Expert: Andrea Murphy Date: 10/16/2005 Subject: Van Halen David Lee Roth Live videos
Question Dear sir i wrote an e-mail last week about the lack of classic Van Halen-David Lee Roth Live shows on DVD. I want to try to write to MTV or VH1 to ask them if they can make the band release some DVDs. Maybe they will not answer me , but do you know their e-mail or adress?
Is there in America a TV programme that makes dream come true that i can write to?
Do you have any suggestion?
Answer Hi there,
You can try the official US websites for mtv and vh1 (I am sure they are mtv.com and vh1.com respectively). I am not sure how copyright laws work in your country, but VH1 and MTV can't make a band do anything. VH1 and MTV are promotional tools that a band would use to promote a new CD or DVD. VH has nothing planned, therefore nothing to promote. Additionally, Van Halen has had problems in the past with MTV and VH1. They could not get Humans Being played, and got no airplay for VH3. Eddie made it clear that he didn't like this and as a result got even less airplay. And, at least here in the US, I have not seen a video on MTV or VH1 in over 5 years. They act on new TV shows (Real World, Road Rules, Behind the Music), not videos anymore.
And the only TV shows I know about would build a house, pay for cosmetic surgery, give you your own business. I don't know of any that would grant a DVD.
The root to solving this problem is to get the band to want to release a DVD. Eddie has stated in the past he doesn't want to rehash the past (Dave era). The key is to change Eddie's mind...I don't have a clue how you would do that (nor do I have his contact information). This question has been asked by the press many, many times. The answer has always been no.
