Van Halen Hit #2 and Explain M&Ms Legend

[Pete]

Van Halen’s new album, A Different Kind of Truth, has hit #2 on the Billboard album chart. The first album with singer David Lee Roth since 1984’s 1984 sold 187,000 copies in the U.S. in its first week of release. The reunited Van Halen didn’t manage to topple Adele’s rule of the album chart, but it is an impressive comeback for a band that some thought would never work together again.

Van Halen will kick off a North American tour on Saturday, February 18, in Louisville, Kentucky.

More interestingly, frontman David Lee Roth has finally explained the “no brown M&Ms” tour rider stipulation that Van Halen demanded in their glory years.

Van Halen’s 1980s’ rider demands have often been described as the worst example of rock excess, the demands of divas. But, the group has always said the “M&M provision” was included to make sure that promoters had actually read the band’s lengthy rider. If brown M&M's were in the backstage bowls, Van Halen surmised that more important aspects of a performance – lighting, staging, security, ticketing – may not have been attended to by the show’s promoter.

It seems to be the fault of the Spectrum venue in Philadelphia and the sheer size of VH’s show… let DLR do the talking below.

[Ricky]

that was a good one

[spacel0rd]

It amazes me new Van Halen with David Lee Roth couldn't out-sell a CD that's been out for over a year. I mean, who still wants Adele’s CD if they don't have it by now. There's THAT many people who still want it and haven't bought it in the last 12 long months?

And the chart that came out just TODAY (every chart comes out on Thursday) isn't even counting the "sheeple" who bought it this week after she won all those Grammys last Sunday. All this week's sales will be included in NEXT Thursday's chart.

[Pete]

She was getting tons of hype prior to the Grammy telecast and it's actually very difficult to find someone who doesn't like her. I think she's OK but people really like her across a very wide spectrum. Also, her new single is getting tons of airplay.

[Speedy]

Feb 16, 2012 15:09:15 GMT -5 spacel0rd said:

It amazes me new Van Halen with David Lee Roth couldn't out-sell a CD that's been out for over a year.

Sadly I am not suprised. People just don't give a damn about music anymore. Too many other things gumming up the minds of modern man. When I was a teen everyone had a guitar. Now my sons who both are decent musicians can't find anyone who can PLAY!?

Athletes are the new RockStars and the airwaves are ruled by SCHLOCK.

[spacel0rd]

Well...The Adele CD isnt that bad. I got it the week it came out cuz i liked "Rolling in the Deep."

But, as a memeber of Metallica (i forget which one) once said about the Black Album staying on the catalog charts for so long...Who's buying it who dosen't already have it??

I mean right now…you have to:
1. Subtract the millions of people who already HAVE the Adele CD.
2. Subtract the billions of people who don’t want the CD
And there’s STILL enough people left over to outsell a brand new Van Halen reunion album?
This Adele CD is a “monster.” It’s been number one almost every week for the last 10 months. I haven’t seen anything like it in years.

[Trexx]

Adele appeals to the young folks, mostly. I'm betting they don't know Van Halen except maybe a smattering of young historians.
Many Van Halen fans have croaked by now. Their album is doing better in sales than I've expected.

Speedy's point it valid. Adele's music, although pleasant, is pretty much pablem for the masses. Lacks edgy-ness, pomp and overall "wow".

Van Halen is a band that expands the paradigm regularly.