Michael Anthony calls in to KNAC

September 17, 2009 64 Comments

On Tuesday, (9-8-09), KNAC.COM’s Uncle Scotty spent some time on the air with Chickenfoot (former Van Halen) bassist, Michael Anthony.

Anthony spoke candidly about the birth of Chickenfoot, working with his new bandmates, and the state of his relationship with former bandmate Eddie Van Halen.

Listen to a 2-part replay of the interview below:

Part 1

Part 2

Filed Under: Chickenfoot, Michael Anthony

Ross

Mikey is and has been just one cool, motherfuckin’ dude…
Rich

Wow, he really summed it up and not in a way that mouthed off VH either.

“So what do you think Ed and the boys are up to?”
“Ah, I don’t know, probably biting their nails”.

Haha, Mikey is part of a band whose album just went Gold and the king of rock guitar is sitting around biting his nails. Its the truth though right?

“I’ve got so much music, etc” – where is it Eddie? Do us a new album before you tour!
Vanicionado

Was just talking with a friend wondering if Chickenfoot would go out and get a new drummer…

Nice to hear they will wait for Chad. Bad too, I mean… can’t wait for the next Chickenfoot Album!!!
ADAM

I think Michael should be nicer.

Eddie & Alex helped to make him rich.
RA 8 1 2

Way to go Mike. For a guy who was shafted for being a nice guy and for years of abuse he really has come up on top. He sounds better than ever. He used to be so afraid when he talked. He would search for things to say not to creat conflict with or within VH, but he sounded strong and confident. In VH interviews he was always cut off my Ed or somebody. Props Mike. Saw the Fillmore and Tahoe shows, going to Berkeley next weekend. Shows are AWESOME! Keep Rockin!
http://none Ducky / Dirty Duck

Wow….who wouldvr thunk!?

500,000 units moved = balls
Vanicionado

Now Adam…

By Ed’s classification, Alex is just another fine tuned cog, as easily replaceable as Mike.

You should change your statement, no matter how much I disagree to: Ed helped to make him rich.
Skutch

Mikey says, “no egos” but I’m sorry, the guy never misses an opportunity to diss VH on the air. What a joke. Granted, the tool of a DJ can’t not ask the lame question. Give me a break.
SWADE

He doesnt have to be nice to anybody. As you know there is a signifigant portion of people who would rather have him in Van Halen then Daddy’s boy. So he obviously had an affect on the audience. Can you honestly say Wolfie has an affect on the audience?
pushtoshove

Mike has never been an ” Ego”…Now he is just happy . He did not say anything that we do not already know about VH . Chickenfoot 500,000 sales , tour , NEW MUSIC. Van Halen? NO : Interviews , New Music , Solid tour date , Tour DVD . Eddie’s Historical and well documented Disses of Mike , Roth , Sammy and His JAMMING with other musicians ( also well documented ) and Eddies Dissing of Former Bandmates for jamming with other Bands or musicians . Gimme Me A Break Indeed! Mikey is cool , always has been and Eddie has Fanboys who would Kiss his poop if he allowed them to.
pushtoshove

Mike helped make Van Halen Rich. Fucking Retards.
papichulo

Can anyone honestly say that they go to a Van Halen concert hoping to see Mike play bass? Bass is essential but c’mon, we go to Van Halen to see Eddie scream on guitar and Dave act like Dave. I did not see AC/DC last week hoping that there usual bassit for the last 20 years was there. If it was any other bassit in VH it wouldn’t have mattered. Dave and Ed made VH rich. Mike just happened to be there. Same goes for Alex. Great drummer, so are a million other guys. If it was Danny Carey then maybe he would make a difference.
kayser sozay

Who cares people? Given the amount of fun he seems to be having with Chickenfoot and the acclaim they’ve received, I think Mikey would be the first to tell you it’s all water under the bridge now. I would have loved to have him included in the Roth reunion tour too, but as it is, I’m just happy for him because he seems happy.
phillster

