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An Interview With bass player
On August 6, 1996 Michael Anthony was interviewed by Michel from the Dutch 5150 Fan Club. At the time of the interview, the band had just finished recording the two new tracks with David Lee Roth and were starting to work on the mixing. Here is the complete interview.
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I might as well do the Introduction for this Interview in English too, because there was not very much Dutch in the conversation I had with Mike on August 6, either. As usual he was very kind and helpful So he made things clear about the current situation especially for us, the fans who can't believe what happened...
Michel: What's happening over there?
Mike: Oh, there's so much happening, you wouldn't believe. You know, Sammy's not in the band...
Michel: How come?
Mike: What it came down to is that he doesn't want to work. We were working on the music for the Twister-movie and he was in Hawaii at that time and he wanted us to do the music and then send him the tape. We said "No, we should all be in the studio together because we're a band". And that's how we always did it, so.... (Then Mike had to take care for his daughter for a few seconds). We finally got him to get back to work on the songs. He only came in for two days. So we had to try to get all the lyrics and vocals done in two days. Which was kind of hard. And he flew home. (Sammy lives on Hawaii - VH5150). Simply: he didn't want to work. He finally admitted to Ed that he was frustrated and he wanted to do his own thing. When he quit the band he was in Hawaii and he came back to work on some new material. I think he was looking for a new recording contract, because when he left our band, Warner Brothers Records dropped him from the label. He was telling everybody that we were talking to David Lee Roth behind his back, which we weren't.... He started to attack the band. He is basically lying. He wants everybody to have sympathy for him. Thinking we kicked him out. And that's not the case at all.
Michel: It's a strange situation and hard to choose. I feel sympathy for Sam as well.
Mike: I'm sad about it, too. Unfortunately, it's the same thing when David Lee Roth quit. We got a feeling that Sammy was going to want to retire, I guess you could say. Plain and simple: he just didn't want to work. Put the time in. Halfway through the project for the Twister-movie he said that he didn't want to do it. Eddie said: "Well, if you didn't want to do it, you should have just told us." Then maybe we just had done some music.
Michel: Later I read that Sammy was looking forward to record a new Van Halen album. And now this, that's very strange.
Mike: I think it's funny too, because we were going to do the first of a Best Of album. We probably will put out some more, too. But he didn't wanna do that. He has told everybody that when a band puts out a Best Of-album, their career is ending. If you look at it, Sammy has put some Best Of-albums himself I don't understand why he doesn't wanna do it with Van Halen. I think he was a little intimidated, being on the same album with songs with Roth. I think he was always a little intimidated by that. People always want us to do a lot of the older material. And he didn't wanna do it.
Michel: That's right. But why do you work with Dave again? That's weird!
Mike: It is. Actually, when all this was going on with Sammy, David called Ed because he just wanted to know what songs we were going to release.
Michel: He didn't know about Sammy...
Mike: Right. He didn't know that we had problems with Sammy. He just called because he wanted to know what songs we were using of the old Van Halen on this Best Of-album. And then when everything happened with Sammy, he wanted to meet the band. Actually Eddie suggested... he said "Wouldn't it be something if we worked up a song or two, new ones with Dave'? That will surprise all the Van Halen fans" We got together. We had a meeting with Dave. It's funny because he was very humble. He hasn't got a record contract now. He admitted that he has made big mistakes and that he did the wrong thing. He admitted that he has a very big ego. Hopefully he's better now. But he realized that after leaving Van Halen he couldn't do anything else. That it always got compared to Van Halen. So actually yesterday (August 5) we just finished recording two new songs with him. All I can tell you right now is that people are going to be very surprised by what they hear.
Michel: I'm sure.
Mike: Because the songs turned out great.
Michel: How do you feel about this situation personally? In the press the band always hated David Lee Roth. And now all of a sudden you're working with the guy!
Mike: Yeah, I know. A lot of people were surprised by that. Actually I was the last person in the band to accept the fact that this would happen. Eddie was the one that wanted to do it. He met with Dave two or three times. And that last time, I called over there and I talked to Dave. It was the first time I talked to him in eleven years.
Michel: You didn't, in all those years?
