Van Halen as a touring entity went from what seemed improbable just a few days ago to the hottest possibility in rock. Former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted got things started when he revealed he came close to joining drummer Alex Van Halen and guitarist Joe Satriani to jam late last year for a possible Van Halen touring celebration of sorts and a tribute to late, great guitarist Eddie Van Halen. Newsted, however, got cold feet thinking it would be impossible to do justice to the Van Halen legacy. “How could you?” he said. “There’s nobody that can top it, so how do you show it honor? I didn’t want it to be viewed as a money grab. And then it kind of just all fizzled.”
Satriani confirmed that he, Roth and Alex Van Halen have been in talks about doing a touring tribute to Eddie and all eras of the Van Halen legacy. “I’ve been talking with Alex and Dave for about a year about doing something — a tour, something like that — that was gonna be a true tribute to Eddie and the Van Halen legacy. For me, it was a terrifying prospect of doing something like that, but I realized that it was something that would be a real labor of love for me. I was just so honored to take on the challenge. It’s very complicated. And all I can really say about it is that if it does happen, I know we’ll make it the greatest thing ever for the fans and we’ll all celebrate together not only the great Eddie Van Halen but the legacy that that band created, the amazing amount of music and the goodwill and good vibes they created as a band.”
Now, iconic frontman David Lee Roth has commented. The Van Halen News Desk (vhnd.com) reached out to Roth who said (presumably by text/email): “IN MY MIND, “VAN HALEN 4K”, IN THE AGE OF COVID IS GOING TO REQUIRE TWO OF US FOR EVERY POSITION. SATRIANI AND LUKATHER, ANTHONY AND NEWSTED, AL OR TOMMY LEE. PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE WHO COULD DO MY JOB TODAY WOULD BE PINK.”
Roth made no mention of Sammy Hagar, who fronted the band for more than a decade from 1985 to 1996 and again from 2003 to 2005. While it would make sense for Hagar to join the festivities, whatever they are, Roth and Hagar’s relationship has almost always been contentious. Hagar, to his credit, has extended the olive branch to mend relationships within the Van Halen camp. “That’s their business — that’s Wolfie, Alex Van Halen; they’re family members,” Hagar previously said. “Whoever wants to call me up and say, ‘Here’s the date,’ I will be there. I don’t care where I am. I’ll cancel a [solo] show [if I need to].” Sirius XM DJ Eddie Trunk commented on the reunion possibility tweeting: “Wow. The plot thickens .. I think the only way to really do this is with all @VanHalen members from all eras and guest guitar players. That would be cool. But nice to hear there are at least talks!”
Eddie’s son, Wolfgang, who joined Van Halen for the 2007 reunion tour with Roth, told Trunk previously that it would be great to eventually organize a tribute show. “It’s not in the immediate plans, ’cause that’s a lot of moving parts that you’ve gotta corral to get that to happen. But I definitely think it should happen. Absolutely,” the Mammoth WVH guitarist/frontman said. Early this year, Roth canceled the remaining farewell shows he was set to play in Las Vegas. Late last year he announced he was ending his career with his Vegas shows. “I am throwing in the shoes. I’m retiring,” Roth told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “These are my last shows.” He added: “I’m not going to explain the statement. The explanation is in a safe.”
