VH on Hold

[michaelD]

This just in... too good to be true:

Van Halen On HoldUpdated 12:38 PST Tue, Feb 20 2007
It's true. The Van Halen tour that was never officially announced is now officially postponed indefinitely, sources told Pollstar.
The rumored tour took on an air of reality after a trade magazine announced that original singer David Lee Roth was about to sign on the dotted line, and that was soon followed by a press release via Eddie Van Halen’s spokeswoman-slash-girlfriend.
Unfortunately, the worldwide frenzy of a VH reunion was too good to be true, at least for the present day.
However, there was a lot of paper getting inked and Pollstar understands that a tour announcement might not have been far off.

[xdreamsunwindx]

:distress:

[ryan8472]

:lol:

What a **** show. Typical. :p

[ELIUD]

Can't those bitches get their **** together ever? They're worse than the ****ING GO-GOs!

[gldstwmn]

They need more time to recuperate from the plastic surgery. With the exception of Wolfie of course. Or maybe they're just afraid of being outsold/overshadowed by The Police reunion.

[Lee]

Oh, man, isn't this just like them. Why can't they just get it together? I'll bet anything there's some interfighting going on. :distress:

Lee :(

[estranged4life]

VAN HALEN Tour Postponed Indefinitely

Pollstar (www.pollstar.com/) is reporting that the much-hyped VAN HALEN reunion tour with DAVID LEE ROTH has already fallen through and is now "officially postponed indefinitely."

Sources tell the tour magazine that a tour announcement may have not been far off, and just last week, Rolling Stone posted excerpts from an upcoming interview with Roth about the reunion, which is slated for its next issue. The magazine's website also unveiled the first-ever group shot of the current lineup of the band, including Eddie Van Halen, his brother Alex on drums and his son Wolfgang on bass.

Sources also tell Denver's Rocky Mountain News that Van Halen's performance at next month's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony may be in jeopardy too.

Roth told Rolling Stone the band had been rehearsing together again and their chemistry is currently "combustible," though with today's news, it appears that combustion may have actually happened between Roth and the Van Halen family.

Van Halen was expected to do a full, 40 city tour this summer.

----------------------------------------

I wonder, could the rumors be true that a new singer could be touring with Van Halen instead of DLR? If so, let's just say the group will definitely be called Van Halen due to the 4 members last names.

[chiliD]

I actually liked the DLR Band INFINITELY more than VH.

If anybody has a "Dead Pool" going, I'd make sure that EVH is on it.

[estranged4life]

If anybody has a "Dead Pool" going, I'd make sure that EVH is on it.

Alex used to be on my "Dead Pool" list, but now Edward's in his place.

[Rickypt]

Okay, I saved a couple hundred bucks that will go towards more Stevie and Eye Sack shows.

[SuzeQuze]

This is really shocking...not! I don't think they will ever get along. And no one's going to get along with Eddie so long as he's on the sauce. :distress:

[estranged4life]

VAN HALEN - More Tour Postponement Details Surface

Pollstar recently reported that the much-hyped VAN HALEN reunion tour with DAVID LEE ROTH has already fallen through and is now "officially postponed indefinitely."

The following update from MelodicRock.com: "There are outlets reporting the tour is off for good, while an "insider" or two are stating that it is still on. The truth lies somewhere between. As previously reported, the tour as it was set to go, is off for now and promoter Live Nation have confirmed this. However, there is extreme confidence that the tour will still go ahead during 2007.

There is also speculation that a push to have Michael Anthony return to the line-up is behind the new problem. That might be a point of contention (I'm sure everyone would love to see Mike return), however it is not the issue behind the current headlines.

The line-up remains the one publicized in recent weeks."

That lineup would be Roth, guitarist Eddie Van Halen, his brother Alex on drums and his son Wolfgang on bass.

Stay tuned for further updates on the situation.

[WildHeart69]

I had a discussion about this over on The Who's message board and what I gathered was the problems werent between DLR and the band but beteween Valerie and EVH... since their kid is only 15 she has a say in this and she doesnt want him going on the road... I also heard talk that she wants to be there on the road with them as a chapperone!! I think I see Michael Anthony in the picture again soon.

[estranged4life]

I had a discussion about this over on The Who's message board and what I gathered was the problems werent between DLR and the band but between Valerie and EVH... since their kid is only 15 she has a say in this and she doesnt want him going on the road... I also heard talk that she wants to be there on the road with them as a chapperone!! I think I see Michael Anthony in the picture again soon.

since Valerie accompanied Wolfie on the past reunion tour w/Hagar, since Wolfie would come out and play along with his father during EVH's guitar solo.

[WildHeart69]

since Valerie accompanied Wolfie on the past reunion tour w/Hagar, since Wolfie would come out and play along with his father during EVH's guitar solo.

but that was just a few California shows, right? not the whole tour?

[estranged4life]

but that was just a few California shows, right? not the whole tour?

the whole tour, Valerie was easily spotted at the OKC show.

[WildHeart69]

ha, she should have known better at that point he'd get the bug!

[gldstwmn]

I had a discussion about this over on The Who's message board and what I gathered was the problems werent between DLR and the band but beteween Valerie and EVH... since their kid is only 15 she has a say in this and she doesnt want him going on the road... I also heard talk that she wants to be there on the road with them as a chapperone!! I think I see Michael Anthony in the picture again soon.

Can you blame her? :lol:

[gldstwmn]

the whole tour, Valerie was easily spotted at the OKC show.

An old friend of mine was their road manager for a while and Valerie was out there chaperoning Eddie before Wolfie was even born. :laugh:

[BlackWidow]

They need more time to recuperate from the plastic surgery. With the exception of Wolfie of course. Or maybe they're just afraid of being outsold/overshadowed by The Police reunion.

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[chiliD]

An old friend of mine was their road manager for a while and Valerie was out there chaperoning Eddie before Wolfie was even born. :laugh:

Well, Eddie can't be trusted to be on his own (obviously).

[gldstwmn]

ha, she should have known better at that point he'd get the bug!
It's not that, it's all the craziness of a major rock and roll band on the road she's worried about. The kid is only 15 and we're talking about him going on a full fledged tour with David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen. It's not exactly a trip to Disneyland. :laugh:

[gldstwmn]

Well, Eddie can't be trusted to be on his own (obviously).

She was mostly concerned (I was told) that he would drink himself to death among other things.

