Exclusive VHND Chickenfoot Update: Album & Single Details Revealed

June 30, 2011 45 Comments

The Van Halen News Desk received a surprise update straight from Michael Anthony today, when he personally called us and said that he reads the VHND every day, and that he wanted to give us the inside scoop on some important details about Chickenfoot’s upcoming album and first single. “Okay,” said Michael, “Here’s some breaking news for ya – I hope that you feel special ‘cuz you’re the first I’m telling this too, after my wife (laughs)”. You heard it here first!

ALBUM RELEASE DATE: The official release date for Chickenfoot’s second album is Sept 27th, 2011.

ALBUM TITLE: Michael did not want to divulge the album title at this time, but after we pressed him, he did at least admit that the title will not be the rumored title, “Chickenfoot IV”.

FIRST SINGLE: The first single from the album is scheduled to be released in July.

Some more info from Michael – “Sammy is really coming up with some great lyrics! And Chad’s really excited, even though he won’t be able to go on tour this time. We’re really going to miss having him on tour. We’ll get an amazing drummer for the tour, but they would only be filling in for Chad, not replacing him.” No word yet on who will be filling in for Chad.

When we asked if there is any possibility that Chad Smith would be able to play just a few shows on the tour, Michael replied, “I can’t say right now. It’s a scheduling issue. We wouldn’t want to pull him away from the Chili Peppers tour during any short breaks, because he’ll probably be tired and want to spend time with his family.”

We will keep in touch with Michael and we’ll have another exclusive interview with him sometime in the near future, as things get rolling with the ‘Foot.

Filed Under: Chickenfoot, Michael Anthony

Jake

Very awesome. Thank you VHND! First album was great and I think the second will be even better. It’s cool that Anthony would do something like this. The song names alone sound heavy.

New Van Halen and new Chickenfoot. This will be a great time for sure!
ousawvh2

This is awesome news for CF fans! Now if we could get any real news from the VH camp about the new album 2011 will be twice as awesome.
Hammer

Sounds fantastic! Bring on the Foot!
dwalter

Go CF! Go VH!
Black Sand 78

Given Van Halen’s secrecy, Michael Anthony’s sharing of information is extremely refreshing. Ultimately, all that matters is that Van Halen releases an album and tours extensively. And a concert DVD would be icing on the cake. But I give Michael a lot of credit for releasing details in the interest of the fans. Thank you, Michael. I’m a dedicated fan of both eras of VH, and the first Chickenfoot album is currently in the CD rotation in my car stereo. And your trademark background vocals still bring a smile to my face and help nourish my rock n’ roll soul. Thank you for thinking of the fans and for taking the time to contact the Van Halen News Desk, the center of the VH/Chickenfoot/Roth and Hagar universe when it comes to information. I think it’s very classy of him to have personally given the update on the new Chickenfoot CD.
jasonbourne

Thank You Michael for caring about your fans and keeping us in the loop. You are a CLASS ACT, an awesome musician, a great human being. Rock On Brother and see you on tour
Phil in Minneapolis

“New Van Halen and new Chickenfoot. This will be a great time for sure!” – I second that, Jake!
chazz

Michael, thanks for showing your fans the appreciation that you do, and for being so down to earth. Same goes for Sammy.
No Mas Tony

@ Black Sand 78 — great post! Ditto.
Benny

Wow that was too easy! Think of it this way…VH and Chickenfoot started their albums at the same time this year. Chickenfoot is all wrapped up and release date is confirmed. New single any day now. VH….well more of the same nothing!. No word on anything related to the band or album. We have no official word that anything is actually done. Same as the last 10 or 12 years from them. God bless Sammy and the foot!
Vanchickenhalenfoot

Let’s do it! By this time next year, we should have two great new albums by two groups consisting of legendary musicians!
Valen

Go Chickenfoot!!!, Go Van Halen Indeed!!!!!
Jim

I got $$$ in my pocket and there are two albums coming out – VH and Chickenfoot. I can tell you right now my $$ will be going to Chickenfoot because they communicate with their fans. You guys rock!!
Jake

