Van Halen News Desk addresses the new album rumors

July 10, 2010 116 Comments

Van Halen “We believe big time in publicizing the shit out of ‘we ain’t talkin’.’ First we make goddamn sure that everybody knows we ain’t saying anything…”

-David Lee Roth, 1997

We at the Van Halen News Desk feel that the majority of fans and even music news websites have misinterpreted Janie Van Halen’s recent statement. Many people are reacting as if Janie simply said that Van Halen is NOT making an album.

Janie gave a vague, two sentence statement to Rolling Stone: “What is going around is exactly that, rumors. I don’t have any updates at this time.” She did not deny the rumors. She didn’t confirm them, either.

The rock community is so hungry for new music from Van Halen that it believed what it wanted to hear. The rumor spread like wildfire. The fact that this was simply a rumor got lost in the excitement, and, in a matter of days, websites and countless radio stations were reporting the rumor as fact. Janie wanted to clarify that the news that was going around about a “new Van Halen album coming out next year” was only rumors and that it was not actual news that was put out by the band, and therefore not anything that people should count on.

If Van Halen is currently writing music for an album, you can bet that she would not admit it now. Van Halen is not the type of band that frequently gives their fans updates on what they are doing. That’s because they don’t want to say anything until their plans are 100% solid and everything is in place. If the band really is working on new music for an album, you wouldn’t hear it from them until the album is finished. They would not want to announce any plans that might not come to fruition.

For those who say that Van Halen must not care about the fans because they do not give them frequent updates… just the fact that Janie clarified that the “news” was just rumors proves that the band does care and doesn’t want misinformation spread. They don’t want want the fans to count on something happening that they didn’t say would happen.

Some loyal VHND readers have been asking us why we don’t simply contact Janie and ask her if anything is going on. Suffice to say, we do have a rapport with Janie, and if there was anything she wanted us to know at this time, she would let us know.

So, will we see a new Van Halen album and/or tour next year? The facts are, two guitarists who are friends with Eddie – Dweezil Zappa and John 5 – have both recently admitted to hearing new Van Halen material and that it was killer. That’s good sign. Time will tell.

Filed Under: Van Halen, VHND

bbl70

I am sure we would all really like to know what was cut out of that Lopez clip. My question is this: if the VH camp wanted us fans to be alerted to something “that we would really like” on the Lopez show and “unfortunately” the tidbit was edited, then why not just tell us what it was that was edited? One thing VH is good for is building anticipation. I have a feeling the VH boys are cooking up something big here folks. They are going to give us fans what we need. I am really looking forward to seeing what Wolfie brings to the table. I think we are going to be surprised what the kid can do.
Tommy Boy

Goddammit….maybe Ed farted and they edited that shit out? Why does everything have to be a “secret”? A great deal of ridiculous speculation about ALL of this. Alot of you rode the short bus to school…
Jor-L5150

i DO beleive they are working on a record- but they are taking it slow ( really? no kidding ) and don’t want to have the hype get out of control.

IF they finish a record they won’t say a word untill it is DONE. as frustrating as it is, its actually better than roy daniels management that had van halen reunite with roth on MTV all the while VH was planning on hiring an unknown singer who had the goos sense to quit leaving a position for gary.
bbl70

Just like Dave said on the last tour, “We’re building tension here–how are we doing so far???”
VHfan

I would like to hear a new VH album as much as anybody – but let’s face it, they have lost the plot with their fans. Any band that pull’s in 93 million on a reunion tour and then dissappears for two years without anything resembling an interaction with their loyal followers (news, updates, or new material from the actual band – not just third-party hearsay) shows where their priorities are: grab the money and run.

With twitter/facebook and everything else available it is no effort at all to have an interaction with your fanbase. Simply put, if VH isn’t making a huge profit they would prefer to ignore their fans. The only thing Eddie has shared with the fans in the last few years are his massively overpriced EVH brand guitars and gear. They are good quality stuff but the prices are absurd.

I’m sure I’ll be slated for criticizing VH on the VHND but the band has embarassed themselves quite a few times over the years with the way they treat their fans so I will bet the farm that the next few years will be no different.

