Michael Anthony of Van Halen & Chickenfoot Shares His Favorite Songs

March 23, 2010 64 Comments

Bass Player for rock supergroup Chickenfoot Michael Anthony is this week’s guest blogger for AOL Radio, sharing his favorite songs. Also former member of rock outfit Van Halen, Anthony shows a strong influence on classic rock and heavy metal — especially tracks that rock walking bass lines and trills. Featuring Hendrix, Cream, Deep Purple and more, here are Anthony’s favorite tracks.

These are favorite songs of mine that have influenced me when I started playing music.

Read the full story at AOL Radio Blog

Filed Under: Michael Anthony

Tommy Boy

Mikey is just fuckin’ awesome….nice song choices.
FAMAC

The Montrose tune is the worst of all of them. It sounds like beginners on guitar – no finesse. Around 45 seconds into it I was bored to tears. Good to see Sammy is using the same 40 words lyric book he owned back in the day. The rest of the stuff was good picks, though I alos didn’t care too much for the Grand Funk tune. Live at Leeds is an amazing record.
Bluesbro

I love these influential, insight articles.

I have to agree with Zep’s Lemon Song. That has to be one of the most out front, kick ass bass lines EVER.
MA=VH

“Our first producer, Ted Templeman, produced these guys (Montrose), and I remember all of us in Van Halen telling Ted that we wanted to sound big and bad, just like them. Who would have known that one day I would end up playing in a band with Sammy Hagar, who was their lead singer?? I still play this song with Sammy when we perform today. This is one of the great all time rock songs.”
Well, I’m sure that statement will open up the floodgates for all the haters. I see FAMAC has already started, wonder who will be next?

MA=VH
Ron

Whether or not you like Sammy/CF/etc. you’ve got to think it’s cool for Mike to be playing with and be friends with Sammy, when he liked Montrose so much back in the day.

Would be kind of like one of us getting to play in a band with a member of VH one day.
Dooley

Rock on, Mr. Anthony. Be proud, very proud.
kayser sozay

Easy FAMAC. I’m sure if Mikey had been allowed to include 11 songs, yours would have been next.
Karl

^ Lol!
Joe

@FAMAC where can we buy your hit songs? I’m sure you’re quite the prolific songwriter.

Sammy’s only been been putting albums since ’73. Give him some time to catch up to you.
Drew

If I were Mike, I would have at least included a song or two from VH. Funny how his boss has the number one spot.
Rich

Knew somebody would say something about Montrose being #1. It might have been his favourite, it might not be in any particular order.

It doesn’t really matter. Most of those are pretty cool songs, Child in Time live is amazing, shame Deep Purple was sucked into the Whitesnake/Rainbow vortex.

Interesting fact I just read, apparently Sammy keeps the Waboritas on lifetime pay so that when he wants to play, they will be available. No wonder people around Sammy stick with him, can you imagine being on indefinite pay so that when Sammy Hagar rings you up you say “Yeah sure we can do some shows in Cabo” or “Yeah sure Sam we’ll be at the studio in 10″. Man, what a life. Say what you like about Sammy but that is pretty damn cool.

Sorry to go off topic, just thought I’d put that out there. Mikey is keeping the fans posted as always.
Panama Red

Yeah Rich, I remember Sammy saying something like “As far as I’m concerned the Waboritas are on the payroll for life.” Sammy seems like a pretty generous cat to me. A cool Motherfu**er!

I really like Mike’s song choices. Most of ‘em I’m very familiar with but there are a couple I’m gonna have to give another listen. Cool stuff, I always like this kind of interview. It’s cool to hear what some of my favorite musicians are into.
I agree about “Rock Candy.” Since the first time I heard that song I was entranced. It is a Classic!
I never get tired of listening to that song, and over the years I’ve probably listened to that song a thousand times.
http://www.vhnd.com Pat G.

