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2010 -Van Halen, Jimmy Page and Zakk Wylde Make Top Guitars That Don’t Sound Like Guitars List
12/29/2010 .(Gibson) The guitar is so suitable for rock for the simple reason that guitar itself sounds great, but it can also be much more than that. In the right hands, it can be a string instrument, an organ, or even a zoo full of animals. Here are the 10 best examples of guitars that were not afraid to share their identity crisis with the rest of us.
7. Van Halen, “Baluchitherium”: Eddie Van Halen has never recorded a solo instrumental album and it doesn’t look like he plans to do so any time soon, so “Baluchitherium” from 1995′s Balance might just be the closest thing we’ll get to such a release. A huge, stomping track named after a lumbering prehistoric creature (also known as Paraceratherium or Indricotherium, for the paleontology buffs), “Baluchitherium” boasts a veritable menagerie of animal sounds during its end section, most of which appear to have been achieved by combining volume knob swells with natural harmonics and the whammy bar – although Van Halen noted to Guitar World at the time of Balance’s release that this section of the song does include one real animal – his dog, Sherman.
3. Ozzy Osbourne, “No More Tears”: Zakk Wylde throws a wide range of techniques into “No More Tears,” including slide, a dropped tuning and fast arpeggios, but the song is also notable as one of the more famous examples of a guitarist who not only wails, but whales, too. During the orchestral-sounding interlude before the guitar solo, Zakk turns his volume control down, hits a note, turns the volume up and bends the string for a series of mournful, moaning notes which reinforce the lonesomeness of the track’s theme. They also set the listener up for a killer build-up before the solo’s rapid-fire blues licks.
1. Led Zeppelin, “Dazed and Confused”: Jimmy Page has always been a master of presenting the guitar on a silver platter in all its raging glory, from Led Zeppelin right up to Coverdale-Page and his 1998 album with Robert Plant, Walking Into Clarksdale. But Page was also adept at making the guitar sound like something else entirely, as he did on “Dazed and Confused,” where he used a violin bow (with the effect emphasized with some generous reverb) to make the guitar sound like an eerie, two-tone violin. Page’s violin bow solo was also a live showstopper, as you can see in the concert movie The Song Remains the Same. Check out the full list here
2010 – Welcome news for Van Halen fans: The clearest signs that an album and tour are in the works for next year have emerged.
While the webosphere has bantered rumors and various reports about a possible album with original frontman David Lee Roth since last year, a recent release announcing a re-upped deal between publisher Warner/Chappell and Eddie and Alex Van Halen stated that the band “is currently in the studio recording an album with Roth that is due for release in 2011.”
Meanwhile, Van Halen manager and Live Nation Entertainment executive chairman Irivng Azoff mentioned on a conference call last month and an earning’s call last night that Van Halen was expected to tour next year. That’s good news for Live Nation as a disappointing 2010 season is hitting the touring giant’s earnings. Van Halen’s 2008 reunion tour with Roth was a massive success. It raked in a total gross of more than $93 million and close to one million in attendance from 74 shows, according to Billboard Boxscore.
A new Van Halen album would be the band’s first studio album since 1998′s “Van Halen III,” which featured vocals by Gary Cherone, and the first with Roth since 1983′s “1984,” one of the band’s best-selling albums.
2010 – Carlos Santana announces he will Cover Cream, Deep Purple, Van Halen, Rolling Stones On his Upcoming Covers Album on This Day in Rock!
“We’re not comparing or competing with those artists… we’re complementing them,” Santana said. “But when you hear this, you’re gonna do ‘Damn!’ because it sounds so powerful, with vitality and vibrancy. Like Wayne Shorter says, it’s completely new, totally familiar.”
Rock n’ Roll!
2010 – RIAA, say Beatles still on top! Utilizing Nielsen SoundScan data, which dates to 1991, Guns N’ Roses have totaled 24,914,000 albums sold in the U.S. 1991′s “Use Your Illusion 2″ leads with 5,587,000 units, followed closely by “Use Your Illusion 1,” at 5,502,000.
