VHND’s exclusive interview with Michael Anthony, Parts 1 & 2

November 5, 2008 44 Comments

When we announced that we were going to have an exclusive interview with ex-Van Halen bass player, Michael Anthony, we asked people to give us their questions to use in the interview for Michael . This led to the biggest response to a story we’ve ever had, with over 400 people posting a comment and giving us their own question for him!

We hooked up with Mad Anthony at his hotel down in Cabo during Sammy Hagar’s birthday bash last month. He had a lot to say about his new band, his old band, his hobbies, etc. The interview ended up being about an hour, and we’re going to spread it out for you all over the next couple weeks. Here are the first two segments. There’s a lot more to come. We hope you enjoy the interview!

Part 1 Micheal’s NEW band with Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, and Chad Smith. Code name, “Chickenfoot”:

Part 2 – Van Halen bootlegs and unreleased footage:

A big thanks to Michael Anthony, and to all the loyal VHND readers who submitted their questions!

Filed Under: Chickenfoot, Michael Anthony, Sammy Hagar, Van Halen, VHND

Chuck

AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kirk

Wow! Its great to hear someone from the classic line up telling the truth for a change. Great interview
Thanks
Jor-L5150

i missed when mike sai the album would be released- it was glitchy.
Raldo

Great stuff!!! Nice job, Jeff!
MICAL VEE

I READ A INTERVIEW YEARS AGO WITH VAN HALENS THEN MANAGER NOEL MONK WHO WAS ASKED THE SAME QUESTION ABOUT VH SHOWS THAT WERE RECORDED AND HE SAID THAT HE HAD ONE SHOW FROM EACH TOUR RECORDED FROM ’78 TO ’84 BUT DIDN’T KNOW IF THEY WOULD SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY! IF YOU LOOK AT THE DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY VIDEO FROM ’79 THERE IS FOOTAGE THAT WAS SPLICED INTO THE SONG OF DAVE JAMIN’ WITH MICHAEL IN THE BACK GROUND SINGING BACK GROUND VOCALS AND HAS A JACKET ON THAT HE WORE TO START THE SHOW AND IS NOT WEARING DURING THE VIDEO.I WOULD THINK THEY RECORDED THE WHOLE SHOW.
Red

Just simply one of the coolest cats there is. Thanks, Jeff. Long live Mad Anthony!
Todd

Great interview! Thanks, Jeff!!!
Sweet William

This is awesome. Such a great idea. Thank you for doing this. I’m dying to hear the rest! Don’t make us wait too long!!
Ben

very cool, thanks Jeff
Mark White

I know the US Festival was done Pro Shot. Dave was to fucked up. The Band Kicked Ass.
Sean

I know of only one full length concert that they had done with Dave, and that was the US Festival in 1983 which WAS pro-shot. Other than that, I don’t think I’ve found any.
Pat

Thank You!!!
Aftershock

Great interview so far, Jeff. I can’t wait until you get into the real nitty gritty! I don’t wanna hear about it later, I wanna hear about it now!
Dave,Tasmania, Australia

Thanks for posting the interviews Jeff, Great to hear Mike’s comments. I will be definately checking out the new project with Sam, Chad & Joe.
Mike, I will always regard Van Halen as cutting edge.
I get the same deal from my 14 year old daughter;was wearing my Balance tee around the house recently only to be told I was a Pedo!!!?
For the record I was NOT the guy that stood in front of you at the VH show in Tasmania in ’98 who yelled for half the show ” F@#kin play Top Jimmy!!!”
Was a great show in Tas, also got to see you guys in Melbourne. Good luck with the new project Mike. Hoping to get to Cabo one day!
Thanks Mike & the VHND,
Dave Tasmania Australia
http://www.charitycaseband.com eddie z

Straight answers to good questions. Why isn’t every interview this good?
ace5150

Thank you, Jeff and Mad Anthony!

I hope he knows he still has a lot of fans out here still backing him after the royal screwing he got from the VH brothers.

I am so looking forward to this album. I have been a Satriani fan for a lot of years. I think his melodic style and Sammy’s vocals are gonna blend together real well.

Was the sound glitch on the album release date put in there on purpose due to a change in the release date?
RobbyVenice

I want you to all you tube ” Hang Em High ” Roth Army wideos and see why not only is Micheal Anthony one of the greatest base players of all time but see alsowhy roth is probably the GREATEST front man of all time!
Joe S

So far so good I can’t wait to hear the rest of the interview with Michael. It just goes to show you who values the fans and who just wants to make a quick buck.