“BITING their FINGERNAILS”-MY ASS!!!
http://www.vhnd.com Pat G

VH indeed made Mikey very rich, but Mikey made VH the baddest rock band on the fucking planet. I’m guessing he swallowed so much shit over the years, he could write two or
three “tell-all” books on what a jackass Eddie really was and probably still is. But, it seems like he’s moved on to a kickass band that actually turns out new music and looks like they have fun doing it. For the fans, not for the money like VH did. We’re still wating for the new VH album, ladies. Hurry the fuck up.
http://none Ducky / Dirty Duck

I’m with ya on that one skutch!

I’ve always liked mike, and I understand that he went through a lot with VH. But if you’re so damn happy with your new “side project’s” success than why bother talkin shit?

Thats class?
pushtoshove

He didn’t talk shit…and so what if he meant to…whats wrong with a little competitive rivalry..Hell they are probably ALL in on this( Van Halen AND Chickenfoot ) It is great for business obviously.
VH Dude

I’ve come to terms with the likely fact that Mike will never be invited back to be the bassist in Van Halen. That’s a bummer, but I think he is genuinely happy in Chickenfoot. And hopefully Wolfgang will grow comfortable in his position with Van Halen. I will accept him – and it’s probably permanent whether we accept him or not anyways. At the end of the day – I know Mike’s never gonna play with Van Halen again and I’m cool with that.

My only thing is…people writing Mike off like he was just another faceless bassist in a band. That he didn’t matter or wasn’t really part of the Van Halen legacy. OK, Mike isn’t the best bass player on earth. But he was huge in Van Halen. Actually, I think he is among the few bass players that had a strong personality and made an impact on his band in the 70′s and 80′s. He’s the opposite of the faceless bass player. His back up vocals are a huge part of the early Van Halen sound. Fucking huge. In the 70′s and 80′s (and 90′s) anyone going to a Van Halen concert went for the experience and that included Mikey (just as it included Al). Ever hear of a Fair Warning or Diver Down or 1984 live show when they had a fill-in bassist cause Mike was sick? I don’t think it ever happened once. It just wouldn’t be right and he’d be missed. These people writing him off as if he wasn’t that big of a deal to VH just seem to me as if they weren’t real fans back in the day.

I’m not knocking new fans and actually it’s exciting when I hear of young people getting into Van Halen now. I just think there are a group of people out there that don’t know their Van Halen history!
Vanicionado

Ducky… as long as you get this fired up when Ed talks HIS trash… is all good!

Word!
pushtoshove

Mike was part of Van Halens Success ….He made money because all the hard work and touring he did with them until the Re-Union Tour. He is Van Halen Family and can say ANYthing he wants regarding them and he has been ‘Nice’ for years….Saying he should be nicer to The Van Halens ( Seeing as he hasn’t directly dissed anyone and Especially after how many times Mr Ed has dissed him publicly ) because he some how ‘Owes’ them is Retarded.And all the people who say Van Halen ( albums one thru six ) would’ve been fine without Mike are Retarded.
pushtoshove

Every time i went to a Van Halen concert was to see the ‘BAND’ Van Halen…not go drool over Eddie and Roth . That is what broke Van Halen up in the first place , The competing egos . I think the people here who say they didnt go to see the ‘Band’ as much as they say they went to see Eddie Van halen play are frustrated guitar players who work at guitar center or the local Music store trading ‘impressive’ stories about how they understand all the tech jargon used by music teachers and understood by NO ONE else on the planet to describe a good song.Band Geeks.With jobs.
http://vhnd.com 50yr old fan

it is obvious that ducky and skutch will never admit that van halen is a mess because of eddie and eddie only. mike and sam and dave can’t all be wrong. if telling the truth is talking shit then i don’t know what to say. i sometimes wonder what alex is really thinking.
Guitar Zero