In that span, Metallica has sold 52,271,000 albums in the U.S., led by 1991′s “Metallica” with sales to date of 15,525,000.
According to the Recording Industry of America (RIAA), whose data encompasses the bands’ entire careers, Metallica leads Guns N’ Roses, 59 to 43.5 million. Among all artists, Metallica ranks 18th, Guns N’ Roses 30th.
It does help Metallica that the band has released more albums. The band has placed 14 titles on the Billboard 200, compared to G N’ R’s eight.
As for why the bands’ totals are so much closer using RIAA data as opposed to SoundScan’s, Guns N’ Roses’ opus “Appetite for Destruction” was released in 1987, four years before the advent of SoundScan information. Since 1991, the set has sold 5,008,000 copies. The RIAA, however, has certified the album with sales of 18 million dating to its release.
How does the RIAA stack up the U.S.’ top-selling rock groups of all-time? The list looks like this:
Rank, Artist, Certified Units (in millions)
1, the Beatles, 170
2, Led Zeppelin, 111.5
3, Eagles, 100
4, Pink Floyd, 74.5
5, AC/DC, 71
6, Aerosmith, 66.5
7, the Rolling Stones, 66
8, Metallica, 59
9, Van Halen, 56.5
10, U2, 51.5
11, Fleetwood Mac, 48.5
12, Journey, 47
13, Guns N’ Roses, 43.5
14, Santana, 43
15, Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, 41
2010 – SAMMY HAGAR On VAN HALEN – “Seventeen Years And They Haven’t Made Any New Music – I Could Do A Reunion And An Album, But Not Under These Circumstances”
Rock Hard
Posted on Sunday, March 21, 2010 at 15:06:55 EST
The red rocker SAMMY HAGAR (CHICKENFOOT, ex-VAN HALEN) is gearing up for an intimate solo gig at the San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino near San Bernardino, CA this Thursday, March 25th. Speaking with Wes Woods II from Sgvtribune.com, Hagar says “when I built Cabo Wabo (a bar and lounge in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico), I got into the intimacy of how you can get into a show and have more spontaneity and more fun. It’s a different kind of energy in a small room. And 3,500 is not that small. But it’s small enough to feel intimate.”
When asked about his feelings on Van Halen: “The band broke up in 1995. The last record was in ’93. Seventeen years and they haven’t made any new music. That’s crazy … if it changed and it was like it used to be when I was in the band, I could do a reunion and an album, but not under these circumstances.”
1955 – Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony is born in Chicago.
Michael Anthony Sobolewski (born June 20, 1954) is an American musician. He is best known as the former bassist and a founding member of the hard rock band Van Halen. Anthony joined the band in 1974 and was their official recording and performing bassist for most of their career until he was replaced by Wolfgang Van Halen, son of fellow founding member Eddie Van Halen, after the band’s 2004 tour.
Anthony is known for his stage antics, his effects-laden live solos, and his number of custom-made bass guitars including a Jack Daniel’s model shaped like a whiskey bottle. He also has a signature Yamaha bass guitar series. In total, Anthony is known to have in excess of 150 bass guitars. In addition to his musical career with Van Halen and other acts, Anthony markets a line of hot sauces and related products named Mad Anthony.
Anthony has been married to his wife Sue since 1981 and they have two daughters: Taylor (born 1991) and Elisha (born 1985). Anthony now lives in Glendora, California and can be frequently seen driving his prized hot rods.
Biography
Early life (1954–1966)
Anthony was born in Chicago, Illinois, USA to Polish immigrant parents, and was one of five siblings (Nancy, Michael, Steve, Robert and Dennis). He later moved to California where he attended Arcadia High School, graduating in 1972. He developed his interest in music in childhood, playing the trumpet. He became interested in playing mainly rock, blues, and jazz, taking after his father Walter.