Hay Eddie, Alex take a hint from Michael this is how you do it, this is how you keep your fans interested in you, give interviews, put out new music, do something, anything, just don’t sit on you asses. Did you get the hint yet, I hope so.
Kenny

I imagine that the VH brothers have, or have access to a pretty decent collection of live shows to put out a DLR and a Hagar box set. There are at least bootlegs that can be cleaned up enough to put on DVD as well. Kiss did it, AC/DC did it, I’m sure they could pull it off if they wanted to. I think it will take someone from Warner Bros. or a marketing agency to convince the brothers that it is a good idea. Led Zeppelin did it so now you can do it Ed and Al. Now that DLR is back and if things are still peachy in the VH camp, I don’t see why they wouldn’t release a DLR era box (although they may use computer technology to put Wolfgang there instead of mike). I can’t imagine them releasing any new Sammy stuff though. Good interview. Sounds like you pressed him a little hard on the bootleg questions Jeff. He had to say “I don’t know.” a lot there. I know you want to spread the interview out to keep regular traffic on VHND but I think you already have quite a bit. Lets see the rest of this thing. I can’t wait!
redarrow5150

I’m sure Eddie & Alex hands are going to be tied by Warner should they want to release anything back from the past.
iain5150

mike will always be the cool guy from th original vh, its not his name, so he really doesn’t care about what the family is doing, he is moving on being a musician and not a business man. I’m sure its because he has that luxuary and I say good for him he actually has the best of both worlds, he gets to sit back and let everyone else deal with the bizness and he just gets to play rock and roll. good for you mike and god bless I just wish your bass wasn’t dropped from the begining of so this is love!!!
Damo

Sounds like a real cool combination with, Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, Chad Smith, and Michael Anthony, forming there own band.
It will be interesting to see what sort of music they can make together?
MA=VH

Mike is the man. Plain and simple. Dude speaks the truth with no real agenda (hidden or otherwise). Interesting that he’s got unreleased recordings stashed at home; hopefully they’ll see the light of day in the near future.

Mike, if you can, make sure to visit those of us north of the 49th parallel when you’re on tour with (code name) Chicken Foot.

MA=VH
Brian

Once all of the interview has been released, can we please have the audio in MP3 format?

Pretty please?!
http://na John Greggs

looking forward to catching the” Chifooze” on tour
Rog

What a down to earth interview. How often do we get to hear it like that? The only question I have is about the release date of the cd? When Mike was mentioning the time it was garbbled. Was that intentional?
Jor-L5150

we know that
- oakland 81
- US fest 83
- at least one show in 79
- largo 82
were done proshot. ed always said that DLR wasnt good live so they didnt release any live stuff. of course he said that in van hagar era…
mike

what about brasil argentina and venezuala they were all pro shot from 82-83. someone has the original film.
http://none Chris

A lot of you VH fans seem to have forgotten how bad Warner Brothers treated VH from the very beginning!!! VH worked their arses off with little help from Warner. Yeah sure they signed them and all that but considering what other companies could have done for them, VH could have achieved a lot more if both parties sang the same tune. So why should VH make Warner Bro happy with a couple more extra millions that they will profit if VH release all this footage? I think Eddie, Alex & Dave should be commended for the stance they’re taking and not hopping on the band wagon!!! VH have always proved the critics, media and public wrong!! VH live by their time not anybody else’s and I love them for it!!! People seem to forget the toll it has put on Eddie Van Halen’s health and personal life when he’s considered next to Jimi Hendrix, the greatest in Rock Guitar!!!! Something had to give but the mighty VH are true Rock survivors and their triumphant 2007/08 tour is proof!!!
It would be great to see some never before released footage of the REAL VH era (Roth era for all you Sammy lovers!) I get more excited when a NEW VH album is on the horizon. But after hearing what Mike has to say in this latest interview, it seems Mike has cooled down & faced the reality his time with VH is over. Mike left the VH family and is pretty much a slave to Sammy. Now that the dust is settled, he is a lot more cautious when asked about anything VH related. He knows best how the VH machine works; he knows something is brewing on the VH horizon. Presently Sammy and Mike are doing all the talking yet VH have made no comment!! (VH’s silence is DEAFENING) Mike should know that when VH are laying low and making no comments, something lethal is about to be unleashed!!! An inspired VH are a mean machine and as Diamond Dave once said; “A VH album will destroy your stereo system and melt all your other music collection!!!” That’s why I store my VH collection separate and fire proof from the rest!!!!

Kris
Kenny

I know WB would make a lot of money on it. They are still making money on the CD/DVD sales of released material. I don’t think WB would hold them back on it since it would be such a big money maker. Why hold it back? To spite WB? Hell, the VH brothers and DLR may as well cause they have already secured Michael Anthony’s cut from it. How can yo feel sorry for them being treated badly by WB after the way they treated Anthony. Just Release it. Extra pocket change to fund whatever top secret projects they are working on. And i would do something for the fans. Make the fans happy. That is the brothers problem. They can’t make the fans happy unless they think that in doing so, they will achieve some sort of personal growth. The music business doesn’t work that way. They have had their decade to try personal growth. They finally gave us the tour but selfish reasons drove that. You could tell from the way they acted on stage and how most audiences ended up lukewarm. Just do something for the fans now. Sam and Mike have not forgotten the fans. I think DLR hasn’t either. Right now the VH brothers can’t afford the humbling couple of decades of mediocrity that DLR received to learn humility towards the fans and fellow band mates.
Shawn