[Livia]

An old friend of mine was their road manager for a while and Valerie was out there chaperoning Eddie before Wolfie was even born. :laugh:

When I saw VH in Austin back in 82 or 83, my friend and I had crappy seats, and we ended up standing at the rail, in the last section they sold seats, on Michael's side of the stage. We could clearly see a little bit of the backstage area, including Valerie. When they finished, we saw Valerie drape a towel over Eddie and give him a big hug.

I can't blame Val for wanting to chaperone Wolfie. One look at that promo pic and you just know who would get all the ass on tour. :laugh:

[WildHeart69]

She was mostly concerned (I was told) that he would drink himself to death among other things.

yeah, once again...I can't blame her!

[gldstwmn]

When I saw VH in Austin back in 82 or 83, my friend and I had crappy seats, and we ended up standing at the rail, in the last section they sold seats, on Michael's side of the stage. We could clearly see a little bit of the backstage area, including Valerie. When they finished, we saw Valerie drape a towel over Eddie and give him a big hug.

I can't blame Val for wanting to chaperone Wolfie. One look at that promo pic and you just know who would get all the ass on tour. :laugh:

Ha! So true. Those old men would be getting his leftovers. :lol:

[estranged4life]

Van Halen's road plans have taken a rocky turn

Courtesy of latimes.com
By Geoff Boucher, Times Staff Writer
February 23, 2007


On again, off again
For Van Halen, the stars seemed aligned for a triumphant 2007. Next month, the group will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the plan was to follow that with a summer reunion tour that would feature David Lee Roth back at the mike for the first time since the Reagan years.

But, once again, the backstage soap opera of Van Halen is the story of the day.

The Van Halen tour has been "shut down," according to a top official at Live Nation, the huge concert promoter that finally surrendered in the face of the chaos surrounding guitar hero Eddie Van Halen. Roth, meanwhile, says he is unsure whether the mercurial guitarist will even travel to New York for the Hall of Fame induction on March 12.

"We have fragile politics in Van Halen; please accept that as a partial answer," Roth said. "But I don't know if the Van Halens are going to go....I hope they do, but right now, I just don't know. Hope springs eternal."

Eddie Van Halen declined interviews through his publicist and girlfriend, Janie Liszewski. Conversations with the business team behind the tour paint a picture of a rock star who is somewhere between Axl Rose and Michael Jackson on the music industry scale of eccentric recluses. The result is that the Van Halen venture imploded before takeoff, even as the Police, the Eagles and Genesis have efficiently geared up for lucrative reunion tours.

"I cannot tell you how frustrating and completely nuts this has been," one key business figure in the tour said while asking not to be identified on the outside chance that the reunion might be salvaged. "Right now, I have to say, I don't see that happening."

It's a disheartening situation for the fans who pine for a Roth-led lineup of the iconic metal band. Among those devoted is Wolfgang Van Halen, the 15-year-old son of Eddie and, according to Roth, a key force behind the reunion.

Wolfgang, a precocious musician, was "the maestro" at the reconstituted band's lone rehearsal, picking the set list and using his iPod to remind his father of the nuances of his solos on the old albums. Wolfgang was tapped by his father to play bass on the tour too, replacing founding member Michael Anthony, a jolting choice considering the child's age and Anthony's status as one of rock's best backup singers and most relentlessly cheerful presences.

Eddie Van Halen remains, by all accounts, a gifted guitarist and rock auteur, but the decision to jettison Anthony in favor of a teenager may have been the first sign that the new enterprise was guided by creaky logic. Now all eyes will be on the Hall of Fame banquet to see who shows up, who performs and how Roth interacts with old rival Sammy Hagar, the man who replaced him as lead singer in 1985 and who will be inducted as an equal.

On Valentine's Day, when the tour still looked viable, Roth was all smiles as he sat down for an interview in a bungalow at Chateau Marmont. The 52-year-old was wearing a snappy black suit and the short haircut that has recently replaced his old pro-wrestler cut. He still flashes a karate smile, but the singer seems calmer and more focused than in years past. The reason, he said, is that he's fresh from working as an emergency medical technician in New York. It's a longtime dream of his to be a paramedic, and the unglamorous gurney and rubber-glove duty humbled him, he said.

"I was working in neighborhoods that were almost exclusively black and Spanish-speaking, so only maybe twice out of 200 clients was I recognized.... I was joking about this in the truck on New Year's Eve, which was my last shift — I was working in Brooklyn, down in Coney Island — I said that I've been in more project apartments than Jay-Z and Diddy combined."

Roth was the rock frontman on top of the world when he went solo, but — as Mick Jagger and Robert Plant also learned — fans treasure him more when he was side-by-side with an equal on guitar. Roth seemed like a vainglorious sex panther in Van Halen, but on his own he often came off as a relentless jive salesman whose only product was his own past. Roth is still "on" all the time — he calls it his "incandescent personality" — but lately he comes off as the voice of reason, a pretty stunning change.

That, and the financial prospects, made him jump at the chance to work with Eddie Van Halen again. Of the old days, he says: "There was a lot of sparks and a lot of tension, like your favorite movies, especially those underground ones.... There was a lot of anxiety too, but it was about ambition, not ego."

Roth was optimistic that the band would follow up the tour with new music; he also pointed to the cache of 1996 recordings that he did with Van Halen during an earlier reunion flirtation. Now it appears the entire output of this new reunion was a single rehearsal in January and a photo shoot with Roth and Eddie, Wolfgang and Alex Van Halen. Alex is Eddie's older brother and the band's drummer.

"Hearing it again, that's an elixir.... What we sell is that we make all the guys feel young and invincible and all the girls feel young and desirable," Roth said. "I watched it happen to everybody that was listening in the studio."

Van Halen was a monster of rock and, for a time, arguably the biggest band in the world. According to the Recording Industry Assn. of America, Van Halen albums have shipped more than 56.5 million copies, which is more than the career totals of U2, Celine Dion, Shania Twain or Prince.

Roth said that he and Anthony will be in New York for the Hall of Fame, as will Hagar, the affable "red rocker."

Last month, Hagar publicly chided Eddie Van Halen for taking his son on tour. He also added that "the guy is a genius, but he's just out there and it's hard for people around him."

