Sherman & Ski - Talk You Into It

When David Lee Roth left (or was fired from?) Van Halen following their massive album “1984” the Van Halen brothers considered several possible replacements, from Patty Smythe from Scandal (“I am the WARRIOR!!) to, yes, Phil Collins and, are you sitting down, Daryl Hall from Hall and Oates. Ultimately, they wanted to stay true to the concept of a four-piece band and followed the lead of AC/DC who went from Bon Scott to Brian Johnson. They landed on Sammy Hagar, who first gained notoriety as lead singer of the criminally underrated and overlooked Montrose and then as a solo artist (“I can’t drive……55!!”). Unburdened by trying to land a record deal or establish a name for themselves, Van Hagar could simply focus on being arena rock heroes.

And who can argue with the results? Four US Number 1 multi-platinum albums, MTV video staples (“Right Now” and “Top of the World”), and sold-out tours. So confident that their fans would come along for the ride, Van Halen barely touched on those Roth-era albums during their tours, incorporating a bit of Sammy solo but nothing besides “Jump” from their formative years. The turn to synths and pop on “1984” paved the way for Van Hagar power-pop gems like “Why Can’t This Be Love” “When It’s Love” “Dreams” and “Love Walks In.” But fear not fans of rock and roll, they could still knock you over the head with the first power-drill hit (“Poundcake”) and “Best of Both Worlds” and tap into the blues with “Finish What Ya Started.” Sammy was a more traditional hard rock lead singer with a top-heavy range only surpassed by Anthony’s background vocals that seamlessly transitioned from Roth to Hagar.  Despite Van Hagar’s success, the Van Halen brothers had yet another falling out with a lead singer and Sammy was out by 1996. After trying to catch lightning in a bottle a third time with Gary Cherone from Extreme on “Van Halen III” (note to listeners: there will NOT be a podcast on Van Cherone), and a brief reunion with Sammy for a tour in the mid-2000s, Van Halen went back to Roth in 2007 as you always kind of knew they would. When Eddie died, we lost a chance to hear those Van Hagar songs just one more time. But the music lives on. Just get your best pair of board shorts and Hawaiian shirt, head down to the beach on a sunny summer day, pour yourself a margarita and crank up “5150.” Long live Van Hagar.

Van Halen is one of the most influential bands in rock-n-roll history. Period. And their story simply cannot be told in one chapter (or podcast).

Chapter 1: DIAMOND DAVE, BABY.  The first four Van Halen albums – Van Halen, Van Halen II, Women and Children First, Fair Warning – are iconic, unparalleled in the annals of hard rock and heavy metal. Lead singer: David Lee Roth: master showman and the ultimate frontman. What he might lack in vocal chops, he more than makes up with charisma, hoots and howls, leg-kicks and “I WILL ENTERTAIN YOU UNTIL YOU ARE ENTERTAINED” determination. And, yes, he probably invented LSD: Lead Singer Disease. On guitar: Edward Van Halen. EVH. I mean, c’mon. It’s Hendrix, Clapton, Page, and Eddie Van Halen. Bruce Springsteen once said “If you sound like them, you play like them.” And how many guitarists in the 80s and 90s tried to sound like Eddie Van Halen? Every single one of them. And not just the usual suspects from the Sunset Strip, but Billy Corgan and Mike McCready from Sherman and Ski’s sweet spot of 90s alternative too. Everything was held down by the ultimate rhythm section of Michael Anthony on bass and Alex Van Halen on drums. Unlike Eddie, you might not find them on any top ten lists of their craft, but they laid the foundation and powered the band forward, especially live. And not to be overlooked, Anthony’s backing vocals reached incredible heights and are almost foundational to the sound of the band, unlike anything you might here this side of Mike Mills from R.E.M.

They became arena rock heroes when rock bands were still able to break through relentless touring and FM radio. And then there was the birth of MTV and music videos. The album “1984” was their swan song with Roth and their most commercial album to date, layered with synths and pop gems like their first number 1 hit, “Jump” and videos that defined the time like “Hot for Teacher.” Much to the chagrin of their longtime fans and rock guitar absolutists, Van Halen was suddenly climbing the pop charts and rubbing shoulders with Madonna and Michael Jackson (Eddie of course added his signature sound to “Beat It”). Yet at the height of their success, Roth left to pursue a solo career and it seemed Van Halen had reached the end of the line. How many bands in rock history get a second act when they replace the lead singer? Well, Sherman and Ski have a story to tell you about the birth and success of Van Hagar. But we’ll leave that to the next installment!

