January 19, 2004

Greg Dwyer and Bill Michaels, morning jocks on Davenport, Iowa's Q106.5, have posted a second, longer interview with Edward, reportedly recorded at 8:00 AM, January 9, 2004. The first of three MP3 files begins just like the previous interview, phone ringing, Ed answering, new music playing in the background. But this time a 20-minute conversation follows. Debate swirls among fans whether this call was a genuine surprise to Edward or if it was pre-arranged, and if so, does it foreshadow a change in the future of Van Halen?

Some highlights:

• Ed was asked blankly about the current rumors surrounding Van Halen, but he would only cagily reply with a laugh "Yes, there are rumors, and I guess it's true that there are rumors. So the rumors are rumors and that's true."
• He has only introduced his son, Wolfie, to the music of Van Halen in the last couple of years.
• Wolfie plays guitar, drums, and bass with uncommon natural talent,though he has only been making music for the last two years.
• Edward declares "I will play in front of people someday again" but makes no promises about when, explaining "Time is irrelevant to me."
• Asked about relational difficulties with Sammy, Ed answers "We never did not get along, he wanted to pursue a solo career and quit." He was somewhat less ambiguous when asked about Michael Anthony. "Mike? I dunno, I haven't talked to that cat in 2 years. I don't know what he's doing. I think he's off with Hagar."
• Edward deflected many questions about the past of Van Halen-philosophizing, and that he prefers to look forward rather than back.
• Regarding the future, Ed announced "I've been writing so much damn music it's ridiculous, so something's bound to pop sooner or later. Sooner than later, I guarantee you that. If I stop writing right now, I have at least enough for 10 records. What do you think I've been doing for the last four years?...Besides fighting cancer, and ending a relationship, and raising a son, and getting a hip replacement, and this that and the other? All I do is make music. That's all I do."
• Eddie's Christmas gift to Wolfie was, "My original striped guitar...the backup from 1984 tour," exclaiming that it still bears the strings that were on it when it was put in the case after the last show. He did, however, add a patented d-Tuna.
• Ed is uncommonly proud of Wolfie's musical talents.
• More details of Christmas 2003 at the Van Halen home were revealed.
• Ed asked "What's a rock star? I'm a musician. Very few people are musicians, most of them are just rock stars."
• Regarding this time in his life, Edward says "I'm life cleaning, not just spring cleaning."
• When asked about future opportunities for interviews like this, he replied "Hey, I'm easy."