Thursday, February 3, 2011

Michael Anthony looking forward to hearing new Van Halen

In a new interview with ABC News Radio, former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony says he's "excited" that his former band are working on new material.

Van Halen are currently in the studio with producer John Shanks, recording their first album with David Lee Roth in more than 25 years, and their first new music as a band in 7 years.

"I'm looking forward to seeing what they'll do," says Anthony, adding that he has "no hard feelings" about his split from the band in 2005, when he was replaced by Eddie Van Halen's son, Wolfgang.

Anthony hasn't spoken to any of the members of VH since the end of the band's 2004 “reunion” tour with Sammy Hagar, built to promote the ill-conceived 2-disc, greatest hits set, “Best Of Both Worlds.”

Eddie did not want Michael to be a part of the ’04 trek, forcing him to take a pay cut and signing over his rights to any future use of the VH name. After failed attempts at working with Roth, the band needed Hagar for the tour, who refused to sign on unless Anthony was a part of it.

"The tour did not end as harmoniously as we would have liked it to and it probably should have gone on longer than it did," said Anthony.

Despite being publicly slammed by Eddie for the better part of 30 years, Michael remains the diplomat, even going so far as to say that he wouldn't be against having his band Chickenfoot open for VH, should they go on tour.

"I got no problem with that," said the bassist.

Something tells me Hagar might feel differently on that one.

Chickenfoot are also in the studio right now, working on their sophomore album.

Van Van Halen

Van Halen – Jump (1984)


See also:

Sammy Hagar on recording the new Chickenfoot album
Chickenfoot returns to the studio January 29
Van Halen begin recording new album
VIDEO: new Eddie Van Halen gear introduced at NAMM
hennemusic Hot 10: Van Halen hits #1 for 2nd week in a row
New Eddie Van Halen book due later this year