Well, one week into the new year, but we can't let the music from last year go JUST yet. Sherman & Ski give their take on their top five records of the past year, somewhat surprisingly without any overlaps!  These picks run the gamut this year - Sherman wound up digging some alt-jazz, an unbelievable soul singer, some spoken-word UK post-punk and a 90's throwback...Ski went with a shoegaze vibe, an heir to a musical throne, something nutso out of France and some dirty southern rock, to name a few.  Who are these randos???  Take a listen to find out!  Also check out our Spotify playlist with Sherman's Heavy Rotation from 2021 to see what else he was into.  Happy new music discovery day everyone!!

The podcast at least eighteen years in the making is finally here.  As the 20th episode of Sherman & Ski: Talk You Into It draws nigh, at the close of the year 2021, we bestow upon our dear listeners the ELECTRIC SIX, the ultimate disco/funk/punk/rock/metal demigods of Detroit (Rock City!).  Do you like dancing?  Do you like irreverent lyrical content?  Do you prefer over the top theatrics?  Do you like Jack White, Kiss' Dynasty album, Spinal Tap, and bizarro covers of the Alan Parsons Project, Roxette, and Stevie Nicks?  Do you enjoy a band with a rotating lineup of ridiculous fake names?  And most importantly, have you ever declared nuclear war on the dance floor?  Look, if you're stuck in the house this New Year's Eve, fire up our Electric Six companion playlist (after hearing this pod) and boogie down all night.  Kiss off both 2021 and snooty rock critics alike, and join us worshipping at the throne of lead crooner Dick Valentine and his merry band of mayhem-raisers, the Electric Six.  Irrepressibly fun, catchy hooks and hip-shaking rhythms, insane lyrics and shout-out along choruses, the Six are the only band to announce that they are not her to play 18 songs, but NINETEEN.  And then, they'll play the hits.  ENJOY! - Sherman & Ski

Trailblazers. Pioneers. MTV 80s Icons. And at long last, Rock and Roll Hall of Famers. Ladies and Gentlemen, The Go-Go’s. Sherman and Ski remain baffled that it took 15 years after they first became eligible, that the Go-Go’s received their first nomination for the Hall. Thankfully, the powers at be recognized that they had waited long enough and gave credit where credit was due: in the face of a record industry that had only found space for all-female singing groups, Belinda Carlisle (vocals), Charlotte Caffey (Guitar), Jane Wiedlin (Guitar), Kathy Valentine (Bass) and Gina Schock (Drums) showed the world that the Go Go’s could more than hang with the boys: they could flip the script and usher in a musical revolution. Think about it: “We Got the Beat,” “Our Lips Are Sealed,” “Vacation”: three songs that defined the sound and the era of early 80s music, even without the synths: brilliant, post-punk pop gems, simple and clear to the point, unforgettable. And that list of classics doesn’t even include their best song, the undeniably infectious “Head Over Heels” (featuring a bass breakdown for the ages courtesy of Ms. Valentine). Yes, written and performed by the Go-Go’s. That should go without saying, but in the late 70s and early 80s it was unheard of for a group of five women to achieve that level of success on their own and on their own terms.

Don’t be fooled, though, this wasn’t a singles band. Look at “Lust to Love” How Much More” “Turn to You” and their fierce anthem “This Town.” All elements of the Go-Go’s can be found here too: the cool rock steady twin guitar attack of Caffey/Wiedlin, Belinda’s angelic vocals rooted in punk rock (with a nice assist from Jane on backing vocals) and the Valentine/Schock rhythm section that remains a force of nature (We got the beat, indeed).

By 1985, they were burned out and Belinda went on to a hugely successful solo career (“Mad About You” “Leave a Light On For Me” “Heaven Is a Place on Earth”) that suggests, had they stayed together, more hits would have followed (though we also shouldn’t overlook Jane’s Top 10 Hit “Rush Hour” and Ski would like to make a plug for Charlotte’s post Go-Go’s outfit The Graces, featuring “Lay Down Your Arms.”). You always got the sense that the Go-Go’s felt they had unfinished business, and numerous reunions followed, and a fourth album in 2000, God Bless The Go-Go’s, that is more than worthy to be included in their alongside their LPs from their 80s heyday, with an assist from Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong on “Unforgiven.”