Hey, just a thought…. If Mike has the time to do it, could he become a regular writer/contributor for VHND, sharing stories, insights on the business, possibly any unreleased material he maybe holding on to? I think that’d be a lot of fun.
john

Isn’t it refreshing to have someone respect the fans ? Mike is definitely a class act.
Hollywood Joe

Sep 25 I’ll be rocking to VH in Sydney, and getting ready to part with my hard earned cash on new ‘Foot two days later!! What a week this is gonna be!!
OzzyVanHalen

looking forward to hearing Chickenfoot once again!
I really enjoyed their debut album. I’d say that Chickenfoot is one of the best supergroups of the decade!
Rossiter

Sweet!
Panama Red

It’s a real bummer that Chad isn’t going to be able to tour with the ‘Foot this time around. I really feel it’s a perfect line-up. There’s something about those four guys that makes the perfect balance. Chad’s craziness and energy will be missed but I can’t stress this enough — Please PLEASE (Mike if you are reading this) Please get Vinnie Paul as the replacement. I promise you, Nobody after seeing and hearing Vinnie will be disappointed. To me, he is the only drummer that could bring as much excitement, power and energy to the ‘Foot that Chad brings. At the very least could ya’ll let Vinnie play the Texas dates. I was born and raised in Fort Worth and it would be so awesome to get to see Big Vin play with ya’ll. I’m sure all the other Texans and Cowboys From Hell would agree. (Ya’ll could party at The Clubhouse afterwards) You also might want to consider him to produce the third album. (Yes, I am optimistic for Chickenfoot to be around for a long while)
=VH=
CFH
Diamond Dean

cool! That was extremely cool from Mike!
Diamond Dean

Hollywood joe
, will cya there in sydney n melbourne if ya going
Karl

Take note VH, that’s al it takes. A few crumbs and we’re all stoked. Can you just imagine how this board would explode if Ed got off his ass and took five minutes out of his day to share a few words…

Nice one MA – linchpin for one of the biggest rock bands of all time and now knocking it out of the park alongside some of the best, yet he never forgets who pays the bills. If you had to pick just one guy out of the whole VH circus to have a beer with, this would be your man.
heycisco

Regarding a possible drummer replacement, I think Mike Portnoy is available! No need to look any further. He is crazy enough and is one of the best out there.
heycisco

Portnoy posted this on his forum on 22 June:

“Actually, I would LOVE to do it! (and I have already mentioned it to both Joe & Chad many months ago…)

But I have heard that have now re-thunk the idea of touring without Chad…so your guess, theory and hopes are as good as mine as to what they do!

But I just wanted to clarify so there was no rumours started about me & Chickenfoot, that my “other” really cool new band that I will begin working with next month is in fact something else entirely…
(but like mentioned elsewhere in this thread, it’s a bit of “my own” Chickenfoot or BCC…)”

So who knows…
Atomic Pete

Hmm.. He reads VHND every day?
Could one of us secretly be MA?
I’m looking at you “Jim”,or maybe “John”?
JVH

So Mike, you read VHND everyday? Any chance of chickenfoot maybe touring with VH to promo the new albums?
Rob Newell

I’m looking forward to seeing VH in Melbourne on 30th September. I now know what I’ll be listening to on the way there so thanks for that MA. Good times ahead. Surely VH will be road testing a few new songs whilst down under. Imagine being somewhere the very first time the mighty VH play a new song live. This is going to be an epic few months.
http://vhnd Robert D

Appreciate this Michael. Met him in Worcester on the 2004 tour, it was actually his birthday, super cool cat..Still remember him reminding Eddie of the backing lyrics to “Finish what ya started” during the sound check. I’m stoked to get to new albums from our heroes and the candidness in which Michael displays is so refreshing.
3hater

I think CF is poised to put out a great album, let’s hope they do. The last album was pretty good but didn’t blow me away, the live show here in Baltimore suffered from being performed at the Lyric Opera House with all it’s rules. Next time play a Rams Head Live or something! Stand in drummer needs to be well known to fit in with the band, maybe Tommy Lee or Matt Sorum or Jason Bonham?
Wolfgang76