In 2004 and 2005, Van Halen toured with Hagar and, according to Pollstar, grossed $55 million playing arenas. But Hagar said that Eddie Van Halen was drinking heavily and, on some nights, it showed. In Chicago, Eddie stumbled throughout the set and, at one point, quit playing and sacked out, telling the crowd: "I done run outta gas."

There were tender scenes too. With the tour winding down in Los Angeles, for instance, Wolfgang came on stage at the Staples Center to play. The body language of father and son made it clear that they reveled in the shared spotlight. Roth said that that affection led to the hopes for the Van Halen reunion.

"I'm going to put some words in Ed's mouth," Roth said. "Whatever explanation he may give about having his son in the band, I'm going to superimpose: He wants to play with his kid while he's still at the top of his game and able to ... and that's also the same reason I'm in the band in its current configuration. No questions asked. He said, 'Hey, c'mon up the hill and make some music.' I said, 'Great. I'd love to play with you while you're still on the top of your game.' "

Roth smiled, but a moment later, when he was asked about what he feared most about the reunion, he didn't hesitate with his answer: "The two worst words in the English lexicon are 'band meeting.' "

[gldstwmn]

Van Halen's road plans have taken a rocky turn

Courtesy of latimes.com
By Geoff Boucher, Times Staff Writer
February 23, 2007


Roth, meanwhile, says he is unsure whether the mercurial guitarist will even travel to New York for the Hall of Fame induction on March 12.

"We have fragile politics in Van Halen; please accept that as a partial answer," Roth said. "But I don't know if the Van Halens are going to go....I hope they do, but right now, I just don't know. Hope springs eternal."
If they don't show up that will be so disappointing. :distress:

It's a disheartening situation for the fans who pine for a Roth-led lineup of the iconic metal band. Among those devoted is Wolfgang Van Halen, the 15-year-old son of Eddie and, according to Roth, a key force behind the reunion.

Wolfgang, a precocious musician, was "the maestro" at the reconstituted band's lone rehearsal, picking the set list and using his iPod to remind his father of the nuances of his solos on the old albums.

I'm reading between the lines here and I hope I'm wrong but I don't think Eddie is up for the tour and at the rate he's going may never be. I hope he proves me wrong. This is really tragic.


He still flashes a karate smile, but the singer seems calmer and more focused than in years past. The reason, he said, is that he's fresh from working as an emergency medical technician in New York. It's a longtime dream of his to be a paramedic, and the unglamorous gurney and rubber-glove duty humbled him, he said.

"I was working in neighborhoods that were almost exclusively black and Spanish-speaking, so only maybe twice out of 200 clients was I recognized.... I was joking about this in the truck on New Year's Eve, which was my last shift — I was working in Brooklyn, down in Coney Island — I said that I've been in more project apartments than Jay-Z and Diddy combined."

Can you imagine calling 911 and have Diamond Dave show up, put you on the gurney and start your IV? :lol:
I've got to admire the guy for doing that job though. He was the epitome of the rock star lifestyle. I think it would be fascinating to hear how he went from one extreme to the next. I certainly don't think he needed the money. Also, wasn't his father a doctor?



In 2004 and 2005, Van Halen toured with Hagar and, according to Pollstar, grossed $55 million playing arenas. But Hagar said that Eddie Van Halen was drinking heavily and, on some nights, it showed. In Chicago, Eddie stumbled throughout the set and, at one point, quit playing and sacked out, telling the crowd: "I done run outta gas."

I didn't hear about this incident. It's so sad.:distress: Maybe I'm better off remembering VH from when I saw them back in the day.

[michaelD]

Saw them in 1984. and 1986... That's enough for me.
Nothing will compare to the 1984 tour with DLR!
Have seen Hagar twice since then solo, as well as DLR solo twice.

This will never happen....

[estranged4life]

Can you imagine calling 911 and have Diamond Dave show up, put you on the gurney and start your IV? :lol:

"Somebody Get Me A Doctor"? :thumbsup:



I've got to admire the guy for doing that job though. He was the epitome of the rock star lifestyle. I think it would be fascinating to hear how he went from one extreme to the next. I certainly don't think he needed the money. Also, wasn't his father a doctor?

Yes, His Father is a doctor, as I also believe his Mother was in a medical related field of work (I could be wrong).

[WildHeart69]

I didnt bother wasting my $$ on them on the 04-05 tour after hearing how bad they sucked, also not being a huge fan of the Red Rocker... I hope things work out, but do they ever in the long run with these guys??

[BTFLCHLD]

sammy sent a myspace bulletin:

Heard from some friend's in Detroit that the reason why the "Reunion" tour is off is because David Lee Roth want's Mikey on the bass to do the tour.

[skcin]

sammy sent a myspace bulletin:

Heard from some friend's in Detroit that the reason why the "Reunion" tour is off is because David Lee Roth want's Mikey on the bass to do the tour.

Well, that's the way it should be. :sorry:

[WildHeart69]

Well, that's the way it should be. :sorry:
I agree too! but from what I gather, DLR and Michael dont exactly get along... I just know that when they had the Sammy/DLR tour a few years back that Michael would play on Sammy's set and not DLR, I think I read the the duo refused to talk to DLR... but things could have changed...who knows!

[estranged4life]

VELVET REVOLVER To Perform For And Induct VAN HALEN Into Rock Hall

Launch Radio Networks has issued the following report from Bruce Simon:

VELVET REVOLVER has been tapped for VAN HALEN's induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. The band will perform in Van Halen's place, and singer Scott Weiland and guitarist Slash will speak on Van Halen's behalf. For now, it doesn't look like DAVID LEE ROTH and SAMMY HAGAR will join Velvet Revolver onstage, and Michael Anthony hasn't commented yet. It's still unknown whether Eddie and Alex Van Halen will attend the ceremony.

Velvet Revolver just finished recording their new album, titled Libertad. It should be out this summer, and the band has South American dates with AEROSMITH in April and a possible US tour in May.

Hagar had originally told us that he thought the job of inducting Van Halen into the Rock Hall would go to his friend and sometime drummer Chad Smith's group: "I was told that they were gonna get the Chili Pepp -- trying to get the (Red Hot) Chili Peppers to induct us. And I shouldn't, maybe shouldn't be saying this (chuckles), but... letting the cat out of the bag... I said, 'Chad, I think they're gonna ask you guys to do it.'He's going, 'Great, man!'(laughs)" )

Smith regularly joins Hagar onstage at the singer's Cabo Wabo Cantina in Mexico, and Hagar told us that he, Smith, and Michael Anthony are thinking about making a record under the name CHICKEN FOOT.