What followed? The Bangles, Hole, The Donnas, Liz Phair and, ahem, Elastica. And so many others. These women earned their rightful spot alongside rock’s greatest and they’re still at. Sherman and Ski will take two tickets at the 9:30 Club, please. See you there.

Welcome back to Sherman & Ski – who are thrilled to tackle one of the most critically derided, yet highly popular bands of the grunge era, sleazy rock titans STONE TEMPLE PILOTS. Dismissed as a ripoff act of Pearl Jam & Soundgarden, at their peak around 1994 and 1995 they were just as potent as anyone recording, and the songs completely hold up. Ski recounts a club show he saw STP at in Italy (massive), Sherman raves about Scott Weiland’s stage presence, and both stan for the 2nd & 3rd albums - Purple and the slightly underrated Tiny Music, Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop. We also briefly discuss the San Diego music scene (there was one, believe it or not), Ski supports a later release from the late 2010’s called Meadow, and we vouch heartily for a band who have almost no shot for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, but have a depth in their catalog that too many people ignore. Also! Sherman & Ski are now available on Amazon music and Audible, in addition to Apple, Google Play, Spotify, Anchor and everywhere else.

Living Legend.  They are the two best words that you can put together to describe the one of the greatest showmen of the 20th century, the one and only LIONEL RICHIE.  From the Commodores, to writing with Michael Jackson, and now to American Idol, he has literally spanned generations of musicians, and sure, you THINK you know his whole catalog....but do you?  Sherman and Ski are here to either reinforce your notions that Lionel cannot hope to be contained, or make you realize that even his softest ballads are white-hot gold and demand your eternal respect.  Come for the cheesy goodness of Lionel (who's kinda goofy in person, according to Sherman) and stay for the early funk hits.  Ski and Sherman both will attest that his stage show is simply second to none. Let's face it, he had you at Hello, and he Can't Slow Down - nor should he.  Re-experience the joy of Lionel on this episode of Sherman & Ski: Talk You Into It.

It's Christmas in July!  Sherman and Ski have a PAIR of gifts for our listeners...a supersized podcast featuring the legendary CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL plus a counterintuitive holiday opening round.  In this episode we get into the extremely litigious history of the band, the endless fights between the brothers Fogerty, and also Doug & Stu (the other guys).  We chat about John Fogerty's flannels, infomercials, their insane musical output in the year 1969, royalty payments, CCR covers vs originals, why all new bands should drop shorter albums, and the best song to play on a jukebox at the end of a long bar night.  PLUS, since we recorded this at the holidays, the first segment is about all our favorite Christmas music, so crank that up in this ninety-ish degree heat.  Happy summer!

What's the problem with dance-rock?  Sherman and Ski tackle an age-old question in Episode 15 of Talk You Into It in praise of, wait for it, JESUS JONES.  One of the most under-acknowledged 'tweener' acts of the last thirty years, Jesus Jones deserves another moment in the sun.  The band had the misfortune of recording at their peak at nearly the exact wrong moment - too many years before the late 90's electronica boom and only a few months before grunge took over.  We are here to rectify this oversight.  Far greater than their enormous hit, Right Here Right Now, Mike Edwards and company released three terrific records at the dawn of the 90's (Liquidizer, Doubt and Perverse) and helped set the table for the alternative radio techno/electronica scene (think Prodigy, Chemical Brothers, Fatboy Slim) that they didn't get to participate in.  With the foundational sound of 80's industrial titans like Ministry, layered with psychadelic samples, early trip-hop loops, and multiple overlapped synth tracks, there's a depth of sound that has gone unnoticed.  Our Jesus Jones case study takes on similar artists of the era (Soup Dragons, EMF, poppier NIN) and talk about other records they influenced (Franz Ferdinand, Garbage, 90's era U2 and INXS).  Truly, Jesus Jones has been overlooked/ignored for way too long - and we are here to TALK YOU INTO IT.