Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Sammy Hagar says new Van Halen is old Van Halen

It’s the usual kind of quiet in the Van Halen camp these days, as the band works behind the scenes to get things in order for the upcoming release of their first new record with David Lee Roth since 1984 – the year and the album.

Last week, VH released a photo of themselves with the senior management team at Interscope Records, to which they’ve reportedly been signed, although that has yet to be “officially” announced.

One guy who is doing a lot of talking about VH these days is Sammy Hagar, who continues to field media questions about his former band.

The challenge for fans – and the media – is to understand that Hagar admits his information is out of date: he hasn’t spoken with the brothers in years and anything else he’s getting seems second-hand, at best.

In a new session with Rolling Stone, Hagar takes shots at VH with info he says is five years old.

“I heard this record is old outtakes from the old days. I mean, stuff from before I even joined the band,” says Sammy. “I heard this five years ago, though. Michael Anthony was curious if his background vocals would wind up on the album. I don't think it's a bad idea. It's kind of interesting. Bob Seger did it, and so did the Rolling Stones. I think it's an interesting thing to do in your old age if you can't come up with fresh, good stuff – or you can't get along. Because from what I heard, they aren't working with new material. Ed and Dave didn't actually write new songs. They took old stuff from previous sessions, and then maybe Dave had to go in and add vocals because they just had scat vocals, or even no vocal part at all.”

While insisting he’s not “dogging them,” Hagar says “I'll be the first guy waiting in line at the record store, if I could find one anymore. I'll be really curious. I think they owe the fans that. I would love to see them make a great record. They have some of the most loyal fans in rock, and they've been treated so, so bad these last 20 years.”

Read more of Sammy’s comments at Rolling Stone here.

Van Van Halen

Van Halen – 5150
Tokyo Dome – Tokyo, JP – February 2, 1989


See also:

Chickenfoot: Michael Anthony drama-free without Van Halen
PHOTO: Van Halen signs with Interscope Records
VIDEO: Van Halen’s Hot For Teacher hits Glee
VIDEO: David Lee Roth plugs Lullaby Renditions of Van Halen
Slash and Ozzy Osbourne lead this week’s new releases
Van Halen: Interscope deal to be finalized this week
Van Halen tops the hennemusic Hot 10
VIDEO: The Van Halen cover the band banned in America
Van Halen reunion won’t include Sammy Hagar
RUMOR: Van Halen signs with Interscope Records
Van Halen still divided into two camps?
Van Halen to appear at Grammy Nominations Concert, perform at Grammys
Sammy Hagar says Van Halen used Michael Anthony tapes on tour
Van Halen: New David Lee Roth photo
Van Halen cancel 2012 European tour plans?
Alex Van Halen’s drum kit enters Rock Hall Of Fame Museum
Van Halen: David Lee Roth joins Twitter and Facebook
Van Halen autograph forger pleads guilty in Missouri
Van Halen switches labels after 35 years, album due next year
Van Halen: Ke$ha raves about David Lee Roth
Lita Ford: Eddie Van Halen is the Les Paul of today
Van Halen trying to ban Jump cover
Van Halen top the hennemusic Hot 10
Van Halen: New album update
Angus Young: Eddie Van Halen is an innovator like Jimi Hendrix
Van Halen: New single due next week?
Van Halen to tour Australia in 2012?
Van Halen: Soundwave Revolution fest cancelled
Van Halen top the hennemusic Hot 10 for 2nd week
Van Halen: Ted Templeman talks about how he ended up on ‘Unchained’
Jul 31: Van Halen top the hennemusic Hot 10
Eddie Van Halen a little nervous about new album
Sammy Hagar says Chickenfoot III is best record he’s ever made
Van Halen: Sevendust drummer raves about new album
Van Halen: World Tour rumored to start in November
Van Halen producer says band is ‘on fire’ with new album
Van Halen, Bruce Springsteen named Top American Rock Bands of All Time by Gibson
Van Halen: New music update
Michael Anthony: Chickenfoot vs. Van Halen
Alter Bridge guitarist hears new Van Halen album
Eddie Van Halen interviewed by Smithsonian magazine
Van Halen mixing new album, says Slash
Eddie Van Halen photo book due in October