Yeah, really. All Ed does is run his mouth when it comes to anything related to Mikey or Sam. Whether or not Mike’s actually givin’ it back, it’s not near as bad as Eddie.
VHIII_1998_

As much as I like EVH, I really think he has no clue what the hell he is doing. He was a no show at his own induction to the RRHF, he could of went to rehab afterward. He say’s he has new music but by the time it is released it will be old music. My god I don’t want to loose faith in one of favorite musicians but I have been waiting ten years for a full length album and tour and all I got was three out of four original members and Valerie Bertinelli jr, he is obviously talented but he is not Michael Anthony.
FAMAC

Geez – listen to this @sskisser work Anthony. “I wasn’t going to go to the VH show if you weren’t there.” Right.

The part where Mike starts talking about Chad is pretty funny. A lot of “ahhs” in there. After all that boasting about Van Halen biting their nails, he isn’t even in a group anymore. Their drummer left to make more money with a headline act!! Guess money talks and bullsh!t walks, eh?

By the way, they “wanted to play the smaller venues” – right – Mr Cabo isn’t trying to maximize revenue. What a load of rubbish. Why not just be honest that you are working up a following?
dude

Van Halen next album name should be “Bite This Mikey”
MICAL VEE

Back off eddie man! He has given us more classic music than sammy and mike will ever give! So chickencrap went gold,good for them and their fans,i’m happy for you! I know eddie has’nt been a innocent party in the van halen mess over the years but who cares now! They have dave back and the tour they gave us (which i got to see 3 times) i could die happy today! Eddie said himself that after the honeymoon they would start jamin’ and then record. Dave has to take time to write really good lyric’s (which i’m sure he’s been doing) then record the album! Remember ” ME WISE MAGIC ” killer song so i have no doubt’s as to how great the album will be. They dont want to rush it and i’m sure it will be finised and released at the start of the new year! As for wolfie,life is short,eddie had a cancer scare,i dont blame him for putting his son in the band! If you have a child of your own you would understand! And wolfie held his own by the way! As for the hagar fans now you know how we felt from 1985 til 2007! It’s our turn again!!!!!! VH fan from 1978 to forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Oh,and like sammy said…It’s about time!!!)
Vanicionado

pushtoshove… Well spoke brotha!
Vanicionado

FAMAC… They have said time and time again that they knew that Chad was going back to the Peppers. This isn’t new… go back and read some of the articles.
Shawn

Mike was more than just a bassist he was part of the whole that will never be recreated. I am glad he is happy and doing well in Chickenfoot. He has clearly moved on. The DJ asked and he responded very honestly. So What. I hope VH will make an album soon. Everything changes get over it.
VH Dude

Do you guys really interpret “…probably biting their nails” as trash talking? I thought it was a pretty light hearted response. It was just a joke to try to deflect where the interviewer was trying to take him. Compare that to the mean spirited things that have been said about Mike with no provocation, year after year, interview after interview. Not even remotely close in bitter and hateful tone, or frequency. You guys are getting worked up over nothing. A little too defensive of the guitar god you worship. I’m sure Mike’s no angel, but I’d say he’s shown some amazing self restraint given what’s been said publicly about him.

If you guys were in Ed’s circle of friends you’d be a bunch of ‘yes’ men doing him no good. I love the guy and the music he’s given us over the years and it’ll be a happy day in my life when a new album hits the shelves. But damn, I can see a little bit objectively when he’s bitter and nasty. Not seeing that in Mike.

In defense of my hero Ed…it looks like he’s getting things together and I say more power to him. He’s had some dark days and it looks like that may be behind him. It sucks for all of them, human as me and you, that private things have been played out publicly. This wasn’t meant as a slight against him, just a response to all the guys getting all pissed at Mike. Would be incredible to see Chickenfoot open for Van Halen some day. Ridiculous to suggest I know, but would be nice to see everyone in both camps bury the hatchet.

There will always be room in my CD collection for Van Halen and Chickenfoot.
Skutch

Thank you Duck. Clearly we are on the same page. I had more respect for Mike before he started doing interviews.

