When former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted leaked that a Van Halen tribute show and/or tour was possibly in the works, it made major headlines in the rock world. Joe Satriani further elaborated that he had been in talks with drummer Alex Van Halen and singer David Lee Roth about doing something to honor the late Eddie Van Halen. Roth even commented: “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.”
In a new interview with Rolling Stone, Eddie’s son, Wolfgang, elaborated on why the plans haven’t materialized. “What I can say is that there was an attempt at doing something,” he said. “But, you know, I don’t like to speak negatively about people, but there are some people that make it very difficult to do anything when it comes to Van Halen. After being in Van Halen for a long time, I really have strived to have an environment where there is no walking on eggshells and there is no personality that you have to deal with. It’s just guys having fun making music and just having a good time. But, you know, from my time in Van Halen, there was always some stuff that gets in the way from just making music and having a good time. And, I think, that’s what happened.”
Wolfgang said that “some people can be hard to work with,” with many making the assumption that the holdout or hiccup for a tribute show is singer David Lee Roth. “So I could just say sh*t,” Wolf goes on, “but people have already decided how they feel about things, facts or not. So I can say the facts. But that may not align with how certain people feel. I know how Van Halen fans get. They are very motivated by which specific people they like in the band. And it’s just not worth it. Just, we made an attempt, and some people can be hard to work with, and made it not happen.”
Wolfgang also said the band’s drummer is in charge of the Van Halen legacy. “When it comes to Van Halen, and decision-making overall and what Van Halen does, it’s Al, and then I’m there and supportive. You know, I basically help make the decisions that dad would be there to make, because I’m in there in his stead”
Wolfgang also said that the tribute was not intended to be a tour. Rolling Stone asked: “And if someone were to assume that the main problem was a certain singer with three initials, what would you say to that?” Wolfgang’s reply was: “I would say, ‘Do your research on the history of Van Halen, and come to your conclusions.”
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