the show.As it turns out, a lot of our truckers- we've got five or six trucks, gotta have people to driv'em they know other truckers and they know the guys in Rush. And they say, 'Hey c'mon over, have a beer and a buzz, you're welcome at our show anytime, and so on. And so late word goes out: some Van Halen people-some- will be allowed into the show. And they've got some great guys working for them.So the show goes on and everything" We jump ahead now. After the show, we're sitting in this casino. There's tables filled with Van Halen people- there's 47 or 50 of us on the road now. And Geddy feels one way or another and comes up to say something to Ed, and he puts up his hand to shake hands. Now one of our security guards didn't have the vaguest idea in hell who he was and he came up and bodytackled him. Ha,ha, ha. Threw him out of the table and that's the last I saw of 'em!" He ended with a good- natured laugh.

[summer_sky]

QUOTE (LeaveMyThingAlone @ Dec 25 2010, 06:54 PM)

I've never seen a forum where threads always get so sidetracked. Came back on here seeing 2 pages and was optimistic there would be a lot of feedback about the incident...instead it's 2 pages of whether Eddie Van Halen is an overrated guitarist or not!

thank the gods for small favors. forums which have rules about staying "on topic" in discussions are promoting an unnatural behaviour!

[summer_sky]

QUOTE (GeminiRising79 @ Dec 26 2010, 02:26 PM)

Wow, I never thought in a million years that EVH would do an obvious rush/lifeson tune. The similarity in chords and deviation from EVH style is unmistakable.  It's like the moment when the Grinch's heart warms in the Xmas cartoon.  Knowing this, its really just a matter of time before Rush gets into the RnR hall of fame (i predict in 2012- mark my words)

great news, Gemini! wasn't looking forward to waiting anther 100 years for the event to happen!

[Ghostnotes]

IDK if it ever happened but i DO know around that time Neil

totally dissed VH in a circus article stating that they would not know a conceptual album if it jumped out of a Jack Daniels bottle. He was actually being compared to Alex in the interview, even the editor laughed that one off. This is the only time that i know of ever........that Neil ever dissed anyone and since it was directed at VH i would say it's a safe bet that something happened.

 

 

[GeddPratLerxst]

QUOTE (tripdad @ Dec 24 2010, 10:56 PM)

QUOTE (Snyder80 @ Dec 24 2010, 08:44 PM) I think this sounds like total bullshit.  Anyone who believes a word of what David Lee Roth says is just as big of an idiot as he is. Secondly, I don't care what period in history it was, if Lifeson was there I'm pretty sure EVH wouldn't want to f**k around too much because I'm pretty sure he'd get the shit kicked out of him.  Thirdly EVH isn't fit to share the same dressing room as Alex Lifeson so who gives a shit.  The guy is an egomaniac from hell and is one of the most overrated guitar players that ever lived.  Wanna listen to a shredder from that time period, pop Blizzard of Ozz into your cd player and listen to the magic of Mr. Randy Rhoads. Randy Rhoads was indeed one great guitarist, but you can't say EVH was over rated. Are you kidding me? Man, Randy left such a huge impression on metal guitar in just two records with ozzy. EVH completly destroyed modern guitar by the finger tapping thing which is a simple trick that sounds cool, but took over the real art of rock/metal guitar. RIP Randy Rhoads

[Spindrift82]

I think that, if there was bad blood, that it's probably been repaired now. People just don't hang onto stuff like that, even famous musicians.

[Spindrift82]

double post, sorry. Edited December 27, 2010 by Spindrift82

[softfilter]

Ya know, I also believe something happened, checking Rush & Van Halen tour dates with the Creem article i posted, the time of events mesh with what Roth said in the article... The beer being poured in the tape recorder hotel bar Leicester England, Rush played Demontfort Hall Leicester,England June 21 1980, Van Halen played Manchester Apollo theater June 20th 1980 and Birmingham Odeon June 22 1980, Rush played the Odeon Birmingham June 20th 1980. Forgive me I don't know offhand how close these cities are in relation to the incident, but it looks like Halen and Rush very well could of crossed paths during Rush Permanent Waves tour and Van Halen's Women and Children first tour in the UK 1980.

The Las Vegas incident was even more telling, Both Rush and Van Halen played the Aladdin theater: 1981 Rush Moving Pictures tour June 15th, next day Van Halen June 16th Fair Warning tour.

btw The Aladdin is now the Hard Rock cafe casino.

Edited December 27, 2010 by softfilter

[troutman]

I don't believe this happened. But even if it did, it's water under the bridge. All I know is Rush has proven how professional they are through out the years. VH is not even close!!

 

[shaun3701]

QUOTE (troutman @ Dec 27 2010, 10:25 PM)

I don't believe this happened. But even if it did, it's water under the bridge. All I know is Rush has proven how professional they are through out the years. VH is not even close!!

yes, but what exactly does it mean to act "professionally" as a rock star? They're not doctors or lawyers lol

[Xanadoood]

I've always felt Van Halen was a bit jealous of Rush, with how they utilized keys, and were succesful at it. Funny how Eddie had to fight for keys , and 1984 was their biggest selling album..and i recall reading a quote where Eddie praised Alex for his chord progressions.

[Ron2112]

QUOTE (Duck @ Dec 26 2010, 01:11 PM)

- Eddie wrote a song called the "Pleasure Dome." Listen to it. It is a homage to Rush's Xanadu and there is a riff taken almost directly from the Rush material -- not to mention the subject matter.

Uh........no.

 

You do realize that both songs are rip-offs of the poem "Kubla Khan," by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, right?

[Ron2112]

Amazing how much mythology is being cited as fact here, and how many mis-quoted articles are cited. There is not much by either band about the other in print.

 

One person cited (or tried to) the article in Creem by J Kordosh, from around 1981. The transcript is out there somewhere, and the article is infamous. Peart mentions being upset by a satire Kordosh wrote with a character called "Geddy Lee Roth," but that's about it. (In te same article, Neil calls Paul McCartney a "prostitute.")

 

Eddie Van Halen has only spoken in good terms about Rush. I've seen a few articles where he cites Rush as being the only band able "to find the fourth chord and still rock" -- in other words, break out of the three-chord-rock formula that so many other band use.

 

There's nothing out there to support the bar band fight -- and it didn't appear in Roth's book, by the way. The incident was originally cited in "The Van Halen Encyclopedia," which was a poorly-written fan publication.

 

Peace,

Ron

[Rod in Toronto]

Allegedly, this is what Eddie told Geddy after the fight: ""Allright...but hear me and hear me well: the day will come. Oh yes, mark my words, Geddy: your day of reckoning is coming, when an evil wind will blow through your little playworld and wipe that smug smile off your face!!! And I will be there, IN ALL MY GLORY, watching...watching as it all comes crumbling down...muahauhauhahauhaha"

 

 

[snowdogged]

Here is a discussion from another forum that took place in 2002. It is on the same subject.

 

Link