Former VAN HALEN singer Sammy Hagar says that there has been "no confirmation" about Michael Anthony reuniting with the band for a tour. A recent rumor has suggested that the original VAN HALEN lineup — including Anthony, who has not played with the band since 2004 — will reunite in 2019 for a run of stadium shows. This would be the first time that the four founding members of the band, including singer David Lee Roth, guitarist Eddie Van Halen and drummer Alex Van Halen, perform together since 1984. Hagar, who plays with Anthony in both THE CIRCLE and CHICKENFOOT, was asked about the VAN HALEN reunion rumors during a recent interview with Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station. "There is no confirmation about a VH tour," Hagar said (hear audio below). "I ain't here to tell you 'yes' or 'no,' if it's gonna happen or not gonna happen. But Mikey is my dearest friend in the world. He's my favorite bass player and singer on the planet to be in a band with. And we will continue to be in a band our whole life. But if there was an opportunity for him to go play in VAN HALEN again, just to mend that up, just to keep that sour note from being in his head for the rest of his life, he has my blessings. I will take the time off while he goes and does it. We've already talked about it. But there is nothing confirmed. I can tell you straight-up right now — there has been nothing confirmed." Sammy continued: "I ain't gonna say it is or isn't [gonna happen], because it's not my place. Right now, we're gonna go out and promote [THE CIRCLE album] that we made together, and we're gonna do some shows. And then as soon as these shows are done and we figure [out] what we wanna do, we'll go book some more and then keep doing it. 'Cause Mikey is… He's in THE CIRCLE. He's my bass player. He's my fellow singer. He's my bandmate. He's my dear friend. He's my soul brother." Hagar recently confirmed that Anthony was contacted by VAN HALEN's management six months ago about reuniting with the group for a tour. Anthony said at last month's NAMM show in Anaheim, California, that he wasn't opposed to reuniting with VAN HALEN, adding: "I don't know what kind of rumors are floating around or whatever, but I personally haven't been contacted by them yet or anything. So, at this point, nothing is happening. But you never know." The rumors originally started with Roth, who hinted to Vulture that VAN HALEN would be playing stadiums this summer with Anthony back in the lineup. VAN HALEN and Anthony have not been on good terms for more than a decade, with Anthony not invited to join the reunion with Roth that began in 2007. The subsequent two tours and studio album, "A Different Kind Of Truth", featured Eddie Van Halen's son Wolfgang on bass. Anthony took a pay cut and signed away all of his rights to the band name and logo in order to participate in VAN HALEN's 2004 tour, which featured Hagar. SAMMY HAGAR & THE CIRCLE's debut album of original material, "Space Between", will be released on May 10 through BMG.
Continue reading...
Continue reading...