[michaelD]

I just read today...
Sammy, Michael, and Chad Smith (from the Chilis) are in a new band called Chicken Feet (?)

Michael needs to be on bass.. NOT a 15 year kid... and I don't care who's kid it is....

Wouldn't it be ironic if Sammy and DLR were the ONLY 2 members who show up the RNR Hall induction??

I say F.U. to the VH brothers!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[estranged4life]

I say F.U. to the VH brothers!!!!!!!!!!!!!

who feels that way, Here's a few chapters from Sammy Hagar's 'cancelled' autobiography:

-----------------

"Sam really couldn't drive 55. When he wrote that song, believe me, it was the truth. Not only did he speed, but he was dangerous. One time when I was with him, we got pulled over in Marin County by an officer that had followed our car for some time. This highway patrolman was so angry at Sam's reckless driving, he wanted to haul him off to jail. This man even walked over to my side of the car and said, 'Do you know this man?' I said, 'Yes, he's my husband.' The patrolman says, 'What on earth are you doing in a car with him. He's a horrible driver!' I said, 'Well, he's my husband. I have to come with him.' I can't even describe to you how furious that officer was. Usually, Sam got off because cops recognized him. He would sign autographs, tapes, and most the time get a warning. But his cars were all registered in my name, because no insurance company would touch him with his record. Since he loved his cars so much, I didn't let my lawyers make an issue out of me owning them."

When the divorce was finally granted, Betsy says she was not prepared to face the real world. "Do you know the saying, 'Woman, get thyself to a nunnery?'" she echoed. "I always joked with my friends that's exactly what I should have done. My whole life had been sheltered. I went from living at home with my parents to being with Sam. Even though we had a tough life at times, Sam protected me. Since he handled all the money, I didn't know what the real world was like. When he left me, I was a trusting fool left all alone with what most people would consider a lot of money. Sam always had so much help in that area. They gave him good advice and watched over his business affairs. I didn't have that, and consequently, I made a lot of mistakes."

"I think the most criminal thing that Sam did by leaving me was setting this naive woman loose in the world. For years afterward, I made bad monetary calls, because I wasn't fit to be alone. That was the cruel part about our divorce. After 23 years of marriage, where you're dependent on one person for everything, preparing yourself for single life is hard. Not only was I clueless to how things worked in the real world, our divorce had left me an emotional wreck. My judgement was so clouded, I just wanted to isolate myself from the everyone so I wouldn't make any more errors."

Life did go on for both parties. When the curtain call for that
bittersweet symphony was over, the next settlement to be brokered was the contract Ray Danniels was submitting to Van Halen. With the new album in the mixing stages, it was time to finalize his management deal with the band.

Hagar says that when he read the agreement that had been drawn up, he couldn't believe the terms Al's brother-in-law had proposed. "I remember the son-of-a-bitch wanted to get paid for the rest of his life," said an utterly amazed Hagar, "and that was for every Van Halen record sold in the catalogue. Even if he got fired tomorrow, he wanted 20 percent of everything. And get this. He wanted 20 percent of gross, not net. When I saw what he was trying to do, I went to the brothers raising hell. They were willing to sign Ray's proposed deal the next day. I went to Ed and Al and said, 'Are you guys crazy?' You don't understand, I was the only guy fighting this. Michael Anthony didn't have a real vote per se, so his involvement was limited. He's not a full partner, just a salaried musician in the band. He was almost replaced on every record we did, but believe me, I fought for Mikey too."

Hagar refused to sign documents granting Ray Danniels any authority over his contributions to Van Halen since 1985. He thought the Canadian manager's demands were outrageous, considering he was stepping into a position that was already running smoothly, thanks to his predecessor. Because of his intense distrust of Danniels, Hagar wanted to implement a codicil into the manager's contract to insure a smooth transition, in case he was ousted from the band.

The concept was called "the sunset clause," a prorated pay scale that would eventually phase him out five years after leaving the band, for whatever reason. The language Hagar worked out with attorney Don Engel stated that if Danniels was replaced, or left the band for any reason during the first year, he would be paid his previously agreed upon full percentage. The second year, he would get half of that. The third year Danniels would receive five percent, the fourth, one percent, and after five years, Van Halen was finished paying him. The idea came to Hagar from a conversation he had while touring with the legendary Joe Cocker, nearly twenty years earlier.

"When Ray Danniels initially proposed his contract terms, I thought of my conversation with Joe Cocker. There was no way I was going to let Ray tie up every guy in this band. He wanted to make money off the whole Van Halen catalog from the first David Lee Roth record until now. I fought him for a month. First thing, I wouldn't give him any of my percentage of 5150, OU812, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, and Live: Right Here, Right Now. I kept going to Eddie and Al saying, 'Come on you guys; think about this.' All they would say was, 'Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever you say.' They would not stick up for me. Ray had them convinced that the reason the old catalogue didn't sell was that Ed Leffler never pushed it, because he didn't own a piece of it. Well, the reason Leffler never pushed the Roth stuff was the simple fact he didn't give a **** about it."

"This band had sold 65 million records in their 18-year career, and Ray Danniels knew exactly what he was walking into. He wasn't fooling me with the bull**** he was telling the brothers. Eddie and Al went ahead and gave Ray a large piece of their percentage of the old catalogue with Roth. They even gave him part of their percentage for the albums I was on. I refused to give him anything. I didn't need Ray Danniels breathing down my neck, sucking my dick, holding my hand and selling me out all in the same picture. You want me to tell you something else? Ray Danniels makes more money off the David Lee Roth era albums than Michael Anthony. How about that one? Ray Danniels makes more money than Michael Anthony period! It's sick, man. Ed and Al go along with it, because they make more themselves."

Hagar's rage at Danniels continued to bubble under the surface, as he saw the manager manipulate the Van Halens like puppets on a string. "I never signed a contract with him after I saw how he was doing things," he said defiantly. "This guy came in and immediately wanted twenty percent of everything. I said, 'You're walking into a band that's already making millions. You have the nerve to ask for more than the last guy made who did everything in the world for us! All you are going to be doing is making the same deals Ed Leffler already made with the promoters; the same deal with our record contract; and renewing the same publishing deal already in place. You think that since you're the manager, and you come in to answer the phone, that you should get twenty percent? I absolutely refuse to sign anything that gives you more than Ed Leffler made.'

