August 2007 Featured User

Simonhead

Proclaimed by Full Bug "Simon, you`must be the nicest guy on the net."

Brazilian CVH fan since 1980 when I heard "Van Halen II" for the 1st time. I went Sao Paulo back then and my cousin had an imported VH 2 record. I think I heard Dance the Night Away 10 times that day. I was also introduced to AC/DC (If You Want Blood...) at the same day.

When Dave was out, I went nuts. A friend of mine who lived in Michigan came with a tape he recorded from a Detroit radio station and Dave said he was out of VH working on a new solo record.

Of course, I gave Hagar a try and listened to 5150. Electronic drums? That voice? Some pop keyboard tunes? And how about the brown sound? Ok, 2 or 3 decent tunes, but that wasn't the Van Halen I used to love. I took a break from Van Halen (from 1986 'till 1987). Meanwhile, I listened to many Heavy/Thrash Metal bands (Megadeth, Metallica, Metal Church, Exodus, Slayer, among many others) and got hooked by many NWOBHMB (Iron Maiden, Saxon, Tank, Chateaux, Jaguar) and the classic Rock scene (Motorhead, DP, Led Zep, Who, Thin Lizzy, Rainbow, MSG, Whitesnake).

I started to play the drums in 1987. I joined my 1st heavy metal band the following year (Deja-Vu). We recorded 1 demo tape that had some local and internacional response. There were some labels interested on releasing our stuff, but we were young and wild - besides, the "musical differences" came on the way and nothing happened. I joined some other bands (Mantra, Atthena, Narcoze) and had 1 record released in 1998 (Narcoze - "Dreams"). Later, I got tired of the music Narcoze was producing (a lá Simphony X, Stratovarius and other european acts) and gave a break. I joined The Downers (my current band) in 2002. We released 4 eps and a compilation. Indie rock with a pop British appeal. Good stuff.

Humm, I have a few Heavy Metal friends; I keep saying that Heavy Metal brought to me some white hair, less friends than I used to have (competition, envy) and my wife (I met her in August, 31st 1988). We started dating in November, 22nd 1988 and we got married in November, 20th 1992. We have 2 kids (Isabella and Wolfgang). Both enjoy listening to Van Halen.

I always wanted to start a VH cover project, but never had the time or VH fans as band mates. I'm working on it this year, as The Downers are in vacation for a while.

I guess I started searching for VH stuff over the internet in 1996/1997. I logged on the old VHML to get some news - I remember it was told that Valerie Bertinelli used to post some fresh things about the VH camp.

And I do have some real good friends among the VH fans. Maybe the best virtual friends ever!

I've been a member of VH oriented sites since 2004. In 2002, while I was searching the net looking for some rumours that Dave was back to VH and recorded something in 2000, I found both Classicvanhalen.com and VH Links.com sites. I kept reading as a guest for almost 2 years. I learned some new stuff with some cool posters and decided to share some of my VH knowledge.

Chelle: Where were you born?

Simonhead: Brasilia – the capital city of Brazil. Here's a link; http://www.infobrasilia.com.br/

Chelle: Where do you live now?

Simonhead: Brasilia – I've been living here since I was born. I use to call it "Badlands", 'cos the weather is terrible when it's winter here (hot and dry). Almost like a desert. And it reminds me a song written and recorded by Metal Church with the same title.

Chelle: Do you have any siblings?

Simonhead: 1 sister (Simone) and 1 brother (Mateus) – he was born the same day EVH did, but 30 years later.

Chelle: What is your earliest memory?

Simonhead: 1974 – 1st F1 World Championship – My father used to watch F1 race cars a lot and Brazilian pilot, Émerson Fittipaldi won his 2nd Cup driving a Mclaren MP23. Later, my dad bought me a die cast scale from that car.

Chelle: Did you play any instruments as a child that you don't play anymore?

Simonhead: A Xylophone.

Chelle: What do you do for a living?

Simonhead: I'm a public officer – I work for the Brazilian Agency that controls Insurance in my country. And I'm a musician.

Chelle: What did you always want to be when you grew up?

Simonhead: 1 – When I was a kid, I used to read many toon magazines and Scrooge McDuck was a favourite. As a kid, he was a shoe shiner and he got rich from there, after he got his 1st coin (the one that gave him lucky). I thought that was damn magic and wanted to be as rich as him.

2 – Since I became a F1 race car fanatic, I wanted to be a race car driver. It didn't happen, but I do like watching the races and I do like driving a lot.

Chelle: How much cash do you have on you right now?

Simonhead: Humm, R$ 30.00 (Real - brazilian money) – something like US$ 15.00

Chelle: Do you collect anything?

