It's 5150 Time!!!! Sammy Hagar Re-Joins Van Halen

Melodicrock.com ^ | 11-20-03 | my favorite headache

[My Favorite Headache]

Thursday, November 20, 2003

VAN HALEN WILL RETURN IN 2004 - AT LONG LAST!: Van Halen is on the verge of a long awaited comeback. Long tortured fans are about to be put out of their misery, as the band looks ready to fire in 2004. Details are still sketchy as plans are still in the very early stages of development and are therefore continuing to change as issues are sorted through.

Sammy Hagar is set to return to his role as Van Halen's lead vocalist. Original frontman David Lee Roth is not associated with this re-union.

Here's what's been happening, pieced together from a couple of my well known and reliable sources.

It's not clear who initiated first contact. I was told that Eddie & Alex Van Halen called Sammy Hagar, while it was also suggested to me that it was Sammy that called the brothers out of the blue. Either way, contact was established and an attempt to bury the hatchet was made. Sammy Hagar then made a trip to Eddie's house and the 5150 studio. The idea was to see if Sammy, Ed and Alex could in fact put the events of the last 7 years behind them and work together again. It was also a chance for Sammy to hear the material that has so far been written and recorded by Eddie and Alex. I'm told there have since been a few more meetings – which were apparently both good and bad, but issues are being dealt with and a future discussed. Hagar has apparently already told members of his solo band of his plans to re-join Van Halen. Hagar's legal team is already in discussion with Van Halen's legal team.

I was told that bass player Michael Anthony was not present at the first meeting and I am not yet aware of him meeting again with Ed and Alex, who he hasn't talked to for a couple of years now. But I was told that Sammy has insisted that Michael is part of the re-union line-up.

There is no timetable in place as yet for this re-union. As I said, this is still in the very early stages of being developed. A few ideas are still being considered – such as playing a few shows to get things started before recording/finishing a brand new studio album. What is almost definite though are plans for a new studio album – hoped to be ready for mid-2004, but possibly not until late 2004 - followed by a tour.

News leaked overnight of the band's intention to sign a new management deal with Irving Azoff Management. Azoff's office has made the official "no comment" on the matter, but expect this high profile management company to confirm their equally high profile signing soon. Irving Azoff is a well known and powerful manager, who currently has The Eagles, Christina Aguilera, Seal, Jewel and of course Journey on his roster. Azoff has also been Sammy Hagar's solo manager for the last couple of years.

As far as record labels go, Warner Brothers still has a relationship with the band, given that every album they have released has been with the label. I'm told that they will certainly be the first in line to sign the band should everything work out as planned. Irving Azoff also has a strong relationship with the label. Sanctuary Records is being talked about as a possible home for the band, but don't expect that to happen. Hagar had a solo deal with that label, but only for the Greatest Hits Live release and a yet to eventuate re-issue of his solo albums Ten 13 and Not For Sale, which should still happen when the current deal with the two issuing labels for those albums finish.

Not so good news for fans of the Diamond one. David Lee Roth is apparently out of the picture. It seems another attempt to work with him was made after the denied at the time get together in 2000. Once again it didn't work out and the Van Halen brothers have seemingly ruled out any future attempt to work with him. This is the first contact the brothers have had with Hagar since he departed the band in a storm of ill-feeling in 1996.

Planet Us, the all-star project featuring Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Neal Schon, Deen Castronovo and Joe Satriani is all but over – and has been for some time. The project has been left in the hands of guitarist Schon and drummer Castronovo. One rumor is that Neal Schon is still interested in such an album and has another singer in mind. The guys only recorded two tracks together – Vertigo and Peeping Through A Hole – neither of which has been released officially.

There is still more to come. I had planned to gather more information over the course of this week and the weekend, but the leaked news of the Azoff management deal by the music industry website Hits Daily Double has moved the timetable forward. A new Greatest Hits album was one of the rumors leaked in association with the management news. But, to date I have heard no mention of such a plan, unless the band wants to get something into the public's hands while they work on a new studio record. I personally do not see such a thing happening. Could it be time for the Van Hagar CD re-masters to be re-issued?

This is a slowly developing situation and of course, nothing has been announced officially. When this will happen is another major question. The answer is one I hope to bring to you in due course, along with further developments and details of any firm plans that have been put in place. It's nice to be able to bring such positive news to long suffering Van Halen fans. It's news I have the utmost confidence in.

[dennisw]

He's Jewish/ born in Roxbury Massachussets.

I didn't know Dave was Jewish until Adam Sandler mentioned it in the "Hannukah Song."

