Diamond Dave's fronting Van Halen again!

[Sir Stewart]

http://www.vhnd.com/articles/070124-02.shtml

 

David Lee Roth Plans to Join Eddie and Alex for Major Summer Tour

 

January 24th, 2007

 

From: http://www.rollingstone.com/

 

1/24/07, 5:30 pm EST

 

The reunion that Van Halen fans have been awaiting for twenty-two years began in December, when David Lee Roth walked into Eddie Van Halen's Hollywood home studio. There he rejoined the band for a rehearsal, singing fourteen Van Halen classics. "They totally got along on a personal level," a source close to the reunion says. "And it sounded great." At press time, Roth and the band were negotiating a deal for a major summer tour, which would be Van Halen's first Roth-fronted tour since 1984. Along with a possible Police reunion, it would likely be among the year's biggest box-office draws.

 

"Everything is up in the air," Eddie Van Halen tells Rolling Stone. "We don't want to say anything prematurely." He suggested that the band is waiting on Roth: "People know where we are and that we're making music. Whoever wants to come up can join us -- they're welcome." But the famously contentious group may already be having communication problems. The source replies, "Dave is ready. He's been ready."

 

Meanwhile, Van Halen will be inducted on March 12th into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame -- and it could prove to be an awkward night. Both Roth and his successor, Sammy Hagar, will be inducted, as will founding bassist Michael Anthony, who was recently replaced by Wolfgang Van Halen, Eddie's fifteen-year-old son. "It's a privilege and an honor," Eddie says. "And outside of that, we don't know what the hell is going on. . . . Hey, Sammy might not show up on time -- because he can't drive fifty-five. Sorry, bad joke."

 

For his part, Hagar -- who split with the band in 1996 and clashed with Eddie on a 2004 reunion tour -- says he will be there. "Everyone wants to see a good train wreck, but I'd rather see a beautiful flight," he says. "I'd have no problem sharing a stage with David."

 

The last decade has been tumultuous for Eddie Van Halen and the band. After Hagar's exit, a brief reunion with Roth flamed out, and they ended up releasing 1998's Van Halen III with a third singer, Gary Cherone, formerly of Extreme. The album flopped, as did an accompanying tour. In 2002, Eddie got divorced, and he was later diagnosed with tongue cancer. He told Howard Stern in 2006 that he beat cancer "in a way that's not exactly legal in this country." In the fall, Eddie released two solo songs for the soundtrack of a porn movie called Sacred Sin.

 

Eddie, Wolfgang and drummer Alex Van Halen have been regularly rehearsing without Roth, and they're working up songs for a new album. Eddie says that Michael Anthony is no longer in the group because of his decision to tour with Hagar as the Other Half. "Anthony and Hagar started their own band," says Eddie. "You can't be in two bands."

 

The Van Halen brothers say they've been inspired by Wolfgang's youth and energy -- and that he's changed the sound of the band. "Wait until you hear this kid play," says Eddie. "I pick him up from school every day and we jam. We've got a shredding bass player now that's laying down the law for Alex, so I get to weave in and out." Alex says the situation reminds him of the days when he and Eddie would jam with their dad, a jazz musician, when they were kids. "Our father would look at us and say, 'As long as you guys can hold your own, there is no age difference,' " says Alex.

 

Eddie says that the band is determined to tour this summer, whether Roth is on board or not. "There's not just one person on this planet that can sing," he says. "We're not waiting on nothing."

 

Adds Alex, "Whoever the singer is, they'll be surrounded by Van Halens."

 

-- Brian Hiatt

[Analogman]

Eddie, Wolfgang and drummer Alex Van Halen have been regularly rehearsing without Roth, and they're working up songs for a new album. Eddie says that Michael Anthony is no longer in the group because of his decision to tour with Hagar as the Other Half. "Anthony and Hagar started their own band," says Eddie. "You can't be in two bands."

 

I think that is funny - there has not been a Van Halen since the day they dropped Gary and/or were dropped by Warner Brothers.

[uncle wilco]

so eddie has gone from playing guitar on michael jackson's "beat it" to providing songs for a porno flick.

 

 

 

wow.

 

 

 

it's a loooong way down to the bottom.

[Sir Stewart]

so eddie has gone from playing guitar on michael jackson's "beat it" to providing songs for a porno flick.

wow.

it's a loooong way down to the bottom.

You should see the pics from the after-party at his house (where the film was made, I believe).

[quarter23cd]

so eddie has gone from playing guitar on michael jackson's "beat it" to providing songs for a porno

I'm not sure which one you're suggesting is more of a career-highlight. Please advise.

