Tweet
Eddie interview in April 2007 Hit Parader...
EVH is easily one of the top 5 in guitar virtuosos of the 20th century. This only makes the last several years of the band's existence seem tragic. With so much talent kept on hold because no singer could get his act together to work with Eddie, much time has been wasted. Now, Van Halen fans can rejoice: the original band (with one minor adjustment) is returning this summer for a North American amphitheatre tour. We spoke to Eddie about what fans can expect.
HIT PARADER: So how does it feel to be back?
EDDIE VAN HALEN: Back where? I haven't gone anywhere.
HP: What have you been up to since your 2004 was tour with Sammy Hagar was cut short?
EVH: Oh, just writing, recording. Jamming with my kid and Al (Ed. Alex Van Halen, Eddie's brother and Van Halen's drummer). My son Wolfie, the kid's a natural. Started on guitar. Moved to bass last year, and we've just been jamming it up.
HP: Did you know from the outset that you would be getting Dave back in the band?
EVH: Y'know, it didn't really matter who it was. It could be Dave. It could be someone else. We actually had a couple of people come up to the house and sing. It could have been them.
HP: Or Hagar?
EVH: Nah. After the last tour, I realized that was sort of a mistake.
HP: What happened?
EVH: We just wanted to play. Couldn't get it together with Dave, though we'd sure tried. So Sam called Al and that set into motion. I was the last one. I said sure. Then we got Sobolewski in, though I didn't really want to (Ed.- Sobolewski is bass player Michael Anthony's real last name). Anyway, it just fell apart. Nobody was on speaking terms. And Hagar and the bass player were just using the press coverage to sell tequila or hot sauce. It was below the belt.
HP: So no chance on getting Anthony back in the band?
EVH: Why? He hasn't played on a Van Halen record in years. We've not spoken. I don't mean to slight him, he's a good player. But there hasn't been that vibe or closeness for years. Plus now he's off playing with the enemy. (laughs)
HP: You mean Hagar? Their band, "The Other Half"?
EVH: Yeah, what's with that? They're out there selling hot sauce and tequila and playing all the songs I wrote. It's kind of sad.
HP: So how did Roth enter the picture? I've been under the impression that you two haven't gotten along for years?
EVH: We wanted to play music again. Wolfie came to me last year and told me how much he loved those old songs. They were easy to learn and fun to play. So we've been jamming them for ages now, and I just sort of looked at Al and said, "Forget it, get Dave in here!" So we called him.
HP: Just like that?
EVH: No, it wasn't just like that. There were lots of lawyers and things to go through. (laughs)
HP: Did Anthony contact you?
EVH: No, but my agent, who is also my girlfriend, told me she'd heard that Hagar was trying to contact me. I don't know what the hell he wants.
HP: So cancer-free, going into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame, a tour with Roth? That's a big turnaround.
EVH: Yeah, it's great. But I don't think we're all going to play at the Hall of Fame. I can't imagine us all trying to share the stage together. Frankly, I don't want to play with everyone.
HP: What about a new album?
EVH: Yeah, maybe. I've got so much music. The name Van Halen, the family legacy, is going to go on forever. Passed on. My kid is a natural. I'm going to have him play on a solo record at some point.
HP: And new music with Roth?
EVH: Well, that's what we hope. We all sound great. You have no idea. And there's more than enough new music. But one thing at a time. We haven't even rehearsed that much yet.
HIT PARADER: So how does it feel to be back?
EDDIE VAN HALEN: Back where? I haven't gone anywhere.
HP: What have you been up to since your 2004 was tour with Sammy Hagar was cut short?
EVH: Oh, just writing, recording. Jamming with my kid and Al (Ed. Alex Van Halen, Eddie's brother and Van Halen's drummer). My son Wolfie, the kid's a natural. Started on guitar. Moved to bass last year, and we've just been jamming it up.
HP: Did you know from the outset that you would be getting Dave back in the band?
EVH: Y'know, it didn't really matter who it was. It could be Dave. It could be someone else. We actually had a couple of people come up to the house and sing. It could have been them.
HP: Or Hagar?
EVH: Nah. After the last tour, I realized that was sort of a mistake.
HP: What happened?
EVH: We just wanted to play. Couldn't get it together with Dave, though we'd sure tried. So Sam called Al and that set into motion. I was the last one. I said sure. Then we got Sobolewski in, though I didn't really want to (Ed.- Sobolewski is bass player Michael Anthony's real last name). Anyway, it just fell apart. Nobody was on speaking terms. And Hagar and the bass player were just using the press coverage to sell tequila or hot sauce. It was below the belt.
HP: So no chance on getting Anthony back in the band?
EVH: Why? He hasn't played on a Van Halen record in years. We've not spoken. I don't mean to slight him, he's a good player. But there hasn't been that vibe or closeness for years. Plus now he's off playing with the enemy. (laughs)
HP: You mean Hagar? Their band, "The Other Half"?
EVH: Yeah, what's with that? They're out there selling hot sauce and tequila and playing all the songs I wrote. It's kind of sad.
HP: So how did Roth enter the picture? I've been under the impression that you two haven't gotten along for years?
EVH: We wanted to play music again. Wolfie came to me last year and told me how much he loved those old songs. They were easy to learn and fun to play. So we've been jamming them for ages now, and I just sort of looked at Al and said, "Forget it, get Dave in here!" So we called him.
HP: Just like that?
EVH: No, it wasn't just like that. There were lots of lawyers and things to go through. (laughs)
HP: Did Anthony contact you?
EVH: No, but my agent, who is also my girlfriend, told me she'd heard that Hagar was trying to contact me. I don't know what the hell he wants.
HP: So cancer-free, going into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame, a tour with Roth? That's a big turnaround.
EVH: Yeah, it's great. But I don't think we're all going to play at the Hall of Fame. I can't imagine us all trying to share the stage together. Frankly, I don't want to play with everyone.
HP: What about a new album?
EVH: Yeah, maybe. I've got so much music. The name Van Halen, the family legacy, is going to go on forever. Passed on. My kid is a natural. I'm going to have him play on a solo record at some point.
HP: And new music with Roth?
EVH: Well, that's what we hope. We all sound great. You have no idea. And there's more than enough new music. But one thing at a time. We haven't even rehearsed that much yet.
Comment