According to Michael Anthony, the recent rumors about a reunited Van Halen, featuring all four original members, was actually being talked about behind the scenes.
Anthony, who had in recent months revealed he was approached by Van Halen management to possibly rejoin his former band, followed up with even more details while appearing on Tuesday’s Sirius XM radio show “Trunk Nation”.
“The reason The Circle (Michael’s current band with Sammy Hagar, Jason Bonham and Vic Johnson) is taking a break [from touring] right now is that, if things would have worked out as they were starting to go and was planned, we would have been in pre-production rehearsals with Van Halen right now,” Anthony told host Eddie Trunk.
Anthony continued by saying he was never contacted by any of the three other original band members but he was contacted by their manager Irving Azoff along with someone from David Lee Roth’s camp.
“I spoke with Irving Azoff last October and he asked if I would be interested in any kind of a reunion and I told him, ‘Yeah.’ I was finishing up a couple of shows with Sammy and I said, ‘Yeah, I’d be interested to hear what you guys have going on. I’ve got these few dates left and give me a call.’ I never heard a call back and then, right after the first of the year, I got David Lee Roth’s business manager or lawyer or something. He got a hold of me about a meeting or something and so, at that point, I gave it over to our manager because I didn’t wanna start getting in this whole thing. I wanted to do it the correct way, especially after the way things went for me in 2004.”
Anthony was referring to Van Halen’s 2004 reunion tour with Hagar which, by tour’s end, led to another falling out not only between the Van Halens and Hagar, but with Anthony as well.
“From what I’ve heard, and I haven’t spoken to any of the guys, they were gonna try to plan a thing for this summer,” Anthony added. “For whatever reason they never got in touch with us about any kind of a contract or any kind of a meeting to discuss [a reunion tour] or whatever and the next thing I knew the plug got pulled on it.”
There has been no official reasons given by anyone in the band or its management as to why a reunion of Van Halen’s original lineup never came to fruition. Fans can only guess the reason(s) at this time. If the tour were to ever happen, it would be the first time that Anthony, Roth, guitarist Edward Van Halen and drummer Alex Van Halen performed together since 1984.
Below is the audio of Anthony’s comments from that interview:
Also…
Today is Michael Anthony’s Birthday!
On behalf of VHND and Van Halen fans everywhere, we love you, and we hope you have a fantastic day!
And in honor of his birthday, we want to showcase a couple things very important to him:
This Saturday (June 22nd) is the second annual WALK AND PLAY L.A. fundraiser for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles!
Michael and his family will be walking with the rest of their “Rex and the Heartbeaters” team (this could include YOU!) to honor his late grandson, Rex Becerra, and to raise money for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. No child is ever turned away, regardless of his or hers family financial situation. This is going to be a great morning full of family activities, and the walk.
Michael talks about it here:
More about it:
If you would like to learn more, or join them, go to CHLA Walk and Play LA 2019. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation, you can do that here.
And finally, it’s not summer without MAD Anthony’s…
Michael’s Anthony’s hot sauces KICKS ASS, and we want YOU to enjoy them!
Van Halen Store is proud to carry the entire line of MAD Anthony’s sauces and, to be honest, we can’t get enough of ’em. Michael sure knows how to spice things up!
They’re available in five delicious flavors…
Hot Sauces: Original Version and XXXTra Hot Private Reserve
BBQ Sauce: Original Style and Extra Hot
Mustard: Fiery Mustard Sauce
Try one or try them all! Also available as a 3-Bottle Hot Sauce & Mustard Set or a Complete 5-bottle set!