Just look at what Metallica are doing these days and what they have done over the past 20 years to get a clear example of what VH could have done…
Adrian

This needed to happen. Solid explanation, VHND silences all the fucking losers who foul up this site.
Karl

Well, well…

Hey, maybe what they’re working on stinks and that’s why they don’t want to say anything. Maybe the magic just ain’t there anymore…

Who knows.
Matt from Australia

Wow VHND…CLASS DISMISSED!!!
jim

After reading various posts here in the last few years, I often wonder how most of you people ever survived before the internet.
Opusthe1

@bbl70:
“the VH camp wanted us fans to be alerted to something “that we would really like” on the Lopez show.”

That something was probably just seeing Eddie play. I liked it, tho it was a painful 58 minutes to get there. How pissed would everybody have been if they didn’t alert us and we missed the live airing. We’d be complaining that they don’t bleepin communicate with the fans.

If there was really anything more, the message would’ve gotten out by now. If Eddie wanted to say something then, he would say it now I reckon. He calls the shots. Sure there was editing but saying “something got cut” is just them trying let everybody who wanted to see the band live or announce a record / tour or Eddie play with the GL band down easy.
VHSteve

Agreed Jim. Relax and enjoy the summer folks … sheesh!
John

We will get something when you least expect it, isn’t that how the saying goes?
John

Type in “Edward Van Halen talks about going on tour” on youtube. Somebody caught him and his kid coming out of a restaurant and he talks about touring again with Dave and new material. I posted the link a couple of times, not sure it’s making it to the MB.
CSM

Let’s face it, Van Halen has been a disappointment for the past 14 years.
DanHalen

The band needs to go back to their old ways of recording. If you take all the time spent in the recording studio for their first 5 albums it wouldn’t add up to the time spent on VH III and I think we all know what a piece of crap that was. Too much time pissin’ around….just write it….record it….and get it on the road!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtOr65jRm0w Skutch

Jim, you rule.

Vote: Jim/Scar 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtOr65jRm0w Skutch

CSM, make that 26 years. Ouch.
Robert

I know someone who knows someone right in the center of the VH camp. Don’t ask who, but, trust me, it’s someone directly in the inner circle. This source has said, in so many word,s that something is definitely brewing up on VH Hill. But no timeframe or dates were provided. And the details were few.

The bottom line is that Ed and his band will put out some music when they are good and ready. That’s just the way it is and all the bitching and moaning about the lack of new VH music isn’t going to change the reality, which is that we will all just have to sit tight. If you’re tired of sitting tight, too bad; you have no other choice. Just deal with it.

Or take your mind off of it by going to http://www.wolfgangsvault.com and listening to the thousands of live concerts there (but sorry…no VH). Remember the King Biscuit Flower Hour? I used to live for that weekend radio show back in the day. Well, every concert from that program is available to listen to for free. And most of the shows are uncut. It’s a virtual gold mine of great music.

Or go to a torrent site and download some bootlegs. There are so many great concert recordings out there for the taking! This is the time to catch up of some good music, while waiting for VH to crank out another album.

Or you can just complain…and pretend that it actually makes a difference.
http://www.vhnd.com Simon from Switzerland

Thanks VHND !
Ed is ALWAYS jamming and recording, and that’s fine, but what we need is a REmaster of the Classic Albums with DLR (incl. Demos and unreleased Songs) AND a NEW record incl. a World Tour in 2011 !
HipPockit

There have been a few posts about the age of the internet and how rumors get turned into ‘news’ faster than the reality of a press release from the source, for example. I think mentally everyone compares past experience, including the 1980′s and 1990′s, and I believe in those days we read about a new record in a small side article in Rolling Stone and thought, “WOW! New music! I can’t wait.” and before you knew it, which could have been months, the record was released. Now, if someone not even remotely related to the group posts a twitter comment about a new demo track, all of a sudden the rumor mill makes an insignificant demo into an album coming out in 2011. Its just another reason why I’m ditching social networking on the web, personally.
Al

Thank you VHND! xx
=VH=OZ

Now that wasn’t so hard now was it?! Happy now all you naysayers and EVH bashers?!! Van Halen are old school rockers, plain & simple! They do things their way, always have always will!! They have always stayed low when their plotting & planning, they make sure things are 100% VH approved!! I only got one biff with Van Halen, they better tour Australia!!!
bbl70

