Van Halen News Busting Out All Over
— June 3, 2009 1 39Things have been kind of quiet on the Van Halen news front lately. Other than ex-Mrs. Van Halen’s hot bikini pics all over the place, we haven’t heard too much from anyone connected with the group for a while.
There are clearly things in the works, and it’s clear that we can expect some new material from the veteran rockers as well as a tour coming in a year or so. In addition, video game players who have always wanted to play along with a virtual version of guitar legend Eddie Van Halen also have something to look forward to.
From the E3 video game expo, which wraps up tomorrow in Los Angeles, we get word that a new title will be coming to the “Guitar Hero” series called “Guitar Hero: Van Halen.” No real surprise regarding the name, but more interesting is the additional content that’s part of the game, and will allow players to go beyond rocking with VH and play along with the likes of guest players such as Queen, Blink 182 and Weezer.
Moving from the virtual world of rock into the real world, a recent interview with Eddie Van Halen that appeared in Rolling Stone magazine sheds light on issues surrounding the future plans for the group, the departure of former bassist Michael Anthony and Eddie’s recent appearance on Spike TV to accept his “Guy’s Choice Guitar God” award.
It was backstage at the event in Culver City, CA where Rolling Stone caught up with the reclusive Van Halen, who admits he never “goes to anything” and is a bit nervous about going out to accept the award, adding that, “I don’t even know what to say. Especially sober, shit.”
As for the future of Van Halen the band, there are plans to get back to work after his wedding and honeymoon. Van Halen is marrying publicist Janie Liszewski on June 27th and plans to get back onto the studio with the rest of the group upon his return. Van Halen also says they are planning a tour sometime next year.
As we have come to expect from Van Halen the group, there are numerous versions of how the various feuds and departures played out throughout their stormy history. For his part, Van Halen had nothing but praise for his on-again-off-again frontman, David Lee Roth. Declaring that things are different now because they are both sober, Van Halen describes his new experience with the group as “a wonderful feeling.”
As one might expect, comments reserved for ex-VH bassist Michael Anthony are not as complimentary. With respect to Anthony’s departure from the group, Van Halen says, “The funny thing is that everyone who quits the band always claims they got fired by me. Hey, I’m not the bad guy here. When Hagar left the band, Mike went with him. Then when we get back together with Dave, and all of a sudden, he wants back in. It’s like, ‘No, dude, you quit the band.’”
Interestingly, Van Halen denies hearing any of Chickenfoot’s material, and adds that he doesn’t listen to anything. One has to wonder, however, if the denial might just be a reflection on the bad blood between him and his two former band mates. Who wouldn’t be a little curious about what two of your ex-buddies are up to these days, especially since finding out is as easy as a little typing and a few mouse clicks?
Seems a little hard to believe that he hasn’t heard a single note from Hagar and Anthony’s new gig. The bridge that was burned after the end of that relationship is not showing any signs of reconstruction, that’s for sure.
Spike TV’s “Guy’s Choice Awards” is scheduled to air on June 21 at 10:00 PM.
The entire interview can be accessed on the Rolling Stone website.
1 Comment
Who the F@#K are sammy and mike? lol