VAN HALEN

[muthagoose]

VAN HALEN Removing Bassist From Songwriting Credits?

The Pulse of Radio (formerly Launch Radio Networks) reports: VAN HALEN may have restored former bassist Michael Anthony's photos to the album cover art on the band's official web site, but it seems the group is still trying to remove Anthony from its history. According to AntiMusic.com, Anthony's name has been taken off the writing credits for some of the group's music. An email to the site from a VAN HALEN fan explained, "On every single VAN HALEN song (with exception to the three new songs on the 'Best of Both Worlds' compilation), credits have always gone to Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony and the lead singer who is featured on the song...However, during the credits of the film 'Superbad', which features the song 'Panama', the song is only credited to the two Van Halens and (David Lee) Roth! Anthony continues to get snubbed by his former band as they attempt to erase him from the history of the band."

AntiMusic checked the ASCAP database and learned that Anthony's name has been removed from the songwriting credits of the album 1984, on which "Panama" originally appeared, although apparently he still gets credit on other VAN HALEN releases.

Anthony was reportedly forced to sign a reduced royalty contract in order to take part in the 2004 reunion tour with singer Sammy Hagar, according to Wikipedia.org. Anthony also apparently did not play on the three songs recorded for the "Best of Both Worlds" collection.

A furor erupted online last week after photos of Anthony at the band's official web site were either removed or replaced by an image of guitarist Eddie Van Halen's son Wolfgang, who will play bass on the group's upcoming tour. The photos were restored less than two days later.

VAN HALEN announced the details of its long-awaited reunion tour with original singer David Lee Roth on August 13. The tour kicks off on September 27 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Pre-recorded tapes will reportedly be used to recreate Anthony's backing vocals on the tour.



You can't write Michael Anthony out of history. He is the keeper of the gates of time.

[muthagoose]

VAN HALEN: More Tour Dates Announced

More dates have been announced for the first VAN HALEN tour in more than 22 years with David Lee Roth as lead vocalist. The group's schedule is now shaping up as follows:

Sep. 27 - Charlotte, NC - Charlotte Bobcats Arena
Sep. 29 - Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Coliseum
Oct. 01 - Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center
Oct. 03 - Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center
Oct. 07 - Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre
Oct. 10 - Cleveland, OH - Quicken Loans Arena
Oct. 12 - Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre
Oct. 14 - Indianapolis, IN - Conseco Field House
Oct. 16 - Chicago, IL - Allstate Arena
Oct. 18 - Chicago, IL - United Center
Oct. 20 - Detroit, MI - Joe Louis Arena
Oct. 22 - Auburn Hills, MI - Palace of Auburn Hills
Oct. 24 - Minneapolis, MN - Target Center
Oct. 26 - Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center
Oct. 28 - St. Louis, MO - Scottrade Center
Oct. 30 - Boston, MA - TD Banknorth Garden
Nov. 01 - Washington DC - VerizonCenter
Nov. 03 - E. Rutherford, NJ - Continental Airlines Arena
Nov. 07 - Uniondale, NY - Nassau Coliseum
Nov. 13 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
Nov. 20 - Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center
Nov. 23 - Glendale, AZ - Jobing.Com Arena
Nov. 25 - San Diego, CA - Cox Arena
Nov. 27 - Sacramento, CA - Arco Arena
Nov. 29 - San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion at San Jose
Dec. 01 - Portland, OR - Rose Garden
Dec. 03 - Seattle, WA - Key Arena
Dec. 05 - Vancouver, BC - General Motors Place
Dec. 09 - Edmonton, AB - Rexall Place
Dec. 11 - Calgary, AB - Pengrowth Saddledome

As previously reported, VAN HALEN has made VIP packages available for fans with hundreds of dollars to burn. The group is offering both a "four-star" and a "five-star" package through ILoveAllAccess.com. The first package (price: $350) gets you a seat in the first 20 rows and an "exclusive" gift, while the second one (price: $695) includes a reserved seat "inside the ramp" — wherever that is — a souvenir laminate pass, a backstage tour, access to a pre-show party and "crowd-free" merchandise shopping, a VAN HALEN gift bag and VIP parking.

