"I knew those guys really well. We actually shared some people; crew and things like that,” shared the Hall & Oates singer during an interview Q104.3 New York's Out Of The Box With Jonathan Clarke. “Eddie came to a show with (his wife at the time) Valerie (Bertinelli), and David had just left the band. Eddie said, 'Do you wanna join Van Halen, man?'
"He was half joking, but I think he was serious. I really do believe he was serious, and I took it seriously. I went, 'Meh, I think not. I think I've got my own sh*t going on.'"
Hall previously confirmed the iconic guitarist’s offer during a 2015 episode of his online series, “Live from Daryl's House”, that featured guest Sammy Hagar, who ultimately got the gig after it had been turned down by both Journey singer Steve Perry and Patty Smyth of Scandal.
After Van Halen hit their commercial peak with the “1984” album, Hagar joined the lineup and the band released their first album with him, “5150”, in the spring of 1986; he was on board for all four of the group’s US No.1 records before either quitting or being fired (based on conflicting stories by both Eddie and himself) in 1996.
Extreme singer Gary Cherone was brought in for the 1998 “III” album and tour before Roth regrouped with the original lineup in 2000 for some writing and recording sessions that were eventually shelved, while Sammy returned for an ill-fated 2004 tour in support of a greatest hits set before Roth ultimately reunited with Van Halen for a 2007 tour that saw Eddie’s son, Wolfgang, on bass; a 2012 album, “A Different Kind Of Truth”, and tour followed and the group performed what would be their final concert series in 2015.
Eddie Van Halen passed away in October 2020 at the age of 65 from a stroke following a lengthy battle with cancer.
Van Halen were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007.
See also:
Mammoth WVH perform unreleased song on Young Guns tour
Mammoth WVH cover Alice In Chains classic in Salt Lake City
Mammoth WVH release Epiphany video
Mammoth WVH and Dirty Honey postpone 2022 tour launch
Search Van Halen at hennemusic