This is a pivotal time for VH. The future of this band depends on them putting out a new album and having it be well recieved by the fans. Wolfie IS the future of Van Halen and I feel that Eddie knows that he needs to get it right this time for Wolfies future and the future of VH. I am confident that there will be a new album and that it is going to kick ass!!!
NotSoDiamondDave

Sit back and relax people…Last time there was Hype before a VH album was completed and ready to go was VHIII when the record company [the Record company?!?!!] were going on and on about this being Ed’s best work yadda-yadda – that scared me when I heard that, and let me tell you, the album speaks for itself *LOL* — No news, is good news.

It all comes down the to the silence of Roth. He’s quiet – something is happening. Will it be this year or next? Who knows. But until Roth speaks up one way or another – something is brewing and we just gotta sit back, wait – and check this site 3-4 times a day like we all do waiting for the news.

Surgery, recovery, high school graduation, keeping friendships intact (Dave and Eddie fighting, making up, reminiscing, fighting, laughing, making up etc etc), planning, jamming, all that stuff… it takes time – if they really wanted to wait until Wolfie graduated, then guess what, it’s only been a few weeks since then!!

Let’s all hope this will be the summer of major rockin jams at 5150 with a single out in the Fall.

And you know, if not, I still hope those boys have a summer of major rockin jams regardless of whether we ever hear it.
http://www.vhnd.com Garrett

Thank you VHND! THE place to go for all things VH! \m/
John

It’s not 1984 anymore. Hopefully people visiting this website have more important things in their lives to worry about than interpreting some obscure quote by Janie Van Halen. Do I want to hear new music? Most definitely. I’ve been a loyal fan for over 30 years, but I don’t feel like they owe me anything. I have other priorities in life… my wife, kids, job, etc.
Ronald

What a bs statement is this. VH is not the kind of band that gives frequent updates. Tell me something i don’t now. They tell us nothing. And that is in my mind the problem. Why is there not a statement from VH. What’s the reason that they don’t give us some concrete news about there plans. Is Dave still around? The fans are more than patient. 12 years is a long time to wait for some new music. Come on give us a break.
JMC

While I am as frustrated as the average die-hard VH fan at the lack of info and the non-denial denial, I totally understand it. Just look at how we all over-react to even the slightest news about a potential new album. Any new material that VH put out is likely to underwhelm simply due to the massive expectations that we have. I also remember what a let down it was after the MTV awards disater in the 90′s. If something’s coming (and it is certainly starting to look that way) I rather have them get it right than have it put out too quickly. I’ll be there when it happens. Until then I have enough bootlegs to keep me happy.
Sephryan

I think someone else said here a couple days ago. This is probably the calm before the storm.. Or could be nothing. You never know with these guys. After all the years of vague news I’ve come to the conclusion that this is just their new formula for keeping everyone interested and wanting anything they can get their hands on in the world of Van Halen. What I mean it they sort have taken on this “lets keep everything a mystery” way of thinking and it works. The more the mystery the more the interest. When bands or celebs are in the news everyday and you know everything they are doing it sort of takes the steam out of the excitement a little for me. I mean, I like Chickenfoot and all but I don’t need to know what Sammy had for lunch today. A little mystery would be nice in the Sammy camp. Having said all that, it would be nice for Van Halen to throw us a bone every now and then. If I had my wish it would be this: Get Ted Templeman back, record a new album, don’t overdub more than one or two guitar tracks, loose that terrible generic over powered guitar tone and get back to the same guitar setup Ed used for VH1 and Fair Warning (The ture brown sound that never gets old) and rock the hell out!! Why is that so hard?? Of course I would love to see Mike back but I don’t see that happening. Just wish Wolf would have a little more fun on stage instead of just standing there looking totally out of place..
Aftershock

I believe that here’s where we are in the career phase of Van Halen: “I reach down between my legs, ease the seat back … ”

When the time is right, the band will be off and running again, with pistons poppin’, hitting the “Ain’t no stopping now!” phase. (One of my favorite moments in VH video-dom.)
dude