Mike: Oh no... I told them I didn't want to work with Dave and I wouldn't wanna tour with him. But I'm in Van Halen and Eddie and Alex are my brothers. And if they wanted to do it I would do it, too.... It was kind of hard at first because musically we're pretty much evolved a lot more than Dave did. But we have a producer by the name of Glen Ballard and he worked on new songs with us. And all I got- to say is that this guy is the best producer we've ever worked with. He's the most normal person. He doesn't have an ego like a lot of producers do. And when we're going to do our next studio record, he probably will produce it for us.
Michel: He also did the Alanis Morissette-album, right?
Mike: Yes. And he did the latest Aerosmith, but I don't even know if that will ever come out. Glen wasn't going to be able to do this with us because he was mixing Aerosmith. But they got some problems, so he quit their project to do us. Which was great because we wanted to work with him. I think these two songs turned out great. We're taking this a small step at a time. Now everybody wants the reunion tour.
Michel: Is it going to happen?
Mike: Right now, I don't think it's going to happen. But we're taking it a small step at a time. If the demand is really so overwhelming then we might... They already offered us to headline Donington next year. Yeah, lots of money. Big money. We wouldn't want people to think that we that that's the reason that we're doing it.
Michel: I'm afraid that's the first thing that people are going to say. It's the same thing with Kiss. I'm not interested in Kiss, but I like to see that show. And I think a lot of people do.
Mike: We make it perfectly clear that we don't need the money. If we do it, we would be doing it do it strictly for our fans and it would be one tour and that's it. Because after we've finished mixing these songs, we will be looking for a new singer.
Michel: I've heard some names. One of them is Chris Segan. I've never heard of that guy.
Mike: Neither do 1. (laughs). Some people thought it would be Vince Neil. They passed me a rumor that said it would be Sabastian Bach. We're thinking about it right now... when we're looking for a singer, we're going to find somebody who's unknown. Anything you hear right now, is just rumors.
Michel: I turn out the cassette if you want, then we can talk about it off the record.
Mike: There'tr so many rumors, right now that this guy is going to sing for us or that guy. And they're all just rumors because we didn't start looking for anybody yet.
Michel: The first name I heard was Billy Squier.
Mike: Billy Squier called our office, so that might have been why you heard. He is very popular in the United States for a long time. We know that he called our office but we weren't considering Billy Squier. He wouldn't be right for our band.
Michel: I bought his new Best Of-cd and there's some pretty good stuff on it.
Mike: He's a good singer.
Michel: He's got a good voice. With Van Halen-music it would sound great.
Mike: Well, you know Michael, the way I think of it: we can make any singer sound good. We're going to be known as the band that take any singer and make him famous. People tell me "everybody can sing with your band'. Eddie, Alex and myself, we're the core of Van Halen. People say "anybody can sing with you".
Michel: Don't forget Michael Anthony
Mike: Well... yeah. On these songs Dave did with us, you hear a lot of the harmony that will remind you on the old Van Halen.
Michel: I guess you're the most underestimated singer in the rock world.
Mike: Well, thank you. People tell me when we go on tour I should sing some of the old stuff.
Michel: Yeah, why not?
Mike: I might. I don't know.
Michel: That's the funny part. I've always been waiting for a duet on an album. You and Sammy or somebody else. Maybe it's a new idea?
Mike: Until the new singer... maybe I'll do a little lead singing myself.
Michel: That would be great. I've heard you singing Rock And Roll.
Mike: Every now and then I sing a little bit. I never take any vocal training, so... I sing in the shower a lot. Michel: You must be very clean. Mike: Basically, what's going on right now, we're mixing the two songs this week. And we hope for a October release. We already have more than enough material for a new album. So all we have to do is find a singer. We'll be ready to start recording.
Michel: Erwin told me you will start recording anyway. With or without a singer.
Mike: Yeah, probably. The music is there. We will record it anyway. There're so many ideas. We just turn the tape on and we record.
Michel: Let's see what happens. I don't know how you feel about Sammy now, but will you still be playing the Cabo Wabo shows?
Mike: I haven't spoken to Sammy since June when he left. I probably give him a call soon. The last time that Eddie talked to Sammy, he said "Well Ed, I hope we still can be friends. If you ever change your phone number, I hope you'll give it to me." Then he immediately went to the press and started badmouthing Van Halen. So we were thinking "What kind of friend does that?" That kinda hurt, but I probably talk to Sammy pretty soon. So much went on when David Lee Roth left the band... that's why you haven't heard any interviews with Van Halen.