With the new album coming out, and plans for an extensive tour starting to unfold, some sort of agreement with Danniels had to be reached. During one conversation with Ray, Hagar mentioned the unfair treatment Michael Anthony had been receiving from the Van Halen brothers. The bass player, he felt, at least deserved an equal percentage of the stage money they earned from their nightly road performances. "Michael Anthony stands there on stage every night," insisted Hagar, "and works as hard as me, or anybody else out there. I thought it was chicken **** that he didn't get his fair share of the stage money. Well, Ray Danniels, to get his vote, went to Mike and said, 'I will get you your equal percentage of the touring money.' You want to know why he told him that? Because he knew I'd vote him in as manager. Ray went in and made the deal with the brothers to get Mikey his stage money, although he still didn't get anything from merchandising, the records or publishing. Mike got conned and made a deal with the devil himself, though he didn't have to do it that way. A long time ago, he could have come clean if he would have just stood up for his rights. But I'm not here to ridicule Mikey. He did what he felt he had to do."

Hagar ended up signing a deal with Danniels, recognizing him as the manager for only the upcoming Balance album and tour, nothing else. Sammy's contract called for Ray to make 17 percent of net, not gross, like he originally wanted. Eddie and Alex Van Halen gave him the same percentage across the board for everything.

Wrath
On October 2, 1994, Eddie Van Halen made the daring statement that he was giving up alcohol for good. The announcement was met with considerable skepticism considering the fact the guitarist had failed three previous attempts to go into rehab to kick his habit. With the help of a therapist, he boldly declared his days of drinking were a thing of the past.

"Eddie's affair had a lot to do with him making that statement," noted Hagar. "Valerie had been trying to get Eddie to quit drinking forever. When that incident happened, she had an ace on her. She said, 'Now,you're going to stop drinking. You are going to straighten up, or I'm leaving you.' Now I'm not quoting what I heard, I'm telling you that's what happened. Listen, I don't blame Valerie for taking a stance like that. She was the one positive influence in his life. For years, she had been trying to get him to stop drinking, and she absolutely refused to let him smoke in the house. Despite her best efforts though, "I never interfered in Valerie and Ed's marriage. What goes on between a couple is not anyone's business, unless they ask for your help. No one really understands the strange quirks between two people that makes their relationship work. It's like an invisible substance. Valerie was totally cool with me, and I think she was happy that I tried to help her husband. She knew I was a positive influence on him. A couple of times Valerie asked for my help when Eddie would tell her, 'Hey, I'm going to go get some drugs.' She'd ask me to stop him, and I'd go over and say, 'Man, come on Eddie. F**k, let's go into the studio and work.' About the only thing Valerie ever had against me was this competitive thing she felt I had with Eddie on stage. I was half of the star of the band. She used to push her husband to compete with me more, because she wanted him to be the man. That's the only thing that I ever felt from Valerie, and I understood it. Other than that, if she ever said I wasn't a positive influence on Edward, then I'd be very, very disappointed."

Hagar's management deal with Ray Danniels was completely separate from the one he signed with Eddie, Alex, and Michael Anthony. The way Sammy had his contract structured did little to endear him to the manager. Ray's animosity toward the Red Rocker would escalate over the coming months as he carefully picked his engagements. The Canadian was determined to erode the singer's leadership role in Van Halen. Despite the contempt Sam felt from the band's new administrator, he carried on his business as usual. One such case involved his involvement in an all-star musical tribute to Elvis Presley. The performance, along with other musicians strongly influenced by The King, was going to be broadcast live on pay-per-view, October 8, from the Pyramid Arena in Memphis.

"Johnny Barbis had called me up," disclosed Sammy, "and asked me if I could take part in an Elvis tribute. Bon Jovi had backed out, and he wanted to know if I'd take his place. Of course I said yes, because I was an Elvis freak. I took Guns 'N Roses drummer Matt Sorum with me and played 'Good Rockin Tonight,' the Elvis Presley tune Montrose played on their first album. I told Ed and Al what I was doing, and they didn't care. Eddie knew how much I loved Elvis. We used to lightheartedly debate about him all the time. One night when I lived in Malibu, Jon Bon Jovi, Eddie and myself talked about Elvis all night. Jon had bought a house down the street, so I invited him over. We ordered pizza, had some wine and argued the entire evening. Eddie did not dig Elvis Presley at all. He said, 'What the f**k man. He didn't write his own tunes, he made them f**ked up movies, why the f**k is he such a big star?' I'd say because Elvis was the most charismatic...and he'd cut me off and say, 'Bull****!'"

Sammy's appearance at the event was the highlight of what had been a rather dismal year. Though he was not allowed to contribute "Good Rockin Tonight" to the Elvis tribute album released later, it really didn't matter to him. He got paid for doing something he would have done for free. Before Ray Danniels started his pitch battles with Hagar, Sammy fired off one of his last impudent shots. The manager dodged the bullet, but the message had clearly been sent.

"Johnny Barbis said they wanted to pay me $25,000 for my appearance," replied Hagar. "He wanted to know who he should speak to about it. I phoned Ray and said, 'Call them up and make the deal.' I tried to throw him a bone, because I was trying to keep peace in the valley. Now, I had a totally separate arrangement with Ray. I had language put in my contract that stated he does not manage me, or anything I do as a solo artist, unless I chose to put a deal through his office. It was like, 'Ray, someone offered me this deal. Call them up and handle it for me.' If I chose to do that, then I would give him 10 percent of the deal. When I threw the deal his way, Ray goes, 'I don't want ten percent of anything. That's embarrassing to me.' Well anyway, I sent Ray a check for $2,500 after the show was over. He was such an asshole, he wouldn't even cash it."

Van Halen should never have paid him 17 percent for anything. Those guys agreed to pay Ray for things he had no part of. I made it clear that he wouldn't get a thing from me for 5150, OU812, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, and the Live album. That's another reason why he pulled all his **** behind my back. I retained my 30 percent without giving Ray Danniels a f**king penny, because he didn't deserve it, he's a criminal. I voted to give him percent of the new record and of the tour, just like everybody else, mainly because of Michael Anthony. I didn't screw him in any deal. I just gave him his percentage of what he did, not something he didn't do."

