VanHalen News

[FH]

VAN HALEN STORY DOCUMENTRY DUE ON DVD:
The Van Halen Story: The Early Years is a DVD set to be released by Passport Video November 25. While no details of the feature are available as yet, the DVD is listed as a documentary. A little further digging turned up some information about the company behind this release. "Based in North Hollywood, California, Passport Video is a full service production company that launched its video and television production business in 1989. Passport owns a vast stock footage library, an extensive collection of over 16,000 trailers, 3,000 feature films and more than 90 years of news libraries plus interviews with over 2,000 celebrities and political/influential personalities. Original innovative programming is created utilizing film footage from the Passport Library, licensed film clips, archival footage, and interviews with celebrities and leading authorities relating to the specific subject". More info when available.

While we are on Van Halen, David Lee Roth has dropped his lawsuit against Van Halen, "without predjudice". That's certainly a positive move, perhaps an out of court settlement was reached? No doubt the re-union rumors will start up again, but I've heard nothing to suggest that is any more likely.
www.melodicrock.com

[FH]

DAVID LEE ROTH Files Request To Have His Lawsuit Against VAN HALEN Dismissed - Oct. 3, 2003

Former VAN HALEN frontman David Lee Roth's lawsuit against the band over unpaid royalties has been dismissed "without prejudice" at the request of the singer, according to the case information available on the web site of the Los Angeles Superior Court (case number: BC286832). Roth filed his suit on December 11, 2002, claiming the group didn't include him in a 1996 renegotiation of its contract with Warner Brothers Records.

"If you buy 'Van Halen I' now, if I make 10 cents, the bass player (Michael Anthony) makes 30 cents," he said shortly after the news of the lawsuit was made public. "And if I make a hundred dollars, the drummer (Alex Van Halen) will make close to three hundred dollars. And I've always maintained since I wrote all the words, and all the lyrics, and all of the harmonies, and structured the tunes, designed most of the album covers — and when MTV happened for everybody, I wrote and directed the videos — with all of that, I should make 25 percent. What do you think?"

Roth, who reportedly claimed that the new deal caused him to lose out on a total of at least $200,000 as of the end of 2001, handled vocal and lyric-writing duties for VAN HALEN from the band's inception through the mid-1980s, when he left to pursue a solo career.

Roth returned to record two new tracks with the band in 1996, but a much-rumored reunion tour never materialized.

David was recently forced to cancel the rest of his North American tour because of a martial arts accident during a performance. He is expected to resume touring in November, with dates in the U.K. currently being finalized.

[NewHalen5150]

thanks for the update FH [img]images/smilies/icon_thumb.gif[/img]

[FH]

According to this week's "Entertainment Weekly", David Lee Roth is among the stars lined up to guest on the next season of HBO's "The Sopranos" along with Tim Daly, Charles Barkley, Frankie Valli, and Polly Bergen. No details were given.

[ericgtr]

[ QUOTE ]
FH said:
"If you buy 'Van Halen I' now, if I make 10 cents, the bass player (Michael Anthony) makes 30 cents," he said shortly after the news of the lawsuit was made public. "And if I make a hundred dollars, the drummer (Alex Van Halen) will make close to three hundred dollars. And I've always maintained since I wrote all the words, and all the lyrics, and all of the harmonies, and structured the tunes, designed most of the album covers — and when MTV happened for everybody, I wrote and directed the videos — with all of that, I should make 25 percent. What do you think?"


[/ QUOTE ]

He makes a valid point, legally I don't know how it held and it doesn't look like we are going to find out. This also puts to rest all the arguements that Dave wrote the music, he did not and I have always taken that stance. Ed has always written the music and Dave took care of lyrics and vocal parts. Straight from the horses mouth.

[wahwah]

I think that bands should always take an equal split regardless of how much input in writing the songs...'Won't Get Fooled Again' wouldn't have been the same song without Moony on the drums and he didn't right a note. Whilst on the subject...best autobiography of all time...Dear Boy, The Keith Moon story. This guy was THE original bad rock star-he invented it! [img]images/smilies/nunu.gif[/img]

[cam-5150]

Can't wait to open that dvd up on X-mas morning

Can't wait for the dvd.....I am not surprised that the lawsuit was dropped. According to Dave......he did it all.

[img]images/smilies/icon_dance.gif[/img]Can't wait for the dvd either, but Dave doing all that??? [img]images/smilies/icon_mad.gif[/img] Doesn't smell right. Besides coming from a guy who says if you can "fake sincerity", you've got made, I have a really hard time taking ANYTHING the man says seriously. I read that quote many, many years ago, so I don't remember where it came from. From that moment on I lost ALL respect for the guy. [img]images/smilies/icon_rant.gif[/img] Love the music and the rest of them though.

[NewHalen5150]

yeah from what i hear dave is a real ass about autographs and fan wise..and i thought i read something in a interview with ed that they really didn't like his singing and basiclly he couldn't sing a note if his life depended on it..but they went with him in the begingin cause he just had a good stage presense...he was a good front man