Michel: It's a strange situation. Because I'm the president of the Van Halen Fan club and people are asking me. I'm supposed to inform them but even I don't understand.
Mike: When the Best Of-album comes out, we will be doing some interviews. I personally don't want the same thing to happen like when Dave left the band. Because it's just one of those things that didn't work out. I wish Sammy the best. Van Halen will move forward... will go on.
Michel: I think it's a much nicer thought, by just going on and saying bad things.
Mike: That's why we couldn't understand why Sammy started saying all that stuff about us. When I'll do interviews I will tell them that I prefer not even to talk about it. Because it was so much that went on when Dave left the band. We don't feel like doing that again. We rather just say "Here it is, here's the new Van Halen." And just continue on. Hopefully it will be bigger and better.
Michel: I got a bad feeling about the old songs, like The Seventh Seal, Poundcake..Will we ever hear them again?
Mike: Oh yes, when we have a new singer, one thing I guarantee you is that we're going to do, next time we go on tour, besides the new songs, we will play songs from Sammy and we're going to play much more of the old Van Halen.
Michel: A song like Feeling. It's so personal.
Mike: It is.
Michel: I'm afraid it's gone.
Mike: Hopefully we'll find a new singer that can relate to the songs and put almost as much feeling in the singing like Sammy did. We're pretty confident about that because we're not just go out and find a singer real quick. We're going to take our time and make sure that it is the right person.
Michel: Does Sammy mind, other people singing his songs?
Mike: I'm sure he's going to mind. But I mean, they are Van Halen songs. That's one of the sad things. We'll play them as best as we can.
Michel: So then we'll get to bear some of the really old songs?
Mike: Oh yeah, I guarantee you Mike, that on our next tour we will be playing some of that stuff. We agreed that we should play more different old Van Halen songs. The new singer we get, we make sure that he sings the new and all the old.
Michel: So we get some positive things out of this sad situation.
Mike: Wait until these new songs with Dave come out. You have to call me as soon as you hear it because you're going to be surprised.
Michel: I'm sure. That's the point. I don't like the fact that you're working with Dave again but I know it will sound great.
Mike: The reason we did it anyway, was that it would really surprise our fans. Personally I have never patched up my old feelings towards Dave. In fact I told Eddie and Alex that I would not tour with him, again. But who knows. I'm not the kind of person... I'm not a hateful person. I like to think I'm a good person. Maybe even Dave deserves another chance. Glen Ballard did get him to sing very well on those two songs.
Michel: Did it take a lot of time?
Mike: Yes, it did. But if nothing ever comes up, if we never do the reunion tour or whatever, at least we have those two new songs. And I think people will really enjoy them. People that really like the old Van Halen.
Michel: Was the band pushed by the record company?
Mike: Yeah.
Michel: I guess they said it can bring in big money if Dave comes back.
Mike: Oh yes, all the promoters, everybody is offering us a lot of money. We could do what Kiss is doing. We don't wanna do that because we don't feel that our career is over, yet. We still have a long way to go. So we will do it very carefully. Like I said, if we did do a reunion tour it will probably be... maybe we do a summer tour, next year something. Then we let people know that it's just one tour, just for our fans. And then we'll be going on with a new singer.
Michel: There are already a lot of rumors about the tour.
Mike: Let me tell you, that those are just rumors. Right now, we have no plans to tour, yet. The only plans we have right now is that when this is finished with Dave doing these songs we start looking for a new singer.
Michel: O.k., that's about it, then.
Mike: I'll call you and let you know what we're doing, how's that?
Michel: That's great. Do you know a title for this column, because you appear in every issue lately.
Mike: O.k., I'll think of it.
Michel: I want to thank you very much for your time.
Mike: Sure, no problem. Tell everybody I said hello and not to worry because Van Halen will be better than ever. We always move forward, we never take any backward steps.
On August 6, 1996 Michael Anthony was interviewed by Michel from the Dutch 5150 Fan Club. At the time of the interview, the band had just finished recording the two new tracks with David Lee Roth and were starting to work on the mixing. Here is the complete interview.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I might as well do the Introduction for this Interview in English too, because there was not very much Dutch in the conversation I had with Mike on August 6, either. As usual he was very kind and helpful So he made things clear about the current situation especially for us, the fans who can't believe what happened...