Classic tunes, all of them. I guess thats what turned Mike into such a great bass player and from what he has said, his sister got him the first record that got him into playing bass, so we can thank his sister as well.
VH3

Sammy is very generous for doing that. not many people of Sammy’s status are like that.
Herb

FAMAC earns my Donk-o-the-day award.
dlrevhsh

rock candy one of my favorites as well. I dont care what anybody says sammy is a way better person and musician then dave dont get me wrong dave is awesome and is probably better with van halen then sam im just sayin overall sammy is better.
arthur_bishop1972

Thank you FAMAC for a reality break. Love MA, but Montrose?? Even at #10, it’s out of place there, and a pos too.
ImTheOne

Mike must be such a happy man, out of all the great legendary bands of the world, you name them, the Beatles, Stones, Who, Led Zep, Deep Purple, Hendrix, Montrose, Waboritas, Chickenfoot… he managed to play together with the best singer of all of them: Sammy Hagar!
ImTheOne

What a pity Van Halen never managed to sound like Montrose. I’m sure they were having sleepless nights over how they ever could sound like them.
stew

I’ve never even heard a Montrose song! Who are they ?
D.O.A.

Am I missing something? I Thought after reading the article, it was about who MA really grooved on, and bass players of influence when he started playing.

Little did I realize it was disguised as a lightning rod issue for our little band of trolls.

Instead of debating who should be on the list of Mike’s favs, list yours and the reasons.
Johnny

Good point DOA, Ive always liked Everybody Wants Some, well, because…Doesnt everybody want some????
Canes_fan5150

Hang em high for the moment. Love the guitar in that song. It will probably change soon though. It always does. And, Good call Johnny, I would like some right now.
Canes_fan5150

I enjoyed the article until I got to #1. I love mikey but it sounds like he is kissin ass.
FAMAC

I’m surprised he didn’t list any Beatles tunes as Paul is generally considered one of the best bass players.
dirty face kid

i would much rather roth say hello and post his fav 10 songs..
Darren from Staten Island

Mike is a class act. There’s no accounting for taste. It is what it is. As far as bass playing goes Steve Harris and Geddy Lee and say what you want but Sting are among my faves. I would have a different selection of song bur I grew up durring a slitly different era. So, yeah I agree I think he might be suckin’up a lil’ bit. Keep rocken VH fans. The best fans in the world. (Oh,sorry I didn’t mean to kiss you guys asses)lol.
Herb

Doesn’t sound like ass kissing to me. They asked; he answered with his freakin favorites!Who the fuck argues about another persons favorite list. Geezus.

Sounds to me like “Donk-o-the-day” goes to Canes, with dirty face a close second.

If you’re going to post for gawdsake, do something original as DOA suggested.
D.O.A.

@ Johnny….lol. I’ve always liked that song for the same reason!
Panama Red

Canesfan_5150 – People who are in bands together usually get together because they have a common interest in a particular style of music. Even if you aren’t in a band, you usually like at least some of the same music your friends do. People that hang out together usually have some things in common, so I don’t think he’s kissing anybody’s ass! Why would Mike Anthony kiss anyone’s ass anyway!? Lmfao
Are you saying Mike can’t enjoy listening to Montrose because Sammy used to be in the band? C’mon man, Ronnie Montrose was a kick-ass guitar player. That was a great band full of great musicians, it wasn’t just because Sammy was in the band. Even though it was never the same without him, IMHO.
Listen to “Rock Candy” again, how could anybody NOT think that song kicks ass. That song would probably be on a lot of people’s fav rock song lists. No ass kissing is necessary to think that is an AWESOME F-ING song!

Stew – The Montrose band that Mike included on his list was a 70′s rock band that Sammy Hagar fronted. They produced some really great rock songs, especially for that time period. They were considered inventive and “ground-breaking” because of their sound during that era of music. The line-up at the particular time was:
Ronnie Montrose – (guitar) Sammy Hagar – (vocals) Denny Carmassi – (drums) Bill Church – (bass)
Bill Church left after the debut album and was replaced by Alan Fitzgerald for the second album – “Paper Money”
Sammy later recruited Bill Church, Denny Carmassi and also Alan Fitzgerald for some of his solo projects.(Sammy poached all of Ronnie’s bandmates. J/K HAHA)
Sammy Hagar did two albums with Montrose. The self titled album from 1973 which is a Great album, I love almost every song from the first album.
“Paper Money” was their second effort in ’74 and in my opinion wasn’t nearly as good of an album (sounds even more dated than the debut release) but it’s still a pretty good album and worth checking out, especially for the cover of the Rolling Stones song “Connection”(I remember back in the day putting headphones on and just zoning out to that song – heh heh) I also really love “I Got The Fire” from that album it Kicks Ass! And I like the title song “Paper Money” lyrically. It’s a good song about an important subject IMO.
Michael

