Remember that Van Halen documentary that we reported was in the works back in January? Well, it’s airing on TV this weekend!
Michael Anthony and Sammy Hagar have both been interviewed for the documentary, which will be airing on REELZ. Michael mentioned on Instagram that the interview “Brought up many great memories,” and Sammy added, “These guys were great, feels like a good doc so far.”
The show’s promo from the REELZ website reads:
At the height of their success they were the biggest rock band in the world infamous for their excess and raucous live performances. With their strutting frontmen, wild hair and penchant for spandex they are often portrayed as the archetypal 80’s American rock band. The band went through two ‘break ups’ covered by our timeline owing to a variety of factors but most prominently conflicts over the Van Halen brother’s desire for total control and the destructive impacts of substance/alcohol abuse. By 1984 they were the biggest band in the world but, behind the scenes, all was not well and a battle for control raged between the brothers at the heart of the band and it’s lead singer, David Lee Roth. Years of touring, drugs and personality clashes had left them on the brink. When Roth’s ambitions grew beyond the band, the brothers moved quickly to force him out. Their millions of fans were left devastated, but rising from the ashes the they would regroup with a new front man, Sammy Hagar. Against the odds they reached even greater heights with a string of 4 consecutive No.1 albums. Apparently vindicated by their decision the band appeared harmonious. But as the success grew, new tensions emerged and in 1995 the tale of ten years earlier was repeated when Hagar too was ousted for his apparent disloyalty.
It will be interesting to see how good this documentary turns out to be. The short promo above has several grammatical errors, and we’re surprised to see a few facts contained within are questionable. (The brother’s “forced Dave out” in the ’80s? The band “reached even greater heights” with Sammy Hagar? They broke up with Hagar in 1995?)
In any case, it’s cool to see the band get this well deserved recognition, and we’re definitely tuning in for this one!
Original Air Date:
This Sunday, June 17, 10:00 PM ET
Repeats:
Monday, June 18, 12:00 AM ET
Thursday, June 21 08:00 PM ET & 11:00 PM ET