Recently saw this clip online of a new Van Halen song called "Tattoo" and I was struck by how boring it was.
Eddie Van Halen had turned himself into an ego-gone-wild for years after the band hit its heyday. Dumping David Lee Roth, then Sammy Hagar, then Gary Cherone, then bringing back a duly cowed DLR to front the band once again.
His trademark, ground breaking guitar work had reduced the songs to a single riff, that they tried to find a reason to incorporate into a song. More and more, it simply didn't work as the songs had a weird, unlistenable rhythym and ever more nonsensical lyrics.
After a time out of the spotlight, they've returned with this:
Like I said -- boring. The chorus is stupid, the song is about what? Tattoos? Duhrr. Roth looks like an idiot in the video and he doesn't have the voice to attempt those vocal gymnastics anymore. And Eddie's playing is pedestrian. Short of an unremarkable solo, it sounds like something you'd hear being played by a bar band on Wednesday night.
Michael Anthony ran, did not walk, away from this nightmare to hook up with his buddy Sammy Hagar, and along with guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani and Chad Smith of the Chili Peppers, formed Chickenfoot. The outfit is an upgrade at every position over the sad VH.
Their first cd was amazing. And the new one is just as good. Compare VH's dull effort to this off Chickenfoot's new cd and enjoy what fresh rock 'n roll sounds like:
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