Why did DLR bomb so badly after VH?

[Goldburst]

I know this seems like a question that should be in a VH forum, but I'd rather post it here to get a wider variety of opinions.
(if there has been a previous thread on this, somebody please post a link)

I have always understood songwriting to be "lyrics and melody". The guitar/keyboard/horn riffs fall under the category of "arrangement". As such DLR would be the defacto songwriter of VH while EVH is pretty much the lead arranger. Even EVH had said something like "I don't know what the words are to our songs". Years later when he had his radio show, it was obvious that DLR is extremely articulate, and the obvious lyricist of VH.

So VH breaks up about 1985. EVH teams up with Sammy, and they release 5150 in the spring of '86 without missing a step. They continue for quite a few more years successfully.


Meanwhile, DLR... who still has his VH songwriting chops and voice... teams up with Steve Vai who is comparable to EVH. As a bonus they have Billy Sheehan on bass too. They release "Eat 'em and Smile" in summer '86. (just a few months after 5150)

I remember the first time "Yankee Rose" was played on a local radio station. I was thinking "WTF?". Even the DJ on the radio seemed taken aback by how bad it was. Even the later singles from that album weren't very good either. DLR's successive albums in later years also were not well recieved, while VH kept chugging into the 90's.

What the hell happened? You would think that with DLR's songwriting/voice and Vai's chops, that "Eat 'em and Smile" (and subsequent albums) would be the logical successors to "1984". Not even close.

Any opinions on this?

[27sauce]

Wow, I didnt think he bombed, not right away, anyway.

[pickaguitar]

Eat 'em and Smile - Yankee Rose was awesome imo when it came out
I liked the videos and songs...my friends and I watched them a million times on Mtv

[Dave2512]

He didn't. His solo albums were well received, on the charts in high positions etc.

[BigViolin]

The first two albums and tours were very successful.

[MuseCafeChris]

You're one of the few who doesn't like "Eat 'Em and Smile." For many (myself included) it was a much better effort than 5150.

The bombing perhaps began when he couldn't keep the EEAS band together for a second tour.

[Polynitro]

he did great!

[mtmartin71]

^^^^^

I agree. I don't know that it bombed. Maybe it was a little too silly. Van Halen, in my opinion was the party band with an edge...and amazing musicianship particularly from Eddie Van Halen. DLR's band was an assembled group of incredible musicians but not a great "team" per se. Kind of the sports analogy. They were the Miami Heat. On paper it looked awesome but the chemistry and songs weren't there. It's almost as if DLR went over the top silly with some of the stuff and it just didn't connect. Ultimately I think it shows that Eddie crafting a lot the licks and music was the key. Steve Vai and Billy Sheehan are amazing, world class players, but I can't think of them in terms of great songs written.

[monty]

Eat em was the best album by either camp since 1984.

[CRAIG4FSU]

Originally Posted by Dave2512

He didn't. His solo albums were well received, on the charts in high positions etc.

Originally Posted by BigViolin

The first two albums and tours were very successful.

[27sauce]

Originally Posted by MuseCafeChris

You're one of the few who doesn't like "Eat 'Em and Smile." For many (myself included) it was a much better effort than 5150.

The bombing perhaps began when he couldn't keep the EEAS band together for a second tour.

By far, IMO

[DRS]

Originally Posted by monty

Eat em was the best album by either camp since 1984.

+1
Because the OP doesn't like Eat 'Em doesn't mean DLR bombed. I don't like post DLR VH but that doesn't mean VH bombed.

[AudioWonderland]

DLR was too much about the schtick and not enough about quality material. Vai and Sheehan propped him initially in that regard. Once they were gone he was done

[trickness]

He ran out of steam, and he kinda forgot why people liked him in the first place. He was fun, it was about chicks and California and good times. He started to take himself too seriously, the fun left the music, and it became a little bit too "look how cool I am".

And then Nirvana and Pearl Jam arrived and he kinda looked like a tool. His schtick was tired.

Let's hope the new VH record is fun.

[lazyjames]

Originally Posted by Goldburst

I have always understood songwriting to be "lyrics and melody". The guitar/keyboard/horn riffs fall under the category of "arrangement". As such DLR would be the defacto songwriter of VH while EVH is pretty much the lead arranger. Even EVH had said something like "I don't know what the words are to our songs". Years later when he had his radio show, it was obvious that DLR is extremely articulate, and the obvious lyricist of VH.

Any opinions on this?

Maybe I'm alone on this, but I don't agree with your premise. In the case of Van Halen, the arrangements are so integral to Van Halen's identity, to what makes them great, I just can't buy DLR as the songwriting heart of Van Halen. Put DLR in any other band at the time, he'd be lucky to be as successful as his solo career was, let alone as successful as he was with Van Halen.