 

 

On second thought, it might have made sense to reprise "Beat It" for the latter release...

[MrRain422]

I've been trying to figure out what's wrong with Eddie's gob for years now. Looks like a 12 year-old's set of teeth in a 50 year-old's-mouth.

 

I'm pretty sure that he had mouth cancer.

[Analogman]

so eddie has gone from playing guitar on michael jackson's "beat it" to providing songs for a porno flick.

wow.

it's a loooong way down to the bottom.

 

photos

[MrRain422]

Haha, porn...bottom...I get it.

[Analogman]

maybe they can get these dudes to open for them

[EL the Famous]

I predict a train wreck.

 

Seconded. The only scarier than Eddie right now is Dave and the only thing scarier than Dave is Dave w/ Eddie. No mas.

[Elixir Sue]

eddie might be dead soon. has anyone seen him lately? yikes

I know a scary picture has already been posted, but I can't resist:

 

 

Those teeth!!

 

That's my only contribution, I'm afraid. My knowledge of Van Halen is limited to "Jump" and the fact that they played the hell out of "Right Now" back in the Crystal Pepsi days.

[cryptique]

back in the Crystal Pepsi days

And what days those were, eh?

 

Those heady Crystal Pepsi days...

[uncle wilco]

Those teeth!!

 

george washington had wooden teeth. what's the big deal?

[Analogman]

I think that one is old - look at the photos I linked to above - they are more recent.

[uncle wilco]

I think that one is old - look at the photos I linked to above - they are more recent.

so what, has he found a toothbrush since then?

 

if he wouldn't have run valerie off, he'd still have his sh*t together. but then valerie would still be miserable. he's totally fallen apart since then. of course, having cancer hasn't helped either. i really do feel sad for him even though much of his troubles have been self-inflicted.

[Analogman]

I doubt it.

[Analogman]

February 03, 2007, 1:05 AM ET

Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

The Van Halen summer tour with David Lee Roth exclusively revealed here last week has now been confirmed by the band's publicist. In a statement, the group said it would tour with David Lee Roth on vocals for the first time since 1984. Dates and cities have yet to be announced.

 

"I am very excited to get back to the core of what made Van Halen," guitarist Eddie Van Halen said in a statement. Van Halen's 15-year-old son Wolfgang has stepped in for original bassist Michael Anthony in the new incarnation of the group, which also features drummer Alex Van Halen.

 

The instrumentalists rehearsed with Roth in December to make sure the chemistry was right, and the parties then moved forward to sign a contract for 40 concerts this summer.

 

Van Halen last toured in 2004 with vocalist Sammy Hagar, grossing nearly $40 million, according to Billboard Boxscore. Hagar refused to collaborate further with the Van Halen brothers after the tour's completion ("I don't get along with Eddie anymore, and that's all there is to it," he told Billboard.com in August 2005), although he has consistently played live with Anthony in recent years. The warring factions may wind up meeting in public in March when Van Halen is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

 

The summer tour is expected to be one of the most in-demand of the year, joining reunion outings from the Police and Crowded House, among others.

[Analogman]

Van Halen recently announced that they

[brianjeremy]

Not anymore according to rolling stone.

 

The Official Word: Van Halen Tour Kaput

 

It looks like David Lee Roth

[Analogman]

[Sir Stewart]

Well that went about as well as I imagined it would.

[uncle wilco]

Well that went about as well as I imagined it would.

pfffffft.......

[EL the Famous]

Say what you will, at least they eeked a tour outta' Sammy before imploding (again). This is just sad.

[MrRain422]

Nah, what's sad is that they didn't break up years ago.

[Analogman]

February 23, 2007, 2:00 PM ET

Ray Waddell, Nashville

A prospective Van Halen tour with original frontman David Lee Roth has derailed. Sources tell Billboard.com the decision to postpone the outing indefinitely was not due to any internal strife among band members. Insiders close to the situation say a tour is still in the works and will happen, though when is anybody's guess.

 

The tour, negotiations for which were first tipped here on Jan. 24, will feature Roth, Eddie and Alex Van Halen, and Eddie Van Halen's teenage son Wolfgang on bass. A spokesperson for the Van Halen brothers confirmed the tour in a Feb. 3 press release.

 

Indeed, wheels were in motion for a 40-date, Live Nation-produced amphitheatre tour to be announced Feb. 20, including venues and on-sale dates.

 

The Van Halen camp has yet to make any official announcement about the postponement or the reasons behind it.

 

My guess is that Eddie has to get cleaned up again