Well stated Kenny.
Top Jimmy

VERY well stated Kenny. I think the brothers have the same problem; they feel as though they’re being boxed in but they are the ones who put up that box. For the past 10+ years they have had a “people out to get us” attitude and I think it’s simply fabricated. The fans want nothing more than to embrace whatever they’re hiding in 5150. But sooner or later, with no new material and lackluster live performances, people will stop caring. The 2007 VH show I saw was terrible for two reasons: Eddie’s sloppy playing was one, but the overall lack of camaraderie and enthusiasm was an even greater problem. The show just plain sucked because the excitement level of the musicians involved was nowhere near what it should have been. And it wasn’t an age thing, I’ve heard that argument and I don’t buy it. It was obvious that although 3/4 of the original members of the band called Van Halen were on stage, the “band” Van Halen was not in the building that night. Instead what we got was three bitter men with big egos and an even bigger chip on their shoulders and one child that shouldn’t have even been there to begin with, all off in their own world and never truly finding a groove. It’s sad and what’s even more sad is that it didn’t have to be this way.
Amad Ali

The last two posts cover much of my take on things. However, I stress again that the brothers must, for all that is good and decent in this world, must muster some new material along with some live footage of the most recent tour, as well as available for sale vintage stuff. Granted, getting along with everyone in a band is similar to trying to get along with everyone in a family…it’s difficult. VH as well as all of the true fans have gone through the band’s disfunction, but we’re fans who LOVE the music and we RIGHTFULLY deserve new material as well as some of the other goodies other fans oftentimes get and enjoy from their favortite bands.
Amad Ali

Oh, by the way, I have not been able to access any of the Anthony interview. Can anyone help?
Top Jimmy

Yes it’s hard to get along, families, bands, marriages. These are all difficult relationships to maintain. The problem is, as Van Halen fans we’ve been treated like children from a broken home with substitute family members shoved down our throats. They are well on their way to ruining their own legacy. The things that Edward Van Halen has said about Michael Anthony’s bass playing and his roll as a member of Van Halen are insulting to Van Halen fans. He should have more respect than that. Michael Anthony is an outstanding bass player with exceptional bass tone. This was desperately missed on the last tour. Instead we had to hear a kid who just learned how to play hacking along with guys who he just can’t hang with. He also obviously knows nothing about bass tone because his tone sucked. It was like razor blades, no warmth, no roundness, no thud. Mike’s bass tone dropped on you like a ton of bricks. Like it or not (and if you like classic van halen you obviously like it) it was a huge part of the Van Halen sound. So just because Eddie says that Mike’s tone sucked, or that his bass playing wasn’t very good, or that he and Alex never had bass in their monitors, doesn’t make these statements true. I don’t know if it’s the booze or if he’s just crazy but Eddie is the kind of guy that needs to make someone a villain before he can make a move. Instead of just saying that he wants Wolfgang in the band because he wants to play with his son, which is understandable, he has to make Mike out to be evil. He did the same thing with DLR and Hagar. The difference this time is that no one buys the argument that Mike was the problem because it’s obvious he’s a great guy. Maybe Eddie can fool himself into believing his own b.s. but he doesn’t fool me. And if anyone who saw that last tour is still fooled they are lying to themselves.
RobbyVenice

I just liked what amad ali said….”they must muster….” how many times have you gotten to hear that in a sentence!!!? Way to go and what you said amad is absolutely true..thanks for your post.
Andy

It’s pure tragedy that all this old amazing VH footage is just gathering dust somewhere. “We’ve got gold and YOU can’t have it!”. Why aren’t somebody allowed to enjoy it? Forget all the pseudo BS reasons, and let people enjoy it. Fun, remember? Naive maybe, but then again…
Tim

No wonder the brothers never wanted him talking to the media. He tells the truth!
http://www.vhlinks.com/vbforums/member.php?u=4629 Metal Marc

Thanks, Jeff, for the excellent interview. MA rocks, and so do you.
ace5150

Good stuff here, guys.

Being a former drug addict, myself, I feel that Eddie has a long way to go in his road to recovery when it comes to making amends and learning to deal with others.

The bitterness, anger, and jealousy he continues to display will only lead him back down the road of addiction.
Top Jimmy

MORE!!! MORE!!! MORE!!!! Please post the rest of the interview… I know this is the Van Halen News Deks but please don’t pick up the brothers bad habits and make us wait forever!!!
http://vhnd Smokey and the Bandit

Eddie’s afraid any new music released won’t live up to his magical legacy so he would rather quit while he is ahead.

I can’t blame him either as soon as he does put out new music we will ( I won’t ) all shit on it and complain that it’s not this or not that.

Nothing last forever and everyone needs to get that thru their fucking heads. Be grateful for what is out there!
Pingback: Van Halen News Desk | VHND’s exclusive interview with Michael Anthony, Parts 3 & 4
markanthony

Mikey! Roxs, and is van halen, still isnt the same fire and ice without him!!! Eddie wake up bro please man!We love wolfie man he is a great kid and a great musician, bring back the Mike and make all of us true Van halen die hard fans happy before we get to freekin old and im in a rocker lol