[muthagoose]

VAN HALEN: 'Everybody Wants Some' Book Released Today; Chapter Excerpt Available

August 24 marks the official release date for "Everybody Wants Some: The Van Halen Saga" by Ian Christe. Published in hardcover by John Wiley & Sons and years in the making, this is the first definitive biography of the ultimate American rock band.

Download an excerpt containing chapter one of the book at this location (PDF file):
media.wiley.com/product_data/excerpt/08/04700391/0470039108.pdf

With over 75 million albums sold to date and a reunion tour making headlines, VAN HALEN remains among the most wild success stories in rock music, full of larger-than-life characters and musical milestones. For the first time, Ian Christe presents VAN HALEN's complete uncensored story, detailing the misfit childhoods, sibling rivalries, tour exploits, tabloid snoops, divorces, bitter band break ups, long-term substance abuse, and harrowing brushes with cancer. This book brings the saga of VAN HALEN from young lions to troubled monarchs in all of its exuberant, decadent, vulnerable, and awesome dimensions.

Ian Christe (Brooklyn, NY) is the author of "Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal", the definitive "bible" of heavy metal music and culture. He has written for many publications and appears frequently on VH1, VH1 Classic, and MTV2. Since 2004, his "Bloody Roots" show has appeared weekly on Sirius Satellite Radio.

[muthagoose]

Michael Anthony: "I was not invited...on Van Halen Tour."

Former Van Halen and current Other Half bassist, Michael Anthony has posted the following update on his "Mad Anthony Blog:"

First of all, I hope all of you are having a great Summer!! I want to thank everyone for all the support you're shown me during the past months. I'ts all been pretty crazy, and I just wanted to bring you all up to speed. Alot of you have been asking about the upcoming Van Halen tour and my response to it. It's not that I'm not touring with Van Halen because I'm going out with Sammy, I'm going out with Sammy because I was not invited to do the VH tour.

Sammy told me that if I was asked to be part of the VH tour and decided to do it, it would be totally cool, and it would not tarnish our friendship in the least!! Well it's not to be, and life goes on. I'll still be out there with Sam, and I can't wait to do some partying with all of you. One last note from myself to all the Van Halen fans out there who will be attending their shows...Wolfgang is a great kid, so don't judge him too harshly. I'm sure he'll do just fine!!....

See you all soon, Mike

[muthagoose]

Michael Anthony Says He's 'Not Going To Whine About'
Van Halen Reunion Snub

You've got to hand it to Michael Anthony: The dude is all about taking the high road.

While Anthony, Van Halen's original bassist, wasn't asked to participate in the band's long-awaited reunion trek with inaugural frontman David Lee Roth (see "Van Halen Reunite With David Lee Roth -- Tour Kicks Off September 27"), he doesn't seem all that miffed. Eddie Van Halen's 16-year-old son, Wolfgang, will be taking over on bass (see "Michael Anthony Says He Wasn't Invited To Van Halen Reunion, But Calls His Replacement 'A Great Kid' ").

So is Anthony disappointed? You betcha — but he's not going to let it ruin his fall.

"It's not like it was totally unexpected," he told MTV News during a recent interview, "only because of the strain from the 2004 tour and how everything's been since then." Anthony is referring to the band's 2004 reunion jaunt with Roth replacement Sammy Hagar, which grossed almost $55 million before ending on a sour note (at the conclusion of the run's final gig, guitarist Eddie Van Halen smashed one of his guitars and quickly walked offstage).

"That's the one thing that's really kind of sad," Anthony continued. "It would have been cool to get onstage with Dave again, but I'm not going to whine about it, because that's the way it is. Why waste my time trying to make a stink about it?"

Instead, Anthony is going to be hitting the road with Hagar this fall for a tour that kicks off in Biloxi, Mississippi, on October 19, and runs through November 17 in Sioux City, Iowa. The tour will feature Anthony's Mad Anthony Express, Los Tres Gusanos, the Other Half, and Sammy and the Wabos.

"I just want to go out and play for the fans," Anthony explained. "Sammy sold part of his tequila company and made a lot of money on that, so he doesn't have to do anything if he doesn't want to. But that's what it's all about — getting out there and playing. I'm not doing the Van Halen tour, so Sammy asked me to come out with him again."

