Monday, January 30, 2012

Michael Anthony: No plans to challenge Van Halen over old songs


While Chickenfoot’s Sammy Hagar continues to bash away at his former band, Van Halen (see here and here for some of Sam’s comments), bassist Michael Anthony continues to take the high road.

Anthony was dismissed from VH following their ill-fated 2004 reunion tour with Hagar, and eventually replaced by Eddie’s son, Wolfgang.

During Chickenfoot’s recent week-long series of shows in Europe, the mild-mannered Anthony spoke with Planet Rock about looking forward to hearing the new VH album.

"They [Van Halen] played a show in New York the other week," says the bassist. "There was [a] song they played called 'She's The Woman', which is actually a song that was, basically, written before I even joined Van Halen."

The bulk of VH’s “A Different Kind Of Truth” is based on material written and/or demoed during the 70s and early 80s, when Michael was a key part of the lineup.

But don’t look for Anthony to go after his former bandmates for songwriting credit on the reworked compositions, despite their original policy of crediting all members equally.

"I don't want to do anything," said Michael. "I just let it be. And, hey, it'll be nice to hear some of those old songs again that I haven't played in a long time."

The first VH single, “Tattoo,” has its roots in the band’s unreleased mid-1970’s song, “Down in Flames,” as the two share the chugging riff and verse parts, with fresh lyrics added by Roth.


Tattoo - Single - Van Halen Tattoo - Single - Van Halen

Van Halen – Tattoo



See also:

AUDIO: Van Halen – The Trouble With Never full preview
Sammy Hagar slams new Van Halen again
AUDIO: Van Halen – She’s The Woman preview
AUDIO: Van Halen – Big River preview
David Lee Roth talks new Van Halen album
AUDIO: Van Halen – Bullethead preview
AUDIO: Van Halen – China Town preview
AUDIO: Van Halen – The Trouble With Never preview
AUDIO: Van Halen – Stay Frosty preview
AUDIO: Van Halen – Blood And Fire preview
Wednesday: Van Halen to debut new song on CSI
Van Halen add more dates to US tour
Van Halen: Tattoo hits #1 on Billboard Hard Rock Singles chart
VIDEO: David Lee Roth explains Van Halen’s Tattoo
VIDEO: Van Halen unplug for You Really Got Me
Van Halen: David Lee Roth’s handwritten lyrics to Tattoo
Sammy Hagar slams new Van Halen single
Van Halen: Tattoo earns Top 20 debut on Billboard’s Rock Songs chart
Van Halen offering new album on vinyl
Van Halen tops the hennemusic Hot 10 for 3rd week
Eddie Van Halen donates 75 guitars to L.A. schools
VIDEO: Van Halen – Tattoo
Van Halen: ‘Tattoo’ video preview
Van Halen recording engineer talks about new album
AUDIO: Van Halen ‘Tattoo’ single goes on sale, extended preview available
Van Halen singer’s uncle raves about Café Wha? show
VIDEO: Van Halen’s David Lee Roth – Ode To Uncle Manny
Van Halen tops the hennemusic Hot 10 for 2nd week
Van Halen: ‘A Different Kind Of Truth’ Deluxe Edition details
Van Halen: 'A Different Kind Of Truth' track listing
VIDEO: Van Halen rock 1979 classics in New York
VIDEO: Van Halen rock 1978 classics in New York
AUDIO: Preview new Van Halen single, ‘Tattoo’
VIDEO: Van Halen rock 'Panama' at New York club show
VIDEO: Van Halen arriving at Café Wha? in New York
VIDEO: Van Halen debut new song at New York club show
Van Halen: ‘Tattoo’ single available for pre-order
Van Halen 2012 tour dates announced
PHOTOS: First pictures at Van Halen LIVE in New York
VIDEO: Van Halen’s David Lee Roth confirms album title, New York concerts
Van Halen: New album title revealed?
AUDIO: Van Halen talk about the old days
NBC's Al Roker uncooperative on Van Halen flight to New York
Van Halen: 'Tattoo' single arrives next week, tour starts next month
Van Halen to play New York club show this Thursday
hennemusic: Van Halen leads list of Rockers To Watch in 2012
VIDEO: Van Halen talk about playing wet t-shirt contests
VIDEO: Eddie Van Halen remembers his 1958 Volvo
VIDEO: Van Halen’s David Lee Roth scrapbook, part 1
Van Halen tops the hennemusic Hot 10
Van Halen billboard displayed in Times Square
VIDEO: Van Halen remember the club days
VIDEO: Van Halen release raw 2012 tour promos
Van Halen tour: VIP packages will be available
Van Halen rehearsal update
Van Halen: single, video & album release dates revealed
Van Halen announce 2012 tour
Holiday message from Eddie Van Halen
AUDIO: Rare 1978 Van Halen interview
Van Halen win two hennemusic Rock News Awards
Rock News Artist Of The Year #1: VAN HALEN
Rock News Story Of The Year #1: VAN HALEN
Van Halen tops the hennemusic Hot 10
Beach Boys confirm they, not Van Halen, were Grammys surprise
Rock News Story Of The Year #9: VAN HALEN
2011 hennemusic Rock News Awards finalists announced
PHOTOS: Van Halen 1978 in-store appearance
Sammy Hagar says new Van Halen is old Van Halen