@sephryan: Couldn’t agree more on the tone issues! I know times change but sometimes a solid dose of “yesterday” is in order. I can dream anyway.
bbl70

Hey Tommy Boy. There is a great deal of speculation here because its all we have. I am a lifelong VH fan and passionate about my favorite band. I am trying to stay positive. I love the VHND because it is the only source of VH news and it is a place where I can comiserate with like minded fans. And about the short bus comment. How do you know that some of us do not have children with special needs that ride the “short bus”??? If the speculation is so annoying to you why do you read these posts.
http://www.bellapop.com Bran Halen

I’ll be excited for a new album but for now I just keep listening to the albums with both Sammy and Dave and it never gets old!
Hamm I Am

I will say this…if you want VH news, this is the place to get it if there is any.
Jor-L5150

where there’s smoke….

see, it’s not as if ed came out and said dweezil zappa is a rotten liar. dweezil is a very legitimate source with no reason to start BS-ing all of a sudden.

dweezil ( i dont know anything about john5 ) IS a guy who is friends with eddie.
dweezil IS the kind of guy ed would have over and listen to things not meant for public ( yet ) consumption.
dweezil isn’t making it up.

now, of course in 2000/2001 ed and dave were in the studio working up demos and it went nowhere. but both ed and dave confirmed the rumors after the fact.

chances are VERY probable they are knee-deep in writing/recording and just don’t want to put the cart in front of the horse.

if the sessions fail- then we wont hear ANY of it till ed croaks. then you can bet a big-ass deluxe box set will come out.
Manuel

What about a world tour and a meet and greet packages?
Snoova

<>

Not trying to split hairs here, but I thought niether Dave OR Van Halen ever confirmed this. Wasn’t it Sammy who spilled this in like 2002? Didn’t he say something like “yeah, they tried it again in 2000 but it fell apart.” And people thought he was lying. Then Mike Anthony confirmed it in like 2003 and said that they had put together 3 great songs but doesn’t think Eddie would ever release them.

I may be wrong, but I thought that’s how the VH 2000 rumor was “confirmed”…

Confused???
Snoova
Snoova

Sorry, my above comment was toward Jor’el5150′s

“now, of course in 2000/2001 ed and dave were in the studio working up demos and it went nowhere. but both ed and dave confirmed the rumors after the fact. ”

Unable to properly cut n’ paste….
Snoova
freddiegirl

Thanks VHND for the updates. I really do appreciate them! I think that Dave’s silence and the fact that Janie didn’t deny the rumors is a really big plus that points to VH working on new stuff. They really have never been a band to give out constant updates so here’s hoping; I for one am positive…
mcstravi

I re-watched a TMZ “interview” catching Eddie outside of a restaurant dated Aug 2009. At the time he said he was recovering from his hand surgery, but they were already doing a bit of rehearsing and preparing for the next tour (with Dave) and playing some new music but he couldn’t really play and it would take another 4 months to get back in shape.
Assuming the time-line is accurate, it meant he wouldn’t be able to go full throttle on his ax until basically early 2010.
Since Eddie is a perfectionist, I think he would spend a couple of months rebuilding his strength before getting into full jam sessions.
So there is probably something to the new music and tour rumors, but with Eddie and Dave’s past, I’m sure it isn’t a smooth progression and that’s probably why the date is still in question, and as VHND said, the band probably didn’t want to get the fan’s hope too high until something is concrete.

I look forward to hearing whatever it is…I always thought if Eddie was tired of the Van Halen group atmosphere, but wanted to continue to share his love of the guitar, he would shift into either doing something like Slash, putting together songs with various artists or doing a stint with G3 (which would be awesome), or shift it down a notch and do some club scenes (like Chickenfoot), kicking out some blues (like his Starship jams…which again was awesome)
rjp_bolt05

well, I’ll believe it when I see it in my hand at the cash register…not coincidentally, this is why I check this website ONLY every year or so…checking more frequently is a waste of time…

and that isn’t a dig at this site at all…
Hokey Pokey

Meh! I’ll believe there is new Van Halen when I hear it on LOPEZ TONIGHT! Yes sir – that’s my one stop shop for all things VH.
mjc