He said everyone "and their mother" has been asking him why he's not doing the VH reunion run, and he's not sure what to tell them. Anthony dismissed rumors that his exclusion from the reunion tour had anything to do with his partnering with Hagar in the Other Half.

"I was touring with Sammy when Van Halen wasn't doing anything, and people said that got under their skin, and they felt like I was betraying them or whatever, which I really wasn't," Anthony explained. "I wasn't going to sit home and do nothing. My wife wanted my ass out of the house. So when Sammy called and said, 'Hey, want to come out and jam a song or two?' that's how it started. I don't know why I wasn't asked to do the tour."

In fact, he admits he hasn't spoken to Eddie since 2004 and agrees with many of the band's fans, who reject the notion that the forthcoming Roth run is a bona fide reunion.

"I know in the past there's been a lot of fighting and drama, but I'm not into all of that, especially now," he said. "And I'm not going to sit there and whine about it and call these guys mother------s and the whole bit. It is what it is, and if [Eddie] wants his kid to play with him, fine. But they're really throwing him into the lion's den right off the bat. This is going to be a tough enough tour for those three guys, having not played for so long, and then throwing [Wolfgang] in the mix? ... I hope he does OK. It's sad that the fans aren't going to see the original lineup."

But Anthony was most upset by Van Halen's reported attempts last month to erase him from the band's 35-year history. Fans lashed out at the band after photos of Anthony on Van Halen's official Web site were allegedly removed or replaced by an image of Wolfgang. The pictures were restored within hours, soon after fans took notice and began sounding off on various VH message boards.

"When I went on the Web site, that was probably more upsetting than anything else," he said. "On the first album especially, they replaced my picture with a picture of Wolfgang, and I was like, 'What's someone trying to do here?' I am proud of Van Halen's history, be it good or bad or whatever. I love everything about the band. I guess the fans spoke out, because the next day, they changed it back. I really don't know what to say to that. If that's the way they want to play it out, then that's the way they'll play it out."

The tour, he said, is "going to be interesting this year, because earlier in the year, Sammy did this cruise down to Cabo San Lucas, and he asked me if I wanted to play on the ship. I thought, 'Yeah, that'd be cool to do,' but I didn't want to get up there and just play with his band and do Hagar songs as I always do," Anthony said. "So I thought, 'I'll grab his guitarist Vic Johnson and his drummer David [Lauser], and we'll learn some early Van Halen stuff,' and somebody called it the Mad Anthony Express. We did a couple of shows and played the really old stuff: 'D.O.A.,' 'Atomic Punk.' I lead-sang it, and it was so much fun. So we did it again Father's Day weekend in Lake Tahoe, and I put this thing together. We opened the show, and everybody loved it so much, Sammy's going, 'Hey, we need to go out on tour and open with the early stuff.' So here I go."

Anthony said the tour with Hagar will run for about a month. Then there will be a brief break before the tour commences. They plan to keep it going up through next summer. He also said there's a chance he and Hagar will start working on music together and that it's possible the duo might release a record some point down the line.

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EDDIE VAN HALEN's Ex-Wife: 'I'm Incredibly Proud' Of WOLFGANG's Involvement With Band

Eddie Van Halen's ex-wife, actress Valerie Bertinelli, was a guest on the "Rachael Ray" show on Tuesday (September 11), where she discussed Wolfgang Van Halen's (her son with Eddie) upcoming stint as the touring bassist for VAN HALEN. Watch the two-minute clip below.

VAN HALEN's upcoming fall tour will be the rock band's first to feature David Lee Roth since he left the group in 1985. Michael Anthony, VAN HALEN's original bassist, wasn't asked to participate in the band's reunion trek, but he told MTV.com that he's not going to let it ruin his fall. "It's not like it was totally unexpected," he said, "only because of the strain from the 2004 tour and how everything's been since then."

The band's 2004 reunion jaunt with Roth replacement Sammy Hagar grossed almost $55 million before ending on a sour note (at the conclusion of the run's final gig, guitarist Eddie Van Halen smashed one of his guitars and quickly walked offstage).

As of 2007 VAN HALEN has released eleven studio albums, two compilation albums and one live album, selling more than 80 million albums worldwide.