50 year old, I KNOW Ed can’t get along with anybody. That’s nothing new. He and Alex have closed themselves off from the world. The difference is Ed knows it and is apparently trying to change. Mike is such a pretender totally plays the “nice guy” routine. Give me another break. Nothing is “water under the bridge” for any of these guy, except Dave (he’s the only one that truly doesn’t have a bone to pick). It would be nice if the rest could just be happy for each other, but there will always be drama I guess.
Ross

I know most of you folks all consider yourselves lifelong fans of Van Halen, and I usually defer the most innocuous comments to the retards of this bunch (you know who you are). So I’m gonna throw in a coupla cents, here goes…I BELIEVE (think/feel) that Van Halen will produce another fantastic recording with DLR and they will tour to support it. However, I also believe that every person that has been in this band on a recording, after much retrospect and realization of what Van Halen actually was and is, will tour together again. Wolfgang is young, itching to make his own mark and will come to see the legacy upon his shoulders and bow out gracefully and respectfully to Michael. Chickenfoot will never reassemble, Chad will make more great CP tunes, Joe is gonna keep shredding like only he can THEN…THE tour will start. Dave, Sam and Gary each patiently waiting offstage with their respective O2 tanks, will alternate every 2nd song to produce a stellar and unheard of 3 1/2 to 4 hour arena concert tour that will go down in the annals of Rock-n-Roll history….and we’ll never hear from them again. (Unless Ed does more porn…or jingles for Viagra)

I AM a True Lifelong Van Halen Music Lovin’ Dude…’nuff said!
el c

Hey you know when you have hit a nerve with ed and dave sheep when they start saying mike disses and talks shit about VH at every opportunity.
Just because he gives an honest answer to questions and is upfront, this is something the sheep are foreign to. VH openly talking about the truth?, VH telling the truth?, VH talking at all???????????????
Just because someone (Mike), who has every right to comment if asked, gives an answer (I DONT KNOW), and it isnt the one some people want to hear (the truth about ed and co.), does not constitute ‘dissing VH at every opportunity’.
It is such as fuking sad sack situ at camp VH these days that ed sheep are just happy with a twitter moment or myspace rambling to stem their disallusioment with the classic line up. Very sad, but they cant dent Mike’s credentials as THE classic lineman.
Roll on Chickenfoot and keep smiling.
ben

Yeah Ed was biting his nails on his honeymoon.
C’mon Mike get over it, you are happy on CF, congratz it must be fun playing 2 thousand seaters.
I’d love to see Mike’s face when he is watching 2.5 men at his home, and thinking, now that’s the Eddie I loved.
The one who made me RICH.
kayser sozay

Gotta agree with Vanicionado, FAMAC. You haven’t been paying any attention at all. The story has always been that Chad wasn’t leaving RHCPs – just that the two bands would work around each other’s schedules. Funny thing is, even though it will surely take a while for the next CF album because of Chad’s RHCP commitments, my money is on a new CF album before a new VH album.
mjc

mike has more class than dave,eddie,and alex combined!
http://vhnd JCN

Big Michael Anthony was there, seen it and done it.
http://none Ducky / Dirty Duck

First off I’m always the first to say that mike was a BIG part of VH. I’ve never once said that mike was ashitty bass player or could be replaced easily. All I’m saying that if you’re so happy with your new project, the album went gold, why jump on the bandwagon of mudslinging? I’m not pro eddie. I just react with what i hear or read. Not fired up at all. No new album? I’ll get over it. Another tour with the same old songs? I’ll be there. Unfortunatly “50yearoldfan” not many here at this site had the pleasure of experiencing VH in their heyday. You did, and i respect that. But if people want to see eddie on stage with dave again to play those old songs and pay those crazy prices thats our buisness. Unless you want to front the tickets brother. Mike was great for VH. But he has moved on to chickenfoot and should keep his focus on that. Chickenfoot could release another album that goes platinum but it will NEVER touch what was done in VH.
If this is a different band following a different road….trying to shake the VH image than move on gracefully. Eddie is by far no saint. But i havent heard him say anything rude about chickenfoot or their members. I’m not angry that mike is sticking up for himself. Good for him! Just dont lump me in the catagory of “sheep” cause i love eddie and dave. Before all this b.s. drama started many years ago within VH, many of you here couldnt get enough of ed and dave. Now because many “fans” decided that mikey is no longer in the band its not VH ect ect ect. Please. It’s getting old now folks. If you feel that chickenfoot is the next best thing than rock on. Just dont give me shit for staying true to my roots.
Pete