The Roth camp can’t seem to understand, there isn’t a ‘wrong’ when talking about art and music. Each opinion is correct to the individual, I respect their right to love all things Roth/VH or whatever, and they should respect the opinions of others…including Michael Anthonys…

it’s not a competition, it’s music
Jones

Would you Roth tools take it easy? Stop being so bitter that your God isn’t doing anything and hasn’t done anything in a very very very very very long time.

Name another singer other than Paul Rodgers to front bands with the likes of Ronnie Montrose, Neil Schon, Eddie Van Halen, and Joe Satriani.

Grow up children
Bluesbro

Panama Red, nice Montrose history lesson. I agree with it 100%. To this day I still have three songs from that album on my ipod and none of them is Rock Candy … lol. It was an all time classic rock album, no question about it. The other three you ask?

I Don’t Want It
One Thing On my Mind
Make it Last
phillster

“Name another singer”??Hmmmm….let`s see,How`bout DAVIDLEEROTH:
EddieVanHalen,SteveVai,JasonBecker(rip),TerryKilgore,JohnLowery,SteveHunter&
RonRichotte…
Nobody`s bitter,except maybe you dude.
ROTH ain`t God,-he`s just the right man for the job,and
He does his job very well.
As a fan to a non-fan,
you don`t know what your missin`
Mark

I never really liked Montrose, I like Sammy’s solo work much better. Take off Rock Candy and I like the list.
Panama Red

What’s up Bluesbro – Yeah, I was gonna list my fav songs from the first Montrose album too, but then I realized it I would have listed all of the songs, except one.
kayser sozay

Montrose’s first album is a monster. Whether you like it or not, it’s hard to deny that it sounded way ahead of its time for ’72. Take a listen to Space Station #5 and, provided your face hasn’t melted off, tell me if you agree it sounds like something that could have been released in the last 10-15 years.
arthur_bishop1972

VH:

Outta Love Again
Loss of Control
Everybody Wants Some
Mean Street
Hear About it Later
Unchained
Bottoms Up
Somebody Get Me A Doctor
Could This Be Magic?
Spanish Fly

Non-VH:

Highway Star
Fool for the City
Slowride
Bargain
You May Be Right
Nighttrain
Rocket Queen
No Sugar Tonight
Good Times, Bad Times
Hot Legs
http://none Dirty Duck

Ok guys, Montrose was a cool group, but nothing spectacular.
“Rock Candy” is indeed a classic but there arent many others that make a lasting impression. Ronnie Montrose was a good guitar player and sam sounded good on lead vocals but the group never grabbed me ya know? Sammy’s early solo stuff, after montrose, I feel, sounded better. But whatever right? I’m a classic VH fan so who gives a fuck what I think.
Rich

arthur – Rocket Queen is ace! And the Live in Japan version of Highway Star kicks some serious ass.

I think everybody seems to be confused about the Montrose song. If I remember correctly, Eddie liked what Sammy did with Montrose and was probably another “pro” on the list when considering Sammy for the band.

Favourite VH song at the moment is probably “Runaround”, I’m learning it on guitar and man, the pre-chorus part blows me away every time. The phrasing Eddie uses there is genius. Great song. It always changes but probably usually something off of 5150, OU812, Van Halen II or Fair Warning.
http://none Dirty Duck

kayser:

I do agree though…..montrose was ahead of their time.
I think a lot has to do with Ted Templeman once again.
From “The Doobie Brothers…to Montrose…to =vh=…the guy knew how to produce a record. Ted rocks!
Wonder what ever happend to him.
Pete

Cool list, but if I was to choose ONE of Mikey’s many memorable bass lines, I’d choose “Push Comes To Shove”. That one is one of those cool lines I ALWAYS play when I put on a bass.