[muthagoose]

HAGAR On VAN HALEN Reunion:
Fans Will Be Disappointed Because Of MICHAEL ANTHONY's Absence

KNAC.COM's Jeff Kerby just finished speaking to Sammy Hagar for a feature interview scheduled to appear on the site this coming weekend. To pique your interest, Kerby thought this candid reaction from Sammy regarding the curent VAN HALEN reunion tour would do the trick:

KNAC.COM: I know you love playing music with Michael Anthony, so that being said, what does a VAN HALEN reunion mean to you without Michael Anthony….or David Lee Roth's original hair?

Hagar: I wouldn't do it without Mike. On the last reunion, and I'm telling you this straight up — this is stuff I've never really said actually — they wanted to throw Mike out then. Why? I don't know. I still can't understand why Ed [Van Halen] has it out for Mike. Mike is the nicest guy in the world, and he's an unbelievable player. He's also an incredible singer and a professional. Mike is a guy who goes out every night and does a perfect job — a 10 every night — it's not even a 9.5. Why would you want to get rid of a guy like that? I don't know what happened between them somewhere when I wasn't around, but I just said, "No, I won't do it without Mike." My manager said, "You put a gun in Mike's hand to negotiate with these guys." I said, “you're damn right because I'm telling you, the agency, the promoters and the band that I will not go out and do a VAN HALEN reunion show without Michael Anthony." Obviously, someone else doesn't feel that way because Mike isn't there. Honest to God — it's none of my business. If Eddie wants to play with his son, fine. I love my son too, but I got him a different job. (laughs) I just think that it should be Mike. They will do good without him, and it's a shame. At the same time, I just think the fans are gonna walk away with a little bit of a disappointment because Mike's a big part of that band."



ALL FUKKIN POWERFUL!

[muthagoose]

SAMMY HAGAR Says VAN HALEN's Reunion
With DAVE LEE ROTH Is 'The Right Thing'

Jeff Kerby of KNAC.COM recently conducted an interview with Sammy Hagar. An excerpt from the chat follows:

KNAC.COM: How cool is it for you to know though that if you ever were to find yourself in another position where you were in a band or a project of any kind, that you could just walk away whenever you wanted to and be alright? Doesn't that give you a lot of freedom within your mind?

Hagar: "Absolutely. The awesome thing about being a solo artist over being in a band like LED ZEPPELIN or VAN HALEN is that when you go messing around with the members of the band, people ain't buying. It's like the ROLLING STONES — you've got to see Keith and Mick up there and Charlie or whatever, but when you're a solo artist like Peter Gabriel or Sammy Hagar or Sting, people expect you to go out and do some different things every now and then. It's pretty cool.

KNAC.COM: Do you think that VAN HALEN just got too lucky when you replaced David Lee Roth? Do you think they deluded themselves into thinking they could just trot anyone up there and have the same type of success?

Hagar: "I don't know, when you say VAN HALEN here, what you're really talking about is Eddie. Alex sticks by him because that's his brother, and I love Alex for it. I would never try to come between those guys. Those guys are brothers, and they are the end of a line in a way. Their parents have passed, and it's tough. Mine have too, but I've got other brothers and sisters and uncles, but they are pretty alone. They are very close, and I think that's awesome, but I think it's Eddie that makes those kinds of decisions. In the old days, it wasn't like Eddie was going, 'It's my band this is what I want!' When I was in the band it was our band, and everyone did what they wanted. For the good of VAN HALEN, I wasn't looking to be a solo artist, and Eddie wasn't looking to control everything. Instead, everyone did whatever they wanted to do in that band and it worked. When it stopped working, it broke up. Since then, it's like Eddie says, 'This is my band,' and it is, so he can do whatever he wants, but I think if they wouldn't have got Dave back, they would have been in trouble. The only thing I can say that may sound like sour grapes is that without Dave or myself, VAN HALEN isn't going to be the big, mighty arena act, and that's all there is to it. If he wants to go out there and just be an instrumentalist and just get whatever singer he feels like, he's gonna be down here doing what I'm doing playing theaters in most cities and be lucky if he's selling them out. For him to keep rolling with the mighty VAN HALEN, he needs either Dave or myself. They've been trying to get with Dave since they threw me out in '95. Then, they hadn't done anything until I came back. Now, they have Dave again, and I wish them the best because I think it's their only hope. It's the right thing."