There are entire books and web sites about Jews in the rock and roll biz

 

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[sully777]

Have you ever listened to The Romero Brothers play flamenco guitar? I burned out two tapes listening, especially Pepe Romero. Just a question.

[gawatchman]

Yes, while I think "Piper" was a brilliant album, "Saucerful" seemed rather fragmented and came at a time when Floyd was redifining itself, but it was still very good in my opinion, esp the title track. Syd's one song on that album "Jugband Blues" seemed to me to be a commentary on his own demise, and departure from the group. But, Syd wrote and recorded some other material with Pink Floyd that sadly, never made on any Floyd albums save for bootlegs such as "Vegetable Man", and "Scream Thy Last Scream". Wish I had those recordings.

[Ben Bolt]

I liked Sammy with Van Halen .. I wish I could find some of his solo / Montrose work again .

[pro libertate]

I'd love to have those recordings as well. I agree about Jugband Blues, but the big problem I have when I listen to
it is I get reminded of what might have been.

[af_vet_rr]

I told a friend who was excited about their late 1980s tour, "Sorry, but it isn't Pink Floyd. It should be called the 'Three Guys Who Used to be in Pink Floyd' Tour, but please don't think this is Pink Floyd." Of course, they were still better than 99.9999% of the acts out there. And Gilmour's playing during that time was incredible.

I was impressed with Division Bell, but your right, it's not the same. They are better than most out there. Hell, Dark Side of the Moon is still selling even today. I don't think I could name one act to come along in the last decade that will still have an album selling like DSOTM 30 years after it was released.

[gawatchman]

My sentiments exactly. Not to take anything away from any other Floyd member or album, but I think Syd was a musical genius.

[BlueNgold]

I just wish I could find the 'Heavy Metal' soundtrack on CD ...

[petercooper]

SAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMYYYYYYYY!!!!!!

[pro libertate]

Try amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004SBUR/qid%3D1069348550/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/103-6741466-4631047.

[egarvue]

LOL. He STARTED out many songs singing (I'm thinking of "Ice Cream Man"), but by the end, you're right, it was all "AAOOOW!!!" and "OH YEAAAAAHHHHH!" and "HUUUUH!"

Still, I loved Van Halens songs better then than when Sammy came on board. Ahh, yes, thinking about it takes me back to my youth, Van Halen's "Panama" playing on the car stereo, my mullet waving in the breeze....

[sully777]

My sister was a big Floyd fan. What a character my sister was: she used to look at me with crazed eyes and yell. "Watch out for that ax Eugene," then scream at the top of her lungs. Good times. But we were close because of it (sarcasm).

She told me Barrett lost his mind on LSD and that Roger Waters obsessed with his crazy friend, kept writing songs about Barrett in all the later albums. She thought The Wall was solely dedicated to Barrett. Someone played the backmask on The Wall and it seemed to say, "Welcome to the funny farm."

But I'm inclined to think it said, "Join free republic." What can I say? Waters was a visionary.

[spodefly]

Cool Thread. Any thread that mentions Van Halen/Hagar, Steve Vai, Pink Floyd, Rush, Dream Theater, et al, is a good thread.

BTW, the first VH concert I saw was on a tour with Journey and Ronnie Montrose. VH had the opening slot and only about 30 minutes to play. This was in 78 or so. Dave introduced Eddie for the 'Eruption' solo by saying "Ladies and Gentlemen, THE guitar player of the 80's -- Eddie Van Halen". Best Rock show I ever saw ... Journey and Montrose were great, but after VH, they were an anticlimax.

[gawatchman]

Or was it "Careful with that axe Eugene". I think, although I am not certain, that Syd Barrett also developed Schizophrenia at some point which is why he went off the deep end. Not a good combination.

[pro libertate]

Maybe one led to the other in Barrett's case. Either way it doesn't diminish his obvious talent in my opinion.

[HolgerDansk]

I liked both versions of Van Halen for different reasons. The brothers Van Halen always maintained a decent quality standard. No whiny woe-is-me 90s Rock, you could always count on Van Halen for a party mood. And even if you think they're "old", they certainly fit into the current back-to-metal roots trend in Rock that includes groups such as Creed and Staind.

As far as Sammy goes, I still think his best work was Three Lock Box...

[Dan from Michigan]

Arlight. It's not DLR, but I happened to like "Van Hagar" stuff as well. Poundcake(great video too), Best of Both Worlds, Cabo Wabo.

[Dan from Michigan]

After that song, I can never think of garages in the same way again....

[scan58]

OMG! That's DLR??? pitiful...

[Dan from Michigan]

As far as Sammy goes, I still think his best work was Three Lock Box...

That's good, but I gotta go with "Bad Motor Scooter" and his stuff from Montrose.