We love you Mikey!!!!!!!
MICAL VEE

The start of bad motor scooter is a cool guitar riff! You can tell mick mars of motley crue is a fan as the start of kick start my heart sounds the same!
Dooley

Mick Mars is a trooper. He’s got a lower back condition that limits his mobility and is probably painful. But he never let it stop him. I admire that, and I’m sure his Motley Crue bandmates do as well.
VH Dude

Back in the 80′s, probably Circus magazine!, I read an interview with Motley Crue where they said they would listen to Rock The Nation (first track on Montrose’ first album) before walking on stage just to get fired up (Theater of Pain tour I believe). I like to think that the beginning of Kickstart My Heart is a little nod to Montrose. They loved that album.

Van Halen used to play Rock Candy in the club days with Roth. Every time Dave used to say he’d never sing a Sammy song, but Sammy had to sing his songs…I wonder if he was hoping Sammy wouldn’t bring that up. Of course Van Halen played it live when Sammy joined the band too. The song kicks ass – I don’t think Mike was kissing up to Sammy at all. I think he was just being truthful about a song that he’s loved since the early days of Van Halen.
Panama Red

I vaguely remember reading years ago that Ronnie Montrose bumped into Mick Mars somewhere and called him out on the beginning of “Kickstart My Heart” and Mick Mars admitted that he ripped him off. lol
Mick was like ”What do you want me to do?” And Ronnie was like “How ‘bout some money?” ha ha.
The difference is Montrose played slide guitar to get that effect whereas Mars uses his Floyd Rose whammy.
When Sammy plays “Bad Motor Scooter” live he plays with a slide too, like Ronnie did.
arthur_bishop1972

Mick Mars is a better guitar player than Sammy Hagar.
http://none Dirty Duck

VHDude:

C’mon man! If you join a band (as the new frontman) that has been active for almost 10 years how could you NOT be expected to sing those old songs? It’s almost like people here are astonished that any die hard fan of the group would want to hear the classics that made the band what it is.
Sammy HAD to sing roth era songs? I dont recall any songs other then “Panama , Jump, and You really got me being sung by sam during those early shows. It wasnt until the mid 90′s that sam became more “comfortable” singing classic VH. And even then you could tell he wasnt into it. Cant blame him for that, but c’mon vhdude…dont make it seem like sam was such a sport and was keeping the fans happy by singing a dave song.
The band sang old montrose songs back in the day because VH started as a cover band. You play whats popular….be it walk this way….KC and the sunshine band….or rock candy.
The band knew 100′s of songs….rock candy was one of em’.
I just dont see your point I guess.
Herb

You know, I’ve been watching the posts for a fair amount of time now and have decided that arthur_bishop1972 is likely the troll with the lowest I.Q. You consistently bring NOTHING to any forum and when you do, such thought provoking insights as “Mick Mars is a better guitar player than Sam” back up my theory. Wow…way to go out on the furthest limb you donk. Hagar isn’t considered a lead guitar player, though he really can play.
kayser sozay

No surprise to me at all that Sam was never comfortable singing the classic VH tunes when he joined. Though Dirty Duck, I saw the 5150 tour and specifically remember Sammy singing Ain’t Talking Bout Love while he was hanging out over the crowd from the lighting rigs. That’s one tune you missed.

Sam’s a down to Earth guy and all but like anybody famous, he’s got an ego. And like anybody at all, he’s got some insecurities. Even if he thought he could sing the classic VH tunes better than Roth – and even if he was right – he’s smart enough to know that the fans will always prefer the Roth version because that’s the version they fell in love with. He was already in an uphill battle with a lot of fans when he joined for simply replacing Roth. Why give them more reason to dislike him when he can’t win singing those songs. I think it was a natural and human choice to limit the classic VH tunes for that reason. I always preferred Sam’s voice to Roth’s generally but I’ll always prefer Roth’s voice in the classic VH songs.