Read the entire interview at KNAC.COM.

[Dangerousdan2]

Van Halen Opening Night Setlist Revealed


Courtney Devores of the Charlotte Observer wrote a review of the opening night of the Van Halen tour. She reports:

Opening night of Van Halen's long-awaited reunion with David Lee Roth literally kicked off with several of Roth's highflying kicks at Charlotte Bobcats Arena on Thursday, although Eddie Van Halen was the first to appear on stage with one of his own signature hurky-style jumps.

The last time Van Halen performed in Charlotte with Roth as its frontman, he had just turned 30, gas was $1.21 a gallon and tickets to the show at the old Charlotte Coliseum were $12.50.

Twenty-three years later, the band's original members are all over 50 and guitarist Eddie Van Halen's 16-year-old son Wolfgang has replaced original bassist Michael Anthony.

The show sold out in a matter of minutes in August, and the arena was packed when the band hit the stage around 8:30 p.m., following a short but sweet set of pop and reggae-tinged R&B by Kymani Marley.

Fans assumed after well-publicized fighting, ill will and a couple of false starts over the past 11 years that the group would never reunite. But earlier this year the Van Halen brothers announced that Roth would rejoin the fold. If the group can keep egos and tempers in check (sources say the three original members arrived on separate buses for rehearsals), the reunion could be the biggest tour of the decade.

Any animosity wasn't apparent on stage as Roth and Eddie Van Halen saddled up next to each other, smiling, during "Everybody Wants Some" and "Dance the Night Away". Roth and Wolfgang Van Halen even sang "Pretty Woman" side by side.

Read the entire review at lwww.charlotte.com.

The group's setlist was as follows:
1. You Really Got Me
2. I'm the One
3. Runnin' With the Devil
4. Romeo Delight
5. Somebody Get Me a Doctor
6. Beautiful Girls
7. Dance the Night Away
8. Atomic Punk
9. Everybody Wants Some
10. So This Is Love?
11. Mean Street
12. Pretty Woman
13. Drum Solo
14. Unchained
15. I'll Wait
16. And the Cradle Will Rock
17. Hot for Teacher
18. Little Dreamer
19. Little Guitars
20. Jamie's Cryin'
21. Ice Cream Man
22. Panama
23. Guitar Solo (incl. "Women in Love" intro, "Cathedral", "Eruption")
24. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
------------------------
25. 1984
26. Jump

[muthagoose]

Eddie Van Halen feeds off of the souls of the young...

2007...





2006...

[muthagoose]

VAN HALEN: More 2008 Dates Announced

More 2008 dates have been announced for VAN HALEN's tour with original lead singer David Lee Roth.

The Live Nation-produced trek — featuring Roth, Eddie and Alex Van Halen and Eddie Van Halen's teenage son Wolfgang on bass — kicked off Sept. 27 in Charlotte, N.C., with 40 dates in place.

The current tour is Roth's first with the Van Halen brothers in more than 20 years. VAN HALEN last toured in 2004 with vocalist Sammy Hagar, grossing nearly $40 million, according to Billboard Boxscore.

VAN HALEN 2008 tour dates:

Jan. 22 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Ford Center
Jan. 24 - San Antonio, TX @ AT&T Center
Jan. 26 - Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
Jan. 28 - Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
Feb. 01 - Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
Feb. 04 - Omaha, NE @ Qwest Center Omaha
Feb. 08 - New Orleans, LA @ New Orleans Arena
Feb. 12 - Sunrise, FL @ BankAtlantic Center
Feb. 16 - Jacksonville, FL @ Jacksonville Veterans Mem. Arena
Feb. 18 - Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum
Feb. 22 - Charlottesville, VA @ John Paul Jones Arena
Mar. 05 - Cincinnati, OH @ U.S. Bank Arena
Mar. 07 - Raleigh, NC @ RBC Center
Mar. 09 - Baltimore, MD @ 1st Mariner Arena
Mar. 11 - Manchester, NH @ Verizon Wireless Arena
Mar. 13 - East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center
Mar. 17 - New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden Arena
Mar. 19 - Hershey, PA @ Giant Center
Mar. 21 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Mellon Arena
Mar. 24 - Providence, RI @ Dunkin' Donuts Center
Mar. 26 - Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun
Mar. 28 - Atlantic City, NJ @ Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall
Mar. 30 - Saint Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
Apr. 01 - Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
Apr. 03 - Rosemont, IL @ Allstate Arena
Apr. 05 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena
Apr. 07 - Milwaukee, WI @ Bradley Center

[muthagoose]

Van Halen To Cancel Tour?

