“We were actually happier playing in clubs” Why Eddie Van Halen preferred gigging before the band was famous
Selling out stadium shows and playing in front of thousands of fans might sound like the ultimate dream for any rock band, but for Eddie Van Halen, there’s an undeniable magic that comes with performing in small clubs before fame had caught up with Van Halen.
Sharing his late brother’s sentiments in a new interview with Bringing It Back To The Beatles, Alex Van Halen says [via Blabbermouth], “His example was that we were actually happier playing in clubs than we were when we hit the so-called big time.”
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The drummer explains that in those intimate venues, the band could experiment freely without the weight of expectations: “Because in the clubs you weren’t quite sure what you were doing, you could, at the drop of a hat, change directions, you can play anything you want and there’s nobody that holds you accountable or they have expectations of any sort.”
“You just go on and you play. And it’s intimate,” he adds. “You’re right there, two feet away. People are right there in front of your face.”
According to Alex, this kind of freedom and intimacy “goes away” when a band reaches “the place where you have five lines of security people.”
“And we always kept it to a minimum, but nonetheless, that was the soup du jour,” he says.
With his new memoir Brothers now out, Alex also reflects on the unwavering support he would offer the younger Van Halen through the band’s many bust ups.
“At the end of the day, when there is a disagreement within the band, I am taking his side — and vice versa. Because we protect each other,” Alex tells CNN. “That was the most important thing we had talked [about]. Stick together.”
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
