# Will Van Halen ever bring out a new album or play again? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 23, 2002, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-van-halen-ever-bring-out-a-new-album-or-play-again/120341 "2002-07-23T05:10:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Flip-Disc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc79bd/32.png) [@Flip-Disc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flip-Disc)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-van-halen-ever-bring-out-a-new-album-or-play-again/120341/1 "2002-07-23T05:10:35Z")
Well, being a massive fan of Van Halen, and past circumstances and issues surrounding the group, is has brought me to this question! ---
**Author:** ![stockton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@stockton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stockton)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-van-halen-ever-bring-out-a-new-album-or-play-again/120341/2 "2002-07-23T05:21:03Z")
I fear they may have fallen into the same ballad suck-hole as Foreigner and Cheap Trick. I saw them back in the day, with Dave at the helm, and they were awesomely great. That was then, this is now, and they are on the short track to ballad suckdom. Hey, it happened to Heart and Tom Petty! Rule #1: DON’T fall into the ballad suckhole. Can someone copy this to Aerosmith? ---
**Author:** ![Lockfist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@Lockfist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lockfist)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-van-halen-ever-bring-out-a-new-album-or-play-again/120341/3 "2002-07-23T05:36:11Z")
From [Blabbermouth.net](http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/index.aspx) > [@](#): > > \*\* > SAMMY HAGAR: VAN HALEN Is Over For Good! - July 11, 2002\*\* > > Former VAN HALEN frontman Sammy Hagar revealed several interesting items about VAN HALEN’s comeback plans during a recent interview with reporter Patrick Berkery of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Among the revelations that are due to be detailed in the article—which is set to be published on August 16th—are the following: > > \*\*VAN HALEN is over for good, according to Sam. VAN HALEN bassist Michael Anthony (who’s been showing up at a lot of Hagar’s recent tour dates) hasn’t spoken with the VH brothers since February and they haven’t recorded any music, discussed a singer or anything of the sort since last year. Drummer Alex Van Halen sits on the Internet all day (and smokes), while Eddie Van Halen sits in his house and does nothing all day (and smokes). The way Sam sees it, no label, no management, no singer=no band. > > \*\*The recent David Lee Roth/VAN HALEN reconciliation rumors: Dave was indeed writing and recording with the band circa 2000. Very quietly, things were broken off because, according to Sammy (according to Michael Anthony), Dave’s voice was pretty shot and Eddie was growing incredibly frustrated. Eddie was very intent on writing “radio-friendly” rock, and Dave was into his usual “non sequitur” rock, says Sam. Hence, Dave’s proposal to Sammy (again, according to Sammy) to do this tour. > > \*\*Dave Lee Roth has taken seven bodyguards with him on his current tour with Hagar. > > \*\*VH, Roth and Sammy were offered $50 million to do two shows in Las Vegas in 2001—big pay-per-view deal, the whole shebang. Sammy says they all turned it down immediately except Roth. He also says a whole tour with all parties was also proposed by the same person (a Las Vegas businessman) for dollars that would make your eyes pop out. So there you have. On a related note, Valerie filed for divorce recently… ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-van-halen-ever-bring-out-a-new-album-or-play-again/120341/4 "2002-07-23T07:58:19Z")
If there is a God, He’ll make sure that Van Halen never plays again. When they got rid of Roth, they were wounded. When they got rid of Hagar, they died. And when that bozo Cherrone (or whatever his name is) came for that one album, he burned them and scattered the ashes. Let them rest in peace, lest they destroy any sort of credibility they have left, if in fact they still have any at all. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-van-halen-ever-bring-out-a-new-album-or-play-again/120341/5 "2002-07-23T10:26:43Z")
Edward’s sick, isn’t he? Physically, I mean. I can’t remember where I read that, but I have the impression he’s seriously ill. –Nott ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-van-halen-ever-bring-out-a-new-album-or-play-again/120341/6 "2002-07-23T12:39:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by stockton \* > \*\*I fear they may have fallen into the same ballad suck-hole as Foreigner and Cheap Trick. I saw them back in the day, with Dave at the helm, and they were awesomely great. That was then, this is now, and they are on the short track to ballad suckdom. Hey, it happened to Heart and Tom Petty! Rule #1: DON’T fall into the ballad suckhole. Can someone copy this to Aerosmith? \*\* I’d add to this…don’t go for cheap poetry like Tom Petty’s “Last Dance with Mary Jane”, or Aeromsmith’s “Pink”. This is a clear symptom of a dying band. - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![WSLer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@WSLer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WSLer)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-van-halen-ever-bring-out-a-new-album-or-play-again/120341/7 "2002-07-23T22:38:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jinx \* > \*\*I’d add to this…don’t go for cheap poetry like Tom Petty’s “Last Dance with Mary Jane”, or Aeromsmith’s “Pink”. This is a clear symptom of a dying band. - Jinx \*\* Pardon me while I laugh disdainfully for 23 1/2 minutes… Gee, it’s too bad that Dylan didn’t listen to you when he recorded Subterranean Homesick Blues, 'cause his career just went into the toilet after that. NOT. You are ignoring/have never figured out the #1 rule about music lyrics, which is this: 1. Rock lyrics are not poetry. Poetry is not rock lyrics. A) Rock lyrics are stupidity raised to truth through repitition. Thanks for playing. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-van-halen-ever-bring-out-a-new-album-or-play-again/120341/8 "2002-07-23T23:09:20Z")
Stealing this for Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-van-halen-ever-bring-out-a-new-album-or-play-again/120341/9 "2002-07-23T23:31:20Z")
> [@](#): > > Edward’s sick, isn’t he? Physically, I mean. I can’t remember where I read that, but I have the impression he’s seriously ill. He was supposed to have hip replacement surgery years ago and I don’t think he ever did. Years of partying have messed up his liver as well (and, according Sammy, Eddie never really quite drinking). Van Halen is pretty much, for the history books. I liked them with both Dave & Sammy, but the Gary Cherone version DID NOT work. Besides the guy’s voice being all wrong the quality of the music was just not there. And Eddie Van Halen must have had a cadre of yes men around him at the time. What else could explain “So say I” (God, the humanity!) :eek: When they fired Sammy (I believe Hagar’s version of things) they had a golden opportunity to reunite with Dave. A live tour would have been a smash, and the two new tracks he did with them on the Greatest Hits CD were both miles better than anything on VH3. But they blew it. Plus, the music scene has changed so much that no matter what they do now, get back with Sammy or Dave or hire a new lead singer, nobody would really care. ---
**Author:** ![Intaglio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71e660/32.png) [@Intaglio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intaglio)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-van-halen-ever-bring-out-a-new-album-or-play-again/120341/10 "2002-07-23T23:45:54Z")
I say NO, when they fired Sammy (the best of VH singers IMHO) the band was done. David was OK, but I just like Sammy better. Anyway, I think Eddie’s got a little more to worry about, like his divorce from Valerie Bertinelli, and trying to keep his money, and his Cancer. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2002, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-van-halen-ever-bring-out-a-new-album-or-play-again/120341/11 "2002-07-24T02:54:04Z")
Eddie has cancer. Serious cancer. He’s now claiming that it’s in remission or that he’s clear, but that’s the same claim that George Harrison made a year or so before he died. As I recall, the cancer started in his neck, and subsequently showed up in other parts of his body. That’s not a good sign. And from what I understand, he still smokes heavily and can’t kick the habit. So I think he’s still got some health issues to get over before he goes on tour.