My being asked to join Van Halen back in the 1980’s prompted a lot of questions as to why I didn’t accept Edward’s invitation. It had to do with respect. As delicately as I can put it, the Van Halens were involved in a certain activity relating to certain substances that I flat out was not into. Also, I was not a mercenary. It never occurred to me to join the band to earn some money and then quit it. It wasn’t my way to tolerate their choices so that I could make a few bucks, because I knew that sooner or later, I would have had to quit them. But this band meant everything to these guys. It was a family, a musical rock fountain, and it would have been wrong of me to use it for financial reasons and then jeaopordize its stability by moving on.Today, both Eddie and I are older and wiser men. THIS would be a great time to play together, to introduce my brand of bass with his brand of guitar. You never know what the future may bring. But I do want to publically say that Edward was a sweet person, generous, and one of the greatest rock guitarists I ever heard.