BB170,Tommy boy has made inappropriate&insensitive comments in previous posts,i no longer read his comments.He’s an exremely ignorant person who’s in need of some sensitivity training.I know the foot will be rockin in 2011 with some good pr behind it,i hope vh dose the same.
The Doctor

“There have been reports that “Van Halen” are a working rock band. I’d like to quash those rumors right now. “Van Halen” haven’t been a working rock band since a nostalgia tour some time ago. If “Van Halen” are to return, it won’t be until all goodwill earned from the nostalgia tour has been exhausted. Those who are interested in a “Van Halen” related working rock band, please see “Chickenfoot” Many thanks”
Tim

Why do people want a new Van Halen album? I was as big of a VH fan as anyone in the 80′s and 90′s, but come on, people. You hear Eddie’s playing on the last two tours. You heard the new 2004 songs with Sammy. You heard the 1998 album. You heard the new 1996 songs with Dave (better than the 2004 ones, but nothing like old VH). So, what did you think? Do you REALLY want to hear what kind of overproduced schlock is going to come out of 5150 in 2010 or 2011?

What we really need is a boxed set of unreleased old VH and live shows. THAT would be something to be excited about.
Nat

I’m with Tim. No matter what they put out, it’s not going to be as good as the original albums, in most people’s opinions. People grew up listening to this stuff, and it means a lot more to most of us than just the quality of the music. A new album isn’t going to have that same emotional hook, no matter how good it is. A boxed set of old unreleased and/or live stuff would be a lot better received, I’ll bet.

And when it comes down to it, this is a First World problem. It’s hardly an end-of-the-world issue.
Robert

It has been 12 years since Van Halen III. I was in college. Now I am a 33 year old man and Van Halen still haven’t released anything new. How many American presidents must we go through before Van Halen release a new album?

Now the rumor is that they might not release a new album till 2011. Someone in Van Halen will die of old age before this new album will be released.

Camp Van Halen states that it cares about its fans. I don’t believe that. If they cared, lets see Eddie get up in front of the camera and tell his loyal fans what they are doing. I don’t want to hear from his wife, I want to hear from him.
The fans deserve to know if they are recording a new album and when it will be released.

After all, we are the ones buying their cd’s, t-shirts, concert tickets, guitar and drum equipment with their names on it, posters, stickers, hats, etc. Since we spend our hard earned money on them, I think they (the band, not their spouse’s) could at least tell us what they are doing.

Otherwise you have a Gun N’ Roses scenario. Remember what happened when GNR’s Chinese Democracy? I sure do. You would walk into a Best Buy and they would have hundreds of GNR’s Chinese Democracy albums sitting on the discount racks because nobody cared anymore about them.

That is what you get when you stay silent and don’t release any new music for 10-15 years.
Kimberly

Hey The Doctor I am pretty sure you don’t know Ed personally therefore you have no say. Thanks for the petty statement tho about how you have given up. Aahhh gotta love the true fans.

Tim, I feel ya. Seems to be what is gonna happen. Tour tour tour! Haha
itsdaveman

it should be called looking up old friends.or good friends ,id say their waiting for inspiration,ideas to come to them. mk.
RUSS

Guys and gals:

Relax. There is going to be new music so enjoy whatever else you listen to for the time being…you know, your tier two and three groups. Let’s try this angle: Wolfgang has been listening to the old stuff – he goes to Dad and says “Dad the old stuff was great, you should do that again. EVH, who loves his son and wants to play with him considers the idea and decides that yes, he wants to create a record with his boy. On the way he states how his son is “Kicking his *ss because he is reminding him: “No Dad, that’s not the way you played it.” EVH has needed to take the time to learn how to play and create without the influence of alcohol. He is enjoying the process with Wolfgang but now has some things to prove to himself, his son, and yes us. With that in mind, he WANTS IT TO BE GOOD. DLR and EVH have that kind of tension filled relationship. DVH has always been a good rudder because he understands the VH brand better then EVH himself. Now add Wolfgangs influence who’s taste for the old stuff coinsides with DLR’s sensibilities. I think we are all going to be pleasantly surprized and pleased with the result.