Musical career begins (1967–1974)
While Anthony was a promising catcher in baseball, he also competed on the Dana Junior High School track team (long jump) and played in the marching band there from 1967–1969. He took an interest in guitar as a teenager, but picked up the bass instead since most of his other friends already played guitar or drums. Anthony’s friend Mike Hershey gave him a Fender Mustang electric guitar that Anthony converted by removing its top two strings and playing it as a bass guitar. Eventually, his father bought him a Victoria copy of a Fender Precision Bass and a Gibson amplifier. Anthony modeled his bass playing after Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones mostly, but also admired Jack Bruce of Cream, and Harvey Brooks of Electric Flag. His main interest in life was music once he left high school. His first band was called Poverty’s Children. Other bands he played in included Black Opal, Balls and Snake. Although Anthony is naturally left-handed, he plays right-handed.
Snake, a three-piece group featuring Anthony on lead vocals and bass guitar, was the last band Mike played in before joining Van Halen. Snake played covers of ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Foghat, along with some original songs. They played a lot of the same types of gigs as did the Van Halen brothers’ band Mammoth. Snake even opened for Mammoth at a show at Pasadena High School one night. Mammoth’s PA failed that night, so Anthony lent them Snake’s PA.
While attending Pasadena City College, Mike pursued a degree in music. Alex Van Halen took classes there too and they would often see each other on campus. During this time, Mark Stone was kicked out of Mammoth and the Van Halens decided to audition Anthony to be their new bassist. Anthony was impressed by their skill during subsequent jam sessions even though he had seen the brothers play before. After the session, the Van Halen brothers asked Anthony to join the their band. He said he had to think about it and consulted Snake guitarist Tony Codgen who advised Anthony to go ahead with joining Van Halen. However, according to Michael Anthony’s web site, when asked if he wanted to join Van Halen, Anthony immediately said yes, that there was no consulting with anyone.
Van Halen (1974–1996)
Main article: Van Halen
In 1974, Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen along with David Lee Roth and Michael Anthony became known as Van Halen, dropping the name Mammoth because they discovered that another local band was using that moniker. They were signed to Warner Brothers in 1977 and released their self titled debut album on February 8, 1978. Anthony’s bass lines and high vocal harmonies became a distinctive part of the Van Halen sound. The band released a total of ten studio albums from 1978–1995, along with a live album and a compilation CD in 1996 that featured two previously unreleased songs. Despite the Van Halen brothers falling out with both their vocalists frequently (David Lee Roth in 1985, 1996, 2000 and 2001 and Sammy Hagar in both 1996 and 2004), Anthony maintained positive relationships with all of the musicians.
Diminishing role with Van Halen and side projects (1996–2003)
As early as 1996, rumors periodically surfaced that Anthony had been fired from Van Halen. Despite claims to the contrary and his continued work with the band, these persisted until his final departure.
Anthony’s involvement in the 1998 album Van Halen III was less than for previous albums. Anthony performed on only three songs; Eddie Van Halen recorded the others. Anthony is credited as a songwriter for the album along with the rest of the band as is always the case for Van Halen albums. Anthony performed with the band for the 1998 tour, and was credited for messages from the band thereafter. He participated in the band’s three reunion attempts with David Lee Roth from 2000 through 2001. Anthony’s name was also credited in a few band newsletters during this time, and he appeared in band interviews. Sometime after this, however, Anthony disappeared from public view until the 2004 reunion.
In interviews, Eddie and Alex Van Halen suggested they were jamming and writing/recording new material during this time period but appeared to be working without Anthony.
Anthony began periodic appearances with Sammy Hagar during his solo tours. He usually played as part of The Waboritas, Hagar’s band. During 2002′s David Lee Roth/Sammy Hagar tour, both Michael Anthony and ex-Van Halen vocalist Gary Cherone make guest appearances at concerts, sometimes together. Anthony never performed during Roth’s segment however.