The way 1994 had been going for Hagar, he never knew what to expect when he answered his telephone at any of his homes. Perhaps the biggest surprise call he received came from Mo Austin, the legendary head of Warner Bros. He phoned the Hagar residence in Mill Valley to let Sammy know that he was stepping down as president of the label. Austin had been forced out in a boardroom coup, orchestrated at corporate headquarters in New York. He was leaving the company he'd built into a powerhouse with his second in command, Lenny Waronker, at the first of the year.

"You know," he remarked soberly, "I was the first guy in the band that Mo notified, when all this happened to him. He called me at home and said, 'I just wanted to tell you that I am stepping down. I didn't want you guys to hear it from the news media.' I said, 'Wow Mo, that breaks my heart.' He goes, 'Look, circumstances happened, and it's time for a change.' The news really upset me, because he had been such a strong ally of the band. I said, 'You aren't going to quit the business are you?' He laughed and said, 'No, what do you expect me to do, play golf? My whole life has been music. I'm going to take some time off, and see what I'm going to do next.' Anyway, during our conversation, Mo said, 'So, I don't know what you guys are going to do, if you're going to exercise your option, or what.' Now that news really startled me. You see, I'd always heard about these options Ed Leffler had made with the label. He always tried to put a key man clause in our contract that stated if Mo and Lenny left Warner Bros., we were automatic free agents." Austin's comment about Van Halen exercising their option intrigued Hagar. He called his bandmates and informed them of the shake-up at Warner Bros. Then he called Ray Danniels to let him know what was happening. Hagar says the manager was shocked that Mo Austin had personally called him with the news of his departure. This was the first he was hearing about it. Sammy also informed Danniels about a possible out clause in Van Halen's contract they could now exercise since the label president was leaving the company.

"That was a real tricky thing," admitted Hagar. "Don Engel swore he never saw it in the contract, but Leffler always told me we had it. Mo's son, Michael, kind of hinted it was there as well. He said, 'Yeah, my dad says you guys are free agents if him and Lenny leave.' I'm positive Mo and Ed had some sort of a little agreement between them, but it went to Leffler's grave with him. With the lawyers going 'I don't know, I don't know,' there was no one to corroborate what actually happened. When I first brought it up, everybody started freaking out on me. Ray Danniels says, 'No, no, no, I read the contract.' I then told them there might have been a side deal somewhere. It ended up going nowhere."

The gentleman's agreement might have come to light had the group upheld a request Austin made of them. He set up a meeting with Ray Danniels and the band to propose an option with them. If Van Halen could get the new album mixed, and the masters sent to Warner Bros. by late November, he would orchestrate a massive marketing campaign behind the record, guaranteeing huge sales over the holidays.

"Mo came to the studio shortly after he called me," announced Sammy, "to listen to the record. He sat in a room with Ray, Eddie, Alex and myself and said, 'If you guys would do me a favor, can we get this record out by November?' He was looking straight at me when he said that. We said, 'Wow, that's pretty quick, but yeah, it's possible.' He said, 'If you can get this record out this year before I quit, I promise you I'll make this the biggest record that you've ever had. I will almost guarantee you an extra million records sold.' Now Mo wanted our record out during his last quarter because he got a percentage. We knew that, but at the same time, he was giving us an opportunity of a lifetime." With all the upheaval going on at Warner Bros. over Austin's forced departure, artists like Eric Clapton, Madonna, Fleetwood Mac and R.E.M threatened to leave the label. If Van Halen followed through on the outgoing president's proposal, they'd more than likely be free to go. Their contract they'd been given, their contract would be fulfilled, and they were free to go. In light of the chaos erupting throughout the entire Warner Bros. organization, finding a new home for the band seemed an attractive option, especially with Hollywood Records. The $50 million deal was still on the table. Sammy was excited by Austin's proposal the deal that had been offered. He even spent two weeks at the Canyon Ranch health resort in Tucson, Arizona, on a rigorous outdoor fitness program, to get in shape for the upcoming video shoot, "Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do)."

"I thought we should get off Warner Bros.," said Hagar candidly, "because of all the changes they were going through. We always had a bad relationship with them to the point Ed Leffler thought it was time to move on. When Ray Danniels first came on board, we told him about the deal Ed had been working with Hollywood Records. We were going to start off with them as one big family. They were going to indemnify us for any lawsuits if there were any. With the Balance album coming out, our contract with Warner was finished. All we had to do now was put the record out and everyone would have a Merry Christmas."

Hagar's plan for a happy holiday would never materialize. Ray Danniels thwarted the hopes of the outgoing Warner Bros. president by telling him it was impossible for Van Halen to have the record ready for a December release. The manager, he later learned, was more interested in currying favor with the new regime than doing what was in the best interest of Van Halen. In the coming year, Sammy would discover that under Danniels' principle style of management, two things were important to him. One was to nullify his leadership role in the band, and two, squeeze the profit centers in Van Halen today, not tomorrow. The Red Rocker may have survived the seven deadly sins of Ray and his disciples, but that round was nothing compared to the transgressions he would be crucified for the following year.

on to chapter 20"

[estranged4life]

All VAN HALEN Members To Attend Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony

According to Livedaily.com, after weeks of speculation, it appears that VAN HALEN members Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, David Lee Roth, Michael Anthony and Sammy Hagar will be on hand for their band's March 12 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, according to Premiere Radio Networks. It remains unknown if any of the band members plan to appear on stage to accept the honor; at last count, Hagar and Anthony are on the outs with the Van Halen brothers, and Roth's status is up in the air following recent news that a planned 2007 summer reunion tour featuring Roth, the Van Halen brothers and Eddie's 15-year-old son, Wolfgang Van Halen, on bass, has been indefinitely postponed. Velvet Revolver is expected to perform during the ceremony in lieu of Van Halen.

[michaelD]

But will they play?
Doubtful... will they even go up and accept the award together?
VH1 is broadcasting this live this year because of the potential "fireworks".

[Livia]

As much as I'd like to see Wolfgang perform, I'm excited about Velvet Revolver doing VH songs! :thumbsup:

[michaelD]

For the First Time The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony to Be Broadcast & Streamed Live on VH1 Classic and AOL on March 12
VH1 to Air Special Two-Hour Edition on March 17th



New York, NY, March 2, 2007 – The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation today announces its broadcast partners for the March 12th induction ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation president and C.E.O., Joel Peresman commented, “We are so happy to be working with our great friends at VH1 again this year, and welcoming our new partners, AOL, VH1 Classic, and MHD, MTV Networks' new high-definition music channel. For the first time, the induction ceremony will air live on VH1 Classic, and be simultaneously streamed without commercial interruption on AOL at http://spinner.aol.com/rockhall. We think that being able to broadcast the induction event live will make for great viewing and our hope is that a live broadcast will make the fans feel like they get to share the moment with us, in a way that they never have been able to before.”



