Irving Azoff confirmed the rumor millions of Van Halen fans had hoped would come true. The original four members of the band were set to reunite in 2019.
Azoff, who managed Van Halen for over 15 years, recently told Pollstar that a 2019 stadium tour featuring founding members Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth, Alex Van Halen and Michael Anthony was in the works. Unfortunately, due to Eddie’s health complications, that tour never got off the ground.
“We had lots of stops and starts, but there was every intention of doing a summer stadium tour (in 2019), and as the cancer moved around, [Eddie] was physically unable to do it,” Azoff said.
Among the plans were for major special guests like Foo Fighters and Metallica to join the band in select cities and, in many ways, the tour would have been considered a fond farewell to one of the greatest bands and guitarists in rock history.
“There is no doubt in my mind that it would have been massive,” added Azoff who commented on the well publicized internal battles that took place within the band. “Listen, let’s talk about all the bands I’ve dealt with and drama [laughs]. Let’s talk about the Eagles, let’s talk about Fleetwood Mac, let’s talk about Van Halen. It’s part of rock ’n roll, and an unintended part of the mystique and marketing, also.”
You can read the entire Azoff interview with Pollstar HERE.