TMZ.com reports that the VAN HALEN tour has just been cancelled.

Sources tell TMZ.com that arrangements are being made right now to cancel hotel stays for the tour — which was scheduled to continue through April 19. According to the site, the reason for the cancellation is guitarist Eddie Van Halen, who is said to be "having issues."

It should be noted, however, that VAN HALEN's representatives have yet to officially confirm that the remainder of the tour has been called off and the TMZ report should be treated as a rumor only.

VAN HALEN postponed two concerts last weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia and Duluth, Georgia. No reason was given for the postponements, but both were rescheduled for mid-March.

[muthagoose]

Van Halen Promoter Issues Statement Regarding Tour

MTV.com reports that the reunited VAN HALEN have been forced to postpone four upcoming dates of their U.S. tour due to an unspecified medical condition affecting guitarist Eddie Van Halen. A statement issued by tour promoter Live Nation on Monday afternoon (March 3) explained that concerts in Dallas, Cincinnati, Baltimore and Raleigh, North Carolina, have been postponed and rescheduled for April.

"According to Eddie Van Halen's physician, he is undergoing a battery of comprehensive medical tests to determine a defined diagnosis and recommended medical procedures," read the release.

The March 3 show at American Airlines Arena in Dallas has been rescheduled for April 24; the March 5 show at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati has been moved to April 22; the March 7 show at RBC Center in Raleigh was shifted to April 13 and the March 9 show at 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore will now take place April 15, according to Pollstar.

Fans should retain their tickets as they will be honored at the rescheduled concerts or ticket refunds will be issued at the original point of purchase.

[muthagoose]

Van Halen Postpone More Tour Dates; Eddie Still 'Under Doctors' Care'
Announcement on band's Web site offers no further clues about guitarist's ailment.

Van Halen have postponed 17 more concert dates so that guitarist Eddie Van Halen "can continue medical tests to define a course of treatment," the band announced late Monday on its Web site. The post noted that Eddie remains "under doctors' care"; the band postponed several dates last week due to his unspecified "medical tests." No further information about the guitarist's condition was offered.

The postponed dates include Charlottesville, Virginia; East Rutherford, New Jersey; New York, New York; Duluth, Georgia; Pittsburgh; Providence, Rhode Island; Uncasville, Connecticut; Atlantic City, New Jersey; St. Louis; Columbus, Ohio; Rosemont, Illinois; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Milwaukee; Manchester, New Hampshire; Hershey, Pennsylvania; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Baltimore.

The tour is to resume April 19 in Las Vegas, the site said, with rescheduled dates to be announced shortly. Fans are advised to retain their tickets as they will be honored at the rescheduled concerts, or ticket refunds will be issued at the original point of purchase.

Last week, tour promoter Live Nation issued a statement that read, "According to Eddie Van Halen's physician, he is undergoing a battery of comprehensive medical tests to determine a defined diagnosis and recommended medical procedures."

A spokesperson declined to elaborate on the medical condition that has sidelined the guitarist, whose stint in a rehab facility last fall delayed the long-awaited reunion with founding vocalist David Lee Roth.

[muthagoose]

VAN HALEN: Rescheduled Tour Dates Announced

According to Pollstar.com, VAN HALEN has announced new dates for all previously postponed shows on its North American tour. The new dates kick off April 19 with the band's performance at Tiger Wood's charity event, Tiger Jam XI, at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas and run through June 2 at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

VAN HALEN new tour dates:

Apr. 19 - Las Vegas, NV @ Mandalay Bay Events Center
Apr. 22 - Cincinnati, OH @ U.S. Bank Arena
Apr. 24 - Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
Apr. 26 - St Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
Apr. 28 - Milwaukee, WI @ Bradley Center
Apr. 30 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Mellon Arena
May 02 - Charlottesville, VA @ John Paul Jones Arena
May 05 - Raleigh, NC @ RBC Center
May 07 - Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
May 09 - Atlantic City, NJ @ Boardwalk Hall
May 11 - Duluth, GA @ Gwinnett Arena
May 13 - East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center
May 15 - Baltimore, MD @ 1st Mariner Arena
May 18 - Hershey, PA @ Giant Center
May 20 - Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena
May 23 - New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
May 25 - Providence, RI @ Dunkin Donuts Center
May 28 - Manchester, NH @ Verizon Wireless Arena
May 30 - Chicago, IL @ Allstate Arena
June 02 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena

Tickets for the band's previously scheduled dates are good for the new shows. Refunds are also available at point of purchase.

[muthagoose]

David Lee Roth Nearly Killed...By Nuts!

Diamond Dave seems to have a problem with nuts.

Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth was very nearly killed after eating something which contained nuts and started an allergic reaction that came close to ending his life.

Roth was stopped in his car for speeding by two police officers from Ontario, Canada and when the police confornted Roth, he informed them he was in the midst of a medical emergency. Immediately, an ambulance was called and the police kept Roth comfortable until he was treated at hospital.

[muthagoose]

DAVID LEE ROTH: I'm Not Allergic To Nuts

VAN HALEN frontman David Lee Roth has issued the following statement to TMZ.com regarding the report that circulated earlier this week (see below) — fueled by actual interviews with two Canadian police officers — which claimed cops had to save Dave's life after he went into anaphylactic shock from eating nuts:

"I was in Canada only from July first through the fourth for a performance at the Quebec City Summer Festival. I had no encounters or incidents with the police. The only thing I'm allergic to is criticism. — Love, Dave"

Dave's rep told TMZ.com that Dave he is not allergic to nuts.

[muthagoose]

DAVID LEE ROTH Imposter On The Loose

TMZ.com reports that Canadian cops say they have identified the imposter who is running around Ontario claiming to be VAN HALEN singer David Lee Roth. A police spokesperson says the man has "scammed a lot of people" and could be charged with obstruction of justice for giving a false name to cops.

The faux Diamond Dave first surfaced on May 23, after a man suffering from an allergic reaction to nuts told two Canadian cops and paramedics he was the VAN HALEN frontman. Now a local police spokesperson admits he's not sure if the cops on the scene actually asked for I.D.

"Roth" has been spotted at the Liquid Lounge in Hamilton, Ontario, reportedly singing a song and partying it up with who was described as two nurses from the hospital. The Liquid Lounge's owner says the man was wearing "expensive clothes" and sporting a hospital bracelet.

Yesterday, Dave issued a statement insisting that he never had an incident with cops and claiming that "the only thing [he's] allergic to is criticism."

[muthagoose]

MICHAEL ANTHONY: Issues Update on 'CHICKENFOOT' Supergroup

The new "supergroup" featuring former VAN HALEN frontman Sammy Hagar, ex-VAN HALEN bassist Michael Anthony, guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS drummer Chad Smith recently entered the studio to begin recording its debut album. Anthony writes on his web site, "First of all you can all rest assured that our name will not be CHICKENFOOT, but I guess we have to call it something for now!! I just got back last Wednesday from a week and a half of recording with Sam, Joe, and Chad, and all I can say is.... F___K, the shit is ROCKIN'!!!! [Producer] Andy Johns is in the studio with us, and it's sounding BIG!!! I know Sammy got bashed a bit for supposedly comparing this to ZEP in the press (I'm sure if he made any references, it's just because of how excited we all are about how it is coming along. You all know Sammy!! This definitely has the energy of an early ZEP or VH for that matter...). NOBODY will be dissappointed!! We have nine basic tracks recorded, and after Sammy and Joe finish up some touring commitments, we will be back in the studio to finish this up!! We can't wait to get this thing out, so we can bash it up HARD with all of you!!!!"

Smith told The Pulse of Radio he got involved in the project by owning a home near Hagar's place in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. "If you're in Cabo, of course you know Sammy 'cause he's, you know, he rules the joint," he said. "And he's a really nice man, he's a great guy, actually. Somehow he's taken a liking to me, and we played in Vegas, and we played some cover songs — we're a good cover band now. He got pretty excited about it and it actually sounded really good."