The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be broadcast live from the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on AOL, VH1 Classic and MHD on March 12, 2007. AOL will feature the induction on demand commencing on March 13th. The full ceremony will air again on VH1 Classic and MHD on Friday, March 16th. An edited version will air in rotation on VH1, VH1 Classic and MHD beginning on Saturday, March 17th.



“It is a true honor for AOL to be able to stream the induction ceremony live for fans around the world,” said Mike Rich, Vice President of AOL Music, Movies, and Television. “For years AOL has been a leader in providing music fans a rich online source of videos, original performances, live concerts and more. Now we can let consumers witness the thrill of this historic event, empowering them with interactive features that allow them to upload video commentary, vote and interact with other fans.”



Five new acts/artists are being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for 2007, including the first-ever hip-hop act. The inductees are:



- Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five (Kid Creole, Cowboy, Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel, Mr. Ness, Raheim)

- R.E.M. (Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Michael Stipe)

- The Ronettes (Estelle Bennett, Ronnie Spector, Nedra Talley)

- Patti Smith

- Van Halen (Michael Anthony, Sammy Hagar, Alex Van Halen, Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth)



“VH1 Classic will be presenting its first-ever live telecast with this 2007 induction ceremony honoring the amazing talents of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, R.E.M., The Ronettes, Patti Smith and Van Halen,” said Tom Calderone, Executive Vice President and General Manager, VH1. “VH1 has had a long and successful partnership with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and we're excited that music fans can enjoy it across our brand this year and MHD: Music High Definition, which will deliver this once-in-a-lifetime event to our viewers who love their music in high-def.”

[estranged4life]

SAMMY HAGAR Hoping For Peaceful Night At Rock Hall Induction

Launch Radio Networks has issued the following report from Bruce Simon:

VAN HALEN will be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame one week from tonight (Monday, March 12th), and there's still some question as to who's going to attend the ceremony.
Singers DAVID LEE ROTH and SAMMY HAGAR and former bassist Michael Anthony will all be there, and now Eddie and Alex Van Halen have reserved a table for themselves and their families, according to Premiere Radio Network. However, there is still some doubt that the Van Halen brothers will actually be at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

Either way, there are still no plans for the band to perform. VELVET REVOLVER will take the stage in their place, with frontman Scott Weiland and guitarist Slash doing the actual induction speech for Van Halen.

Hagar told us that he wants everything to go smoothly on the night, but he understands it might not: "I have my hopes and my fears, and my hopes are really that, you know, everyone's just respectful of each other, and happy for each other, and give credit where credit's due, that, you know, none of us would be there, probably, without each other. And hopefully, everybody's really happy and respectful, and (we) try to make a great thing out of it. And somebody trying to take the credit over someone else would be a bummer. That's my fear, is that, you know, it turns into an ugly thing, and there's an argument, and, you know, (we) start slinging hash at each other."

[SteveMacD]

I love watching train wrecks!

[michaelD]

F'ING LIVE TV!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bring it on... set the Tivos!!!!

[HejiraNYC]

I actually read that loooong excerpt. It's very good stuff! I just have to wonder though... why does everybody (except Hagar) hate Michael Anthony? On stage he always seemed like Mr. Happy Go Lucky. It's not like he was demanding money or political power. It's not like he was a competing songwriter. It's not like he was a media whore. It's not like was was the babe magnet. He just seemed to be the stereotypical, mild mannered bassist who stood in the background.

Do you suppose it's the mullet?

[michaelD]

Because he chose to "go with" Hagar...
After Sammy was out of the band, Michael still jammed with him...
Sammy and Michael have been tight since then... They are even forming a new band together....

I saw the Hagar/Roth tour, and Michael played bass for the Hagar portion of the show....

[estranged4life]

SAMMY HAGAR Says Eddie And Alex VAN HALEN Won't Be At Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony

Former VAN HALEN singer SAMMY HAGAR spoke to Sfgate.com recently about a number of topics, including Van Halen's March 12th induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. An excerpt from the story found here follows:

(For Hagar) retirement is a long way away; enshrinement comes next week. Hagar will be inducted in the Hall of Fame as a vocalist for Van Halen, who were the most awesome Top of the Pops heavy metal heroes going in 1985 when the group jettisoned vocalist David Lee Roth in favor of Hagar, who had already established a successful solo career following his spell as lead vocalist of '70s heavy metal prototype MONTROSE. Hagar rode that juggernaut down the backside of the bell curve for 11 years, including four multiplatinum albums. He returned to the fold for one eventful 2004 tour. Otherwise, Van Halen after Hagar has not amounted to much. There was talk of a reunion tour this summer with Roth, who hasn't exactly prospered since leaving the band, but Hagar says that has fallen apart already. He doesn't know if erstwhile band mates Eddie and Alex Van Halen will even attend, but Hagar says he will go to the ceremony with former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony.

"He's my good buddy," Hagar says. "It's not him and us against the others. He got thrown out of the band, too. I don't think Ed and Al are going. The word I got from our management is that now they said they're not going. Roth'll be there. S -- , he's there right now. He's already got a room. I'm fine with him. I'm fine with Ed and Al. I don't talk to Eddie. I'm not mad at Eddie. I still love the guy. He's just hard to get along with.

"When we were all going, when they were gonna do their tour with Roth that just blew out -- I could have told you that; I bet money that would never happen. I would love to see it. They owe it to the fans. They should do it. I believe it's the right thing for Van Halen to do is to do a David Lee Roth reunion. Look how long it's been. It's never worked. This is the fourth abortion. There's a lot of fans out there and they've been waiting a long time for this. And it's gotta happen someday. We did it -- they should do it. Before it blew out, everybody was going. But the word now was, from Ed and Al, 'we're not playing.'"

The band will be inducted by VELVET REVOLVER (after RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS were unavailable), who will perform a medley of Van Halen music.