Simonhead: Yeah. Old coins, baseball hats, old car magazines, Heavy Rock fanzines, VH stuffs and die-cast car models – I do love my E-Type Jaguar and my Shelby Cobra. I used to have one that I loved the most; it was the 1979 Ferrari 312 T3 that was driven by Canadian pilot, Gilles Villeneuve. But my brother got it when he was a kid and he destroyed the car.

Chelle: What would most people be surprised to learn about you?

Simonhead: Humm, not so sure. I'm a regular guy. I love my family. I always try to be nice. I try to make friends and keep the real ones. I like reading, listening to Rock Music. Other interests; cartoons, movies, religion, politics, economy. Maybe the belief on life after death. I don't know… .

Chelle: What's the craziest thing you've ever done?

Simonhead: Maybe watch "The Shawshank Redemption" movie more than 900 times and "Rumble Fish" near 800 times.

Chelle: Have you ever been told that you resemble a celebrity?

Simonhead: Sometimes people tell me I look like John Lennon (maybe the glasses). But I guess that I used to look like Nuno Bettencourt a little using some of my ex-Metal band pictures as a reference. And a forum friend once told me I looked like Dave "God" Mustaine. Cool! .

Chelle: Do you have a myspace page or other webpage of your own? If so, what's the URL?

Simonhead: My wife made me get an account over MySpace page recently. I guess I only log on 3 or 4 times since that. Here; http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.vi...e&friendID=204139507

I also have an account over the orkut.com site (very popular here in Brazil)

Chelle: Who is your favorite superhero?

Simonhead: Superhero? Real ones; My father and Dave Mustaine. Fiction one; Batman

Chelle: If you could have a "super power" what would it be?

Simonhead: To free people from ignorance. Education is the key for that and my country needs that more than anything else.

Chelle: Have you seen Van Halen and/or DLR live?

Simonhead: I saw Diamond Dave Lee Roth & Band last year. 2006 Rothtober, the 14th. Dave headlined the Live'n'Louder Festival. It was like a dream come true to watch Diamond Dave alive and to realize how great he was singing and performing. He still is the showman!

Chelle: Which concert was most memorable for you?

Simonhead: 2 concerts were really special ones; My 1st international concert in 1986 (Venom, Exciter and Brazilian act, Vodu). And the 2006 Live'n'Louder one. Diamond Dave kicked ass. My wife and some great friends were there and we had a blast.

Chelle: What is your opinion of the current state of VH?

Simonhead: I do have a feeling they will be recording sooner and maybe releasing something next year. Of course, It's just a feeling. The VH current state is just the result of bad management and super ego problems. But what really impresses the fans is how the band never considered releasing some CVH official live material. They sure have plenty of videos locked somewhere at the 5150 Studios. It's a crime to keep'em getting dust all these years.

Chelle: If VH tours with Dave, but without Mike, will you go?

Simonhead: If I had the chance, for sure. Mike will be missed, but that's life.

Chelle: Have you met any VH band members?

Simonhead: No, not yet. But a good friend of mine went to the USA to watch 3 concerts for the "Van Halen 3" tour. The band cancelled 3 dates in Brazil back to day (1998) and there was the possibility of a Secret Gig exclusively for the Official Brazilian Van Halen fan Club members. I was a member – still I am. So, the band didn't came here and this friend, among with others, went to the US. He took many pics with the band for the "Meet'n'Greet" stuff. He met Scott Ross and he had access on every concert he watched. The Brazilian Fan Club made an enormous flag with the band picture there and they got it – it was said they wanted to use it as the back cover of the 2nd effort with Gary Cherone as the lead singer. If could have the chance to talk to him, you'd feel how emotive he was when he met EVH, AVH and MA.

Chelle: Have you met anyone from the VH/DLR boards?

Simonhead: Yeah. I met some good Brazilian friends in 2005 when I went to Sao Paulo to watch Whitesnake and Judas Priest. We had a different VH Meeting and that was cool. The same happened last year. No virtual friends outside Brazil though.

Chelle: Is your son, Wolfgang, named after Eddie's son?

Simonhead: Sort of. My grandfather's name was Mozart. And my father introduced me to Classic music as well. And it was such a combination; EVH named his son after Wolfgang Mozart and I named mine using both as inspiration.

Chelle: Is there any of your current music online? I'd like to hear it.

Simonhead: Of course. Here's a link for you all to listen to some tunes my current band, The Downers, recorded. We're on permanent vacation for now, just waiting what the future will bring us. Some band mates needed to move to other Brazilian state and we don't know what to do, 'cos it ain't fair to move on without them. Oh, try to listen to Fuse, Bulgaria, Disposable, Sad Bastard Song, Cine Pathetique, Romance By Numbers and many others. I think you'll like the sound – British Indie Rock music.

http://tramavirtual.uol.com.br/artista.jsp?id=14450