Sammy Hagar's Best Of All Worlds band will return but it will be without drummer Jason Bonham. Bonham confirmed the news via an Instagram post by Bonham Friday (Nov. 15) to promote his upcoming Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening concerts. The post prompted a fan to ask, "C'Mon Jason... Can we get some Los Angeles dates? Also will you be rejoining Best of All Worlds band?" … [Read more...]
Michael Anthony
Sammy Hagar & Joe Satriani Channeling Van Halen’s Songwriting Style
Sammy Hagar is following through on his promise to release new music with Joe Satriani, Michael Anthony, and Jason Bonham. "It's really, really good," Hagar told ABC Audio. "And the idea is to channel the Van Halen way of writing. Let Joe write some crazy, whacked out guitar music, and I'll just write lyrics and sing to it." Hagar also said he's also up for another Best … [Read more...]
Van Halen In The 90s: What Could Have Been
The decade couldn't have gotten to a better start for Van Halen when they returned in 1991. Another number-one album (For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge), more hit singles ("Poundcake", "Top Of The World", "Right Now"), and a lineup with a seemingly unbreakable bond. At least it seemed that way until internal tensions led to Sammy Hagar's departure in 1996. Looking back on the … [Read more...]
Alex Van Halen Breaks Silence In Candid Rolling Stone Interview
Alex Van Halen has broken his silence. In a new Rolling Stone interview with Brian Hiatt (with additional reporting by Kory Grow), Alex opened up about the loss of his brother Edward, his current health, the failed post-Edward tour with David Lee Roth, unreleased Van Halen music, a possible Van Halen biopic, and much more. Below is a breakdown of Alex's comments in the … [Read more...]
Sammy Hagar Thanks Fans In Best Of All Worlds Recap
The Best Of All Worlds summer tour is in the books and Sammy Hagar has thanked the fans in a new video. Sammy and his bandmates Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani, Jason Bonham, and Ray Thistlewaite will play three shows in Japan next month. As for what happens after that? Watching the video above, it appears like the Best Of All Worlds band isn't done yet! … [Read more...]
Michael Anthony Expects Alex Van Halen’s Book To Focus On The Good Times
Credit: Neil Zlozower Michael Anthony doesn't know what's inside Alex Van Halen's upcoming book "Brothers" but he expects Alex will focus on the good times had rather than the dirt. "Alex, basically, like myself — I've never been one to wanna talk smack about the band or whatever, 'cause I choose to remember all the good stuff and all the good times that we had," said … [Read more...]
Kenny Aronoff Replaces Jason Bonham, ‘Saves The Day’ For Hagar
Jason Bonham had to exit Sammy Hagar's "The Best Of All Worlds" tour due to an undisclosed family matter. Kenny Aronoff, a former bandmate of Hagar in Chickenfoot, covered for Bonham on Tuesday (August 27) in Cincinnati and last night (August 28) in Nashville. Two shows remain on the summer run. It's unclear whether Aronoff will finish out the tour on drums or if Jason Bonham … [Read more...]
Hagar Reveals Next Van Halen Re-Issue, Says New Music From Best Of All Worlds Band Is Coming
Sammy Hagar dropped a few reveals during a recent interview, starting with the next Van Halen album to receive the re-issue treatment. It'll be the final album he recorded with the band - 1995's Balance. “It's next. Balance is next,” Hagar said during an appearance on the Bogus Otis podcast. Hagar didn’t give the release date or what bonus content will be included, but a … [Read more...]
Van Halen’s ‘Dreams’ Video: The Blue Angels Collaboration Story
Thirty-eight summers ago, Van Halen's latest single "Dreams" reached all-new heights thanks to an unexpected collaboration with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. A recent online article from the website Simple Flying tells the story behind how this collaboration came to be. Below is an excerpt from an article written by Simple Flying's Mike Scanlon: Shortly … [Read more...]
Hootie Guitarist Mark Bryan Highlights Edward Van Halen’s Overlooked Talent
Credit: Neil Zlozower Hootie & The Blowfish guitarist Mark Bryan says he's a "gigantic" Van Halen fan and praises Edward Van Halen's ability to come up with undeniable riffs. "I wanna say this because everybody puts him on the top with the guitar playing [makes fingers on the fretboard impression] and he is but he's also one of the all-time greatest riff masters," … [Read more...]
Michael Anthony Reflects On Missed Opportunities Of 2004 Van Halen Tour
Michael Anthony looks back on Van Halen's 2004 tour as one of those "what could have been" experiences. During a recent interview with Ultimate Guitar's Greg Prato, Anthony discussed the troubled Van Halen tour that took place 20 summers ago. It launched on June 11th, 2004, and lasted 80s shows until the plug was pulled. Here is the article Prato originally posted to … [Read more...]
Hagar Discusses Tour, Van Halen Re-Issues & Unreleased Tracks On Trunk Nation
Sammy Hagar says he and Michael Anthony are determined to keep Van Halen "live and alive" with this summer's Best Of All Worlds tour. At a time when many legacy artists are under fire for using pre-recorded tracks, what you hear from Hagar and his band is all live. "I can't tell you how perfect this lineup is, how much fun we're havin', and how it's live," said Hagar during … [Read more...]