Actually when I record on my home computer I've got a freeware program that sounds even better than this and better than Eddie's box, but for the day when I greet that football stadium full of fans this purple box will be underfoot!
We'll sandwich a sad topic here. Normally I agree with 99.08% of what Bill Maher has to say, but last night on Larry King he hit that last .92% where I scratch my head. He was discussing the recent suicide of comedian Richard Jeni and the rumors that Jeni had killed himself because he was disappointed in his career. "When you get into this business you have a mental picture of where you want to be, and that picture isn't being 49 and playing the Improv in Chicago," Maher said.
I didn't get this. What's wrong with playing the Improv in Chicago? Sounds pretty prestigious to me! Sure, after the first few times I'm sure it seems same old same old, but hey, a comedian is what you signed up to be! "Everyone has a vision of where they want to be when they become an astronaut, and that vision usually doesn't include being on your 17th Space Shuttle mission to Mars." Huh? Then maybe there's something wrong with your vision. That's the gig!
Taking a look at Richard Jeni's Web site they say it wasn't a real-life, objective circumstance that caused his collapse, but a diagnosed mental condition that included "psychotic paranoia." Yow! Oh, well, maybe Jeni's spirit can look forward to being as celebrated as Bill Hicks. This may have been the career boost he needed. Really!
Speaking of Van Halen, did anyone else sit in front of their computer watching the AOL.com stream of the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame inductions? No? Well, I'm not surprised. I did, of course, because the heroes of my adolescence, Van Halen, were being inducted. Just watching them make a speech and play a tune would have been nice, but like many I was really tuned in to see if any black eyes ensued.
First, some quick background for you non-heavy-rockers: David Lee Roth quit/was fired from Van Halen in 1986. Sammy Hagar joined as singer until he quit/was fired in 1996. Then a guy named Gary Cherone joined for about two years and left amicably because, frankly, the fans couldn't stand him. Roth has tried four or five times to rejoin the band, each unsuccessfully, and Hagar has managed one reunion tour that ended in publically-aired rancor. Most recently bassist Michael Anthony, the most down-to-earth guy in the band, was shown the door by the Van Halen brothers for remainng friends with Hagar. Then just a few days before this ceremony David Lee Roth, still working on reunion #5, got in a public war of words with the president of the Hall of Fame over whether he could/would sing, what song, and with whom. Given all of this, there were a variety of motives for fists to fly amongst all parties.
As it turned out only Hagar and Anthony, two guys who haven't been in the band in three years showed up. Michael Anthony, the silent and overlooked one, talked the most for the first time. Though he clearly wasn't used to speaking ("Geez, I'm...I'm drawing a blank") his guy-next-door, gee-whiz manner was endearing.
"When you watch those highlight clips, it really hits you what you're being inducted into," he observed. That was for damn sure! Initially I thought this was a cheesy event but then they showed clips of who else has appeared there: George Harrison and Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton and Cream, the Who, the Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, B.B. King, Willie Nelson, Led Zeppelin, James Brown...the weight of the eagles Van Halen was gathering with came home. And if it was hitting Michael Anthony at his table with Hagar, I wonder how hard it was hitting David Lee Roth, Edward Van Halen and Alex Van Halen?! Boy, they must have felt like real toolboxes sitting at home in their pajamas watching the exiled members shaking hands with Stephen Stills and wailing a few notes next to Keith Richards! The value of humility and perspective cannot be overestimated.
Since Van Halen couldn't get it together to play a single song, Velvet Revolver, and new band consisting of former members of Guns n' Roses, played. Likely because David Lee Roth had verbally brushed them off in the
L.A. Times, Velvet Revolver read their induction speech from their index cards as though they were reciting multiplication tables. They then played a version of "Ain't Talkin' `Bout Love" that a band of high school sophomores could easily have trumped! It's a two-chord song and Slash, the guitar player, wasn't even playing in the right place on the neck! Wow, I can say it...I can play better than Slash (on that song, anyhow)!
The lights then went down and the announcer said, "Prepare for a special performance." It sounded like Paul Shaeffer was building up to the 1984 hit "Jump," and I expected David Lee Roth to fly over the band in a mid-air split like the old days. Instead of it was Anthony and Hagar doing "Why Can't This Be Love?" Not my favorite song, but I salute them for doing it.
It also needs to be pointed out that Patti Smith is a total no-talent who shouldn't even be allowed on a stage during open mic night, let along at the Hall of Fame. She and Michael Stipe of R.E.M. both noticably blew Sammy Hagar off when he made the brotherly move to try to sing along with them during the all-star jam at the end. I try to like R.E.M. because they're a Georgia band that became huge, but...they're a bunch of pretentious, effete, snobby assholes! Screw R.E.M.!
It should also be noted Slash does not own a cool Boss BF-2 Flanger pedal like I do.
First, let's talk about my new toy. The purple box you see to the left is called a Boss BF-2 Flanger. Is this used to illegaly receive cable TV or detect police radar? No, no! This neat little box will make your electric guitar sound like a jet plane! A similar device was frequently employed by Edward Van Halen on songs such as "Unchained," "The Cradle Will Rock," "Loss of Control" and "Ain't Talkin' `Bout Love*." The one he used was actually by a company called MXR and their model costs about $120 used on E-Bay. I got this one for $51 on E-Bay with the original box and manual. The MXR may sound a bit better but this thing sure has been putting a smile on my face!
The shot went right in the face, which just sounded like a sad and tragic suicide. But people are wondering how a bullet could go directly into the face, as opposed to the mouth or temple area. The girlfriend was under some suspicion, but I haven't followed the whole story. If no note was left behind, that definitely deserves some investigating.
These guys tour to get an HBO special, a late nite booking or a writing job on a sitcom. Or better, their own sitcom based on their act.
A benefactor at that level is all good...
Brian Regan.com.