Mike diss VH? I have to disagree with my brothers SKUTCH & DUCK on this one.

He is a class act and clearly about the music.

Ed cans him, and doesn’t even call him. No class.

Ed calls Mike and Sam fat. Is that the best you have? Is that the classy way to go?

Ed’s been trying to replace Mikey since the early days. He says the reason Mikey wasn’t on the ’07 tour is that he “wasn’t around”.

Ed has been completely dishonest with himself and everyone else. He never missed a chance to throw Dave under the bus during the Hagar years. He now tosses the occasional bitter comment at his former buds Mike and Sam. Why? What did they do?

It sounds like Mike walked a pretty narrow and shitty line for years with Ed.

I will be a VH fan for life, but wow…Ed has become a world-class prick in the last 10 years. I hope he can find a way to be happy before his time is up because he used to be the king of cool and a happy guy.
http://vhnd.com 50yr old fan

hey skutch my point is that ed has talked more shit and backstabbed more than all the other guys put together. there is no honor in that and i have yet to here anything that ed has to say about being the major part of the problem, unless of course you can enlighten me with an interveiw or some quote. and of course dave doesn’t have a bone to pick, he 20 mil richer than the day before the tour started. he may have had some money left over from when sammy took him out to tour with him.
Skutch

El C, must we preach to you time and time again. It isn’t one sided. Ed likes to gripe about Sam and Mike too and that isn’t cool either. ALL these guys can’t seem to put the past behind them. Hey, I’m WITH you. Mike seems legitimately happy and I we all wish him the best. I just wish he AND the VH camp would mature a bit and quit answering stupid questions that idiot DJ’s and interviewer keep asking.
Jim

Mike added nothing to Van Halen.
Dawn

Michael Anthony rocks. I will always go to see him regardless what group he is performing with! You can tell by watching him he loves what he does!
Vanicionado

Come on Jim, don’t be a tosser… explain your comment.
ADAM

They are all in on it. All this hoopla helps sell everybody’s
sales.
Russ

I think that you never realize how important a component is to a whole until it is removed. There were pro and con reports of the last tour regarding Mike’s absence, conspiracy theories of how Mike’s vocals were pumped in, etc. Let’s wait for the next album and see if something is lacking and then we can debate. I personally am from the camp that listens to everything (as hard as it was to pick up Mike’s bass lines) and do feel he was a significant part of what made the “Holy 6″ so awesome. I don’t know if the VH camp is biting thier fingernails or not but they must feel some degree of pressure. The same thing happened with 5150…there was something to prove. I hope currently this is the case and we get some great music soon.
http://none Ducky / Dirty Duck

No prob Pete!

I respect your honesty and opinion my man!
Vanicionado

Pete and 51-50yr Old Fan… right with you boys!!

Preach it!!
Skutch

I’m not disagreeing that Ed has been uncool to just about everyone. That is old news, bro. I just don’t that he’s the only guilty party. He KNOWS that alcohol pretty much wrecked his life.

Pete and 50yrold, let me ask you this. Why is the mudslinging of Sam and Mike any more tolerable than Ed’s? To say “biting their nails” is an blast and you guys know that. I just don’t get where you guys are coming from.

50yrold, I envy that you got to see them back in the day. that rules.