Thursday, January 25, 2007
-
from melodicrock.com
VAN HALEN - VARIOUS UPDATES:
Van Halen fans will have no doubt seen today's Billboard.com update, confirming the band's plans to tour this US summer with original vocalist David Lee Roth. I checked in with my source for anything extra, but first - Billboard stated: "Sources tell Billboard.com a contract could be signed as soon as today for Live Nation to produce a 40-date amphitheatre tour by Van Halen this summer, with original frontman David Lee Roth back in the fold for the first time in more than 20 years..."
Nice to see that we are getting close now to what was a news story started late last year. There has been a lot of talk between the camps and my source informs me that a deal has been negotiated and yes, this is definitely happening despite bumps in the road on the way to getting the tour signed, sealed and delivered.
Still no mention of new material featuring Roth - it was said to me from the outset that new material was NOT part of this deal and I'm yet to hear anything different.
In additional news - it seems the Hall Of Fame ceremony will be broadcast on VH1 after all and look for an article on the band's induction in the next Rolling Stone magazine.
Speaking of Rolling Stone - this from their website today: "The reunion that Van Halen fans have been awaiting for twenty-two years began in December, when David Lee Roth walked into Eddie Van Halen's Hollywood home studio. There he rejoined the band for a rehearsal, singing fourteen Van Halen classics. "They totally got along on a personal level," a source close to the reunion says. "And it sounded great." At press time, Roth and the band were negotiating a deal for a major summer tour, which would be Van Halen's first Roth-fronted tour since 1984. Along with a possible Police reunion, it would likely be among the year's biggest box-office draws.
"Everything is up in the air," Eddie Van Halen tells Rolling Stone. "We don't want to say anything prematurely." He suggested that the band is waiting on Roth: "People know where we are and that we're making music. Whoever wants to come up can join us — they're welcome." But the famously contentious group may already be having communication problems. The source replies, "Dave is ready. He's been ready."
Eddie's comments here are obviously a little out of date - while the guys (Ed, Al & Wolfgang) have been continuing to rehearse (without Roth), the deal is definitely done for the 2007 tour.
And in related news, there is a rumor that the David Lee Roth Band will hit the road for some spring dates. I await word to confirm this, but if so, consider the shows as a warm up for the main event!
posted by Paul Dickinson at 5:13 PM | Email Us
Previous Posts