----------------------------------

RHCP would have been the ones to induct Van Halen, But they have a makup gig (Which was postponed due to weather) in OKC on the same night as the R'N'R Ceremony.

[michaelD]

SAMMY HAGAR Says Eddie And Alex VAN HALEN Won't Be At Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony

Former VAN HALEN singer SAMMY HAGAR spoke to Sfgate.com recently about a number of topics, including Van Halen's March 12th induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. An excerpt from the story found here follows:

(For Hagar) retirement is a long way away; enshrinement comes next week. Hagar will be inducted in the Hall of Fame as a vocalist for Van Halen, who were the most awesome Top of the Pops heavy metal heroes going in 1985 when the group jettisoned vocalist David Lee Roth in favor of Hagar, who had already established a successful solo career following his spell as lead vocalist of '70s heavy metal prototype MONTROSE. Hagar rode that juggernaut down the backside of the bell curve for 11 years, including four multiplatinum albums. He returned to the fold for one eventful 2004 tour. Otherwise, Van Halen after Hagar has not amounted to much. There was talk of a reunion tour this summer with Roth, who hasn't exactly prospered since leaving the band, but Hagar says that has fallen apart already. He doesn't know if erstwhile band mates Eddie and Alex Van Halen will even attend, but Hagar says he will go to the ceremony with former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony.

"He's my good buddy," Hagar says. "It's not him and us against the others. He got thrown out of the band, too. I don't think Ed and Al are going. The word I got from our management is that now they said they're not going. Roth'll be there. S -- , he's there right now. He's already got a room. I'm fine with him. I'm fine with Ed and Al. I don't talk to Eddie. I'm not mad at Eddie. I still love the guy. He's just hard to get along with.

"When we were all going, when they were gonna do their tour with Roth that just blew out -- I could have told you that; I bet money that would never happen. I would love to see it. They owe it to the fans. They should do it. I believe it's the right thing for Van Halen to do is to do a David Lee Roth reunion. Look how long it's been. It's never worked. This is the fourth abortion. There's a lot of fans out there and they've been waiting a long time for this. And it's gotta happen someday. We did it -- they should do it. Before it blew out, everybody was going. But the word now was, from Ed and Al, 'we're not playing.'"

The band will be inducted by VELVET REVOLVER (after RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS were unavailable), who will perform a medley of Van Halen music.

----------------------------------

RHCP would have been the ones to induct Van Halen, But they have a makup gig (Which was postponed due to weather) in OKC on the same night as the R'N'R Ceremony.


WTF? Talk on again, off again BS! Monday can't come soon enough!!!

[estranged4life]

VAN HALEN - DAVID LEE ROTH Not Allowed To Perform At Gala Honoring The Band

The following report is courtesy of Geoff Boucher, L.A. Times Times Staff Writer:

How did that old VAN HALEN song go? "I found the simple life ain't so simple ... " The iconic Los Angeles metal band is set to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at a lavish New York banquet Monday night, but now it appears that only one original member, bassist Michael Anthony, will even show up.

David Lee Roth, the band's frontman for its first decade, said Thursday he will not attend the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel ceremony because event officials have turned down his repeated overtures to perform.

"I don't make speeches for a living; I sing and dance for my dinner," Roth said, adding that the decision to skip the event "rips my heart out."

The hall of fame's event organizers plan for VELVET REVOLVER to perform some Van Halen classics, much as METALLICA stood in last year to play Black Sabbath songs while that band's members watched from the audience. "So it appears this is a television producer's decision," Roth said.

The choice of Velvet Revolver was in response to a sticky situation as far as what lineup of Van Halen could take the stage to perform with Roth. Van Halen's revered guitar hero, Eddie Van Halen, and his brother, drummer Alex, had already sent signals that they would not be in New York. The Van Halens have been in lock-down mode since their plans for a summer reunion tour with Roth collapsed last month. Roth said he last spoke to Eddie Van Halen's camp a week ago, and he said he could not determine the truth about reports that the guitarist is seeking help for alcohol problems.

"Ed is indisposed and working toward a better future here," Roth said. "If Ed ever dries up, this is going to be a stadium act, man.... What's happening here with this [New York event] is part and parcel of the same spiral that screwed up the tour."

Without the Brothers Van Halen, the Hall faced the prospect of putting Roth on stage with bass player Michael Anthony, who is the lone founding member expected to attend, and Sammy Hagar, Roth's replacement in the band and longtime foil, who logged more than a decade as the band's frontman. Hagar confirmed Thursday he is attending.

Roth said Thursday he had been preparing since December for the chance to perform for the industry elite, the media and a television audience that will be watching the ceremony live on VH1 Classics.

"It's just not an option for me to go and watch some other band — who are only performing because they have some new record coming out — do our music," Roth said. "I have nothing against Velvet Revolver — I'm not familiar with their music — but that was my 3 minutes and 22 seconds up there."

[michaelD]

March 8, 2007

The future of the Van Halen reunion has just been struck another blow with founder Eddie Van Halen announcing that he is going back into rehab.

In a statement today, Van Halen says "I would like Van Halen fans to know how much I truly appreciate each and every one of you. Without you there is no Van Halen".

"I have always and will always feel a responsibility to give you my best. At the moment I do not feel that I can give you my best. That's why I have decided to enter a rehabilitation facility to work on myself, so that in the future I can deliver the 110% that I feel I owe you and want to give you".

"Some of the issues surrounding the 2007 Van Halen tour are within my ability to change and some are not. As far as my rehab is concerned, it is within my ability to change and change for the better. I want you to know that is exactly what I'm doing, so that I may continue to give you the very best I am capable of".

"I look forward to seeing you in the future better than ever and I thank you with all my heart".

"Love, Ed"

The Van Halen reunion tour was announced just a few months ago with a planned 60 dates booked across North America.

The tour fell in a screaming heap following yet more tensions between original singer David Lee Roth and the Van Halen brothers.

The reunion announcement was also met with a loud "huh" by fans who were not too happy with the Van Halen decision to drop co-founder, backing vocalist and bass player Michael Anthony with Eddie's teenage son Wolfgang.

The next saga in this Spinal Tap II plot was when David Lee Roth announced that Van Halen would not group for their impending induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next week. Instead, Velvet Revolver are tipped to perform Van Halen songs at the ceremony "in their honor".

A planned Van Halen, the David Lee Roth years compilation was also planned for release by Warner Music. That too is said to be on hold.