Metropoulos Forum

that's exactly what they were ~ the best high school party band ever. That's all they were and all they should be. If ed used a stock plexi with a phase 90 and nothing else, played with a big metal panel open sound like on 1984 or 5150, he'd still sound as good or better because he can still play, but the tone is not happenin' with the cardboard sounding peavey.

Wow, as much as this band has frustrated me they were still a far more creative band than all that drivel metal and B acts that followed them. These guys did some abstract weird shit in their prime, up there with the best of them. Do I wish they would have stayed lean, mean and this side of ridiculous? Yes,

Phil is correct.

While the EVH 5153 is a overall "better amp, I think I prefer the raw tone of the old Peavey.

But man, it would be sooooooo much better if he went back to his Marshalls. His tone now is just awful.

I'll say it again. Ed owes a great deal to DLR. Had DLR not been in the band they would not have been nearly as big. Dave brought the "show". Dave is a showman and in "show business". Ed is a musician. DLR had the charisma (if you can all it that) to allow Ed to be seen. That is why all the other great guitar players are relatively unknown to the general public.

Everyone knows who EVH is. Not many know of Beck, Vai, Satriani, or the other list of people. If you described then and told people what songs they had or who the played with, "oh yeah, that guy is good" would be your response. None of the other great players had DLR. He shouted, "Put the light on me" and gave people a show. That light gave Ed light.

Yeah definitely. DLR's larger than life persona just took it over the top.

But boy does he suck now (DLR)

I saw the very first show of the reunion in Charlotte NC back in 2007. I was actually a little bit impressed by Roth. He actually hit the chorus's of 'I'll wait' and sang the old stuff fairly well (though they MOST CERTAINLY didnt go anywhere near 'On Fire' ) Ed played only 'decently' imo. I was at one point 2 feet from Val. She is a doll most definately

My sis took me to a show on the second reunion tour. Ed and Wolfy were GREAT. They stepped up to the mic on choruses and were POWERFULL. Eddie was playing REAL well and Alex played a bad assed drum solo. DLR was absolutely PATHETIC, his voice, rhythm and timing was SO bad . My sis thought Dave was still very entertaining and, like most everybody else, realized that he has an ability being in front of lots of people. Still, she was like,"Where is the banjo, he looks like Steve Martin"

dave is good in teh studio but ive never heard him actually sing anything live. He's out of breath all the time and grunting. But man what a singer in the studio ! they should play small theatres 3 nights in a row and mellow out. maybe do some extended improvised jams while dave catches his breath. I'd pay for that

DLR is nice to listen to paired with EVH's guitar's on studio LPs. Live he has always sucked, except clear back in the "Die Laughing" bootleg days and the era of those three live videos circulating from VHII. I'd go see them live again if they could let the band play, but have DLR lip-synch to those Rock Star video game isolated vocal tracks...

I guess Dave sucked on the live 1981 Oakland videos of "Hear About It Later", "So This Is Love" and "Unchained"?!

3 good performances out of 10,000 is not a good batting average. Still one of the greatest studio singers of all time.

I agree Dave sucks as a live singer, but he was really only consistently truly bad after the Skyscraper tour in my opinion.

I saw him in teh 2000's at a casino. I left in teh middle of the second tune and went to play blackjack. It was the 2nd time I'd seen him and the last. I also will not go and hear nugent since i want a clean memory of the 1978 nugent live tone, unfettered in my mind. I only go and see local live bands and kids. Hardcore adults like me or hungry kids.

I guess Dave sucked on the live 1981 Oakland videos of "Hear About It Later", "So This Is Love" and "Unchained"?!

Yes. I was glad to see those videos when they came out, but the truth is, Dave "bellows" and talks his way through the songs more than he sings them... The U.S. Festival is even worse... Still rather have him fronting VH than Sammy Van Hagar though
Dave's cooler, and sounds great on the studio LP's. Loved the Skyscraper LP btw...

I really liked Dave's live stuff, Eat Em and Smile, Skyscraper. The band was so good. Being in a band keeps Vai under control ....Some of his stuff is just out there. I did see him live about 7 years ago. Great show at a pretty small venue. He had the band with Dave Weiner and the girl on fiddle.