Eddie Trunk interviewed Michael Anthony this Monday, April 8th. The two spoke mostly about Michael’s passion for hot sauce, and Michael’s fond memories of getting to work with the late, great rock engineer and producer, Andy Johns. Michael says that his plans this year are to join Sammy Hagar on tour in the summer, and then get back together with Chickenfoot in the fall.
When asked about David Lee Roth’s recent complements praising the bass player, Michael said, “It was flattering to hear Dave talk like that. He never used to talk like that when we were all playing together. [laughs] But hey… I really don’t know what to say to that. It was flattering that he said that. And, obviously, I’m the kind of guy that… water under the bridge. I don’t hold any kind of grudges for anything, and you never know what will happen at anytime…. At this point in your life and career and whatever, the career aside, it’s more about the friendship and just people. And if the music side of it, if that happens, if that comes about, all the better, but that’s not what it’s really about at this point.”
The comments that Michael is referring to is the following statement from Dave to Rolling Stone: “Clearly, vocals are every bit as much a component of success as a rhythm section or a guitar solo, and there’s an old expression saying, “They don’t go home singing the lighting show, they don’t go home singing the production.” You’re right, they sing my words and my melodies. And what we have at our fingertips is arguably one of the greatest high tenor voices ever – that was in Michael Anthony. In our tiny little corner of the universe, that voice is as identifiable as the high voice in Earth, Wind & Fire, as identifiable as the high voice in the Beach Boys. Van Halen is an indelicate house blend of both – that’s intentionally. So I would always look forward to that reunion.”
You can listen to Eddie Trunk’s 21-minute interview on Michael Anthony’s official web site, here.