Thanks Mike!! You’re the man!! Hey Mike, if you happen to read this I have a question for ya. I thought I remember reading years ago about you wishing you had a copy of your bass solo from the US festival 1983. The one were you fake a fight with your tech because some malfuntion, cord came out or something, can’t remember. Well, I have that tape!!
http://www.habbo.com Nick

I love how Michael can open up about Chickenfoot. But still no word on Van Halen new album.
http://ballistickarma.com Derek

DAMN! Sept. 27th! Thats my birthday! Cant wait to hear it! I know thats a lot of !s… Im just real happy Mike!
temple5150

Bummer, now that opens up the door for the VH crew to use the ubiquitous “IV” for their new album — mark my words.
http://www.youtube.com/user/Ed5150army kevin eaton

AWESOME NEWS CAN’T WAIT /|\
aaronindm

Mike – always a class act, high road kinda guy. I am sure there is MUCH more you could tell us about the goings-on over the last decade (and more), but appreciate your “let’s move on and keep it about the fans” attitude. I have always been impressed by you, both on AND off the stage….

OK enuf ass kissin…

Let’s work on that VH / CF / RHCP / HSAS combo tour!!
ben

hi Mike, cool to know you come here everyday, good luck on everything you do.

Glad you are having a good time with CF, I don’t really like it but what the heck 499,000 do.

Hope to see you with Van Halen one more time.
mjc

Mike,thank you for caring about us.The foot is bad ass.I wish you were in charge of the vh archives,since they’re in the wrong hands,rotting away.
FanofGreatMusic

Two great albums from two great bands! Looks like those will both be in rotation in my iPod along with all their other music!! 2011 Will ROCK!!!
OU1976ER

A new YES,Chickenfoot and VH CD!?! HAIL HAIL ROCK N ROLL! INDEED!
Nick K

Michael Anthony rules! Also, I wish I had boobs so he could sign them. Just sayin’.
Halen High

JVH says:
“So Mike, you read VHND everyday? Any chance of chickenfoot maybe touring with VH to promo the new albums?”

It’s an interesting concept. But most of the fans would obviously be there to see Van Halen, and probably half of them would boo Sammy or throw something at him, considering the reaction to his book and promo tour. Not a good vibe.
Brian

Hey Halen High, does it really bother you that much that VAN HALEN was successful with Sammy? You see I for one think it would be so incredible to see them both, Chickenfoot and Van Halen together on tour. That would be the best tour of all time. Eddie could jam with both Sammy and Dave. Bring the original 4 together again with Mike. Let them all play together. But you are right, all the immature Dave people, and I love Dave, would ruin it for everyone. Hopefully something like this will happen while they are all still here and capable of performing. I for one am not holding my breath. So I will enjoy whatever they can put out, that is Van Halen and Chickenfoot. I wish them all the best and much success in whatever it is they choose to do. And I say thank you for all the great music that I have been able to enjoy since I was a freshman in high school. I have worn out all the Van Halen cd’s, Dave and Sammy solo stuff, and now Chickenfoot. Love it all!!! That is a thank you to Eddie, Alex, Dave, Mike, Sammy, Wolfe, Chad, Joe, Steve and whoever else played with Dave.
http://vhnd tam weir

new albums…new tours?…..don’t forget your very neglected fans in scotland !!!
Nat

So MA reads this site regularly? I guess it’s a good thing virtually every post mentions what a class act he is

Somehow I doubt anyone else from the band, past or present, would want to slog through all the crap people post about them here.
Bogus Otis Jr

@ Brian:

I agree with you 100% I am a die hard Sammy fan! But I am also a die hard Van Halen! Everyone needs to grow up! We all know Van Halen will out sell Chickenfoot 10 to 1! So the F@CK what! I still don’t see them out selling Lady Gaga or Justin Beaverhead! But I will buy both albums and enjoy them both! Chickenfoot on my way to work and Van Halen on my way home from work!