In 2002, Anthony, Hagar, Neal Schon, Deen Castronovo, and Joe Satriani formed the “supergroup” Planet Us and Anthony began making more frequent performances at Sammy Hagar concerts. Planet US recorded two songs, one of which was intended for the Spider-Man soundtrack but ultimately did not make the album. The band did perform the unreleased song Vertigo on the Internet radio show RockLine.
Van Halen reunion (2003–2005)
Initially when Eddie and Alex asked Hagar to rejoin at the end of 2003 for a 2004 tour, the plan was not to invite Anthony back. Hagar, however, refused to perform if Anthony did not rejoin, and Anthony agreed to play but on a reduced royalties contract. The contract drawn up was for the duration of the tour only, with his role within the band resting in the hands of the Van Halen brothers thereafter. Throughout this time, and during the Van Halen III period, the public was unaware of Anthony’s tenuous status within the band and was led to believe that he was still a full-time member.
In 2004, Van Halen released the compilation album The Best of Both Worlds which included three new songs. Anthony did not participate in the writing and recording of the new songs and was not credited on the album for the new material.[1]
Anthony now states in media interviews that he has not spoken to the Van Halen brothers since the 2004 tour. He has also speculated that since the brothers were not pleased with Hagar’s commercial ventures such as the Cabo Wabo product line, their similar displeasure with Anthony’s hot sauce brand may have caused the rift that ultimately separated Hagar and Anthony from the band.[2]
Departure from Van Halen and recent projects (2006–present)
Anthony spent the Summer of 2006 touring as a member of The Other Half during a segment of the Sammy Hagar and the Waboritas tour. The Other Half featured Anthony and Hagar performing classic Van Halen songs from both the Roth and Hagar periods.
On September 8, 2006, Eddie Van Halen announced that his son, Wolfgang, was replacing Michael Anthony as Van Halen’s bass player. On February 2, 2007, it was announced that Van Halen was reuniting for a tour with original vocalist David Lee Roth. The tour began on September 27, 2007. Anthony commented that he heard about his replacement “on the Internet” and stated, “I’m a little miffed that they’re calling it a Van Halen reunion. If I was dead and they needed someone to play, that’s one thing, but to me this is not a reunion.”[3]
Anthony surprised his former bandmate and good friend Sammy Hagar on live national TV on February 25, 2007. During a pre-race performance for the California race on FOX television, the bassist jumped onstage and joined Sammy Hagar during a performance of “I Can’t Drive 55″. Hagar could only respond “Michael Anthony’s in the house.”
Michael Anthony and Sammy Hagar were the only members, former or current, to appear at Van Halen’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 12, 2007. Eddie Van Halen was in rehab at the time, and Alex Van Halen and David Lee Roth declined to appear.[4]
Anthony is currently developing a side project called “Chickenfoot” with Sammy Hagar, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and guitarist Joe Satriani, which will include a yet unnamed studio album release. He has also recently established a band named the Mad Anthony Xpress that will tour with Hagar in 2007 and 2008.
2003 – David Lee Roth apprehends and detains a knife-wielding man he discovers trespassing on his Southern California estate. The former Van Halen frontman keeps the felon at bay with a shotgun.
Imagine this guy with a shot gun…. AAHHHH… sorry… little joke David. You Still Kick Ass.
2002 – David Lee Roth sues Van Halen, alleging his old band didn’t include him in a 1996 renegotiation of their contract with Warner Bros. Abuse, Abuse and abuse!
1999 – Van Halen Box: 1986-1993 is released this day in rock.
Release date: 1999-03-16
Track List:
* 1. Good Enough
* 2. Why Can’t This Be Love?…
* 3. Get Up
* 4. Dreams
* 5. Summer Nights
* 6. Best of Both Worlds
* 7. Love Walks In
* 8. 5150
* 9. Inside
1998 – Van Halen is forced to cancel a concert at the Docks club in Hamburg, Germany, after a chunk of ceiling plaster falls on drummer Alex Van Halen’s arm during the band’s soundcheck. Alex’s arm is merely bruised in the incident.
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