Michel: What's happening over there?
Mike: Oh, there's so much happening, you wouldn't believe. You know, Sammy's not in the band...
Michel: How come?
Mike: What it came down to is that he doesn't want to work. We were working on the music for the Twister-movie and he was in Hawaii at that time and he wanted us to do the music and then send him the tape. We said "No, we should all be in the studio together because we're a band". And that's how we always did it, so.... (Then Mike had to take care for his daughter for a few seconds). We finally got him to get back to work on the songs. He only came in for two days. So we had to try to get all the lyrics and vocals done in two days. Which was kind of hard. And he flew home. (Sammy lives on Hawaii - VH5150). Simply: he didn't want to work. He finally admitted to Ed that he was frustrated and he wanted to do his own thing. When he quit the band he was in Hawaii and he came back to work on some new material. I think he was looking for a new recording contract, because when he left our band, Warner Brothers Records dropped him from the label. He was telling everybody that we were talking to David Lee Roth behind his back, which we weren't.... He started to attack the band. He is basically lying. He wants everybody to have sympathy for him. Thinking we kicked him out. And that's not the case at all.
Michel: It's a strange situation and hard to choose. I feel sympathy for Sam as well.
Mike: I'm sad about it, too. Unfortunately, it's the same thing when David Lee Roth quit. We got a feeling that Sammy was going to want to retire, I guess you could say. Plain and simple: he just didn't want to work. Put the time in. Halfway through the project for the Twister-movie he said that he didn't want to do it. Eddie said: "Well, if you didn't want to do it, you should have just told us." Then maybe we just had done some music.
Michel: Later I read that Sammy was looking forward to record a new Van Halen album. And now this, that's very strange.
Mike: I think it's funny too, because we were going to do the first of a Best Of album. We probably will put out some more, too. But he didn't wanna do that. He has told everybody that when a band puts out a Best Of-album, their career is ending. If you look at it, Sammy has put some Best Of-albums himself I don't understand why he doesn't wanna do it with Van Halen. I think he was a little intimidated, being on the same album with songs with Roth. I think he was always a little intimidated by that. People always want us to do a lot of the older material. And he didn't wanna do it.
Michel: That's right. But why do you work with Dave again? That's weird!
Mike: It is. Actually, when all this was going on with Sammy, David called Ed because he just wanted to know what songs we were going to release.
Michel: He didn't know about Sammy...
Mike: Right. He didn't know that we had problems with Sammy. He just called because he wanted to know what songs we were using of the old Van Halen on this Best Of-album. And then when everything happened with Sammy, he wanted to meet the band. Actually Eddie suggested... he said "Wouldn't it be something if we worked up a song or two, new ones with Dave'? That will surprise all the Van Halen fans" We got together. We had a meeting with Dave. It's funny because he was very humble. He hasn't got a record contract now. He admitted that he has made big mistakes and that he did the wrong thing. He admitted that he has a very big ego. Hopefully he's better now. But he realized that after leaving Van Halen he couldn't do anything else. That it always got compared to Van Halen. So actually yesterday (August 5) we just finished recording two new songs with him. All I can tell you right now is that people are going to be very surprised by what they hear.
Michel: I'm sure.
Mike: Because the songs turned out great.
Michel: How do you feel about this situation personally? In the press the band always hated David Lee Roth. And now all of a sudden you're working with the guy!
Mike: Yeah, I know. A lot of people were surprised by that. Actually I was the last person in the band to accept the fact that this would happen. Eddie was the one that wanted to do it. He met with Dave two or three times. And that last time, I called over there and I talked to Dave. It was the first time I talked to him in eleven years.
Michel: You didn't, in all those years?
Mike: Oh no... I told them I didn't want to work with Dave and I wouldn't wanna tour with him. But I'm in Van Halen and Eddie and Alex are my brothers. And if they wanted to do it I would do it, too.... It was kind of hard at first because musically we're pretty much evolved a lot more than Dave did. But we have a producer by the name of Glen Ballard and he worked on new songs with us. And all I got- to say is that this guy is the best producer we've ever worked with. He's the most normal person. He doesn't have an ego like a lot of producers do. And when we're going to do our next studio record, he probably will produce it for us.
Michel: He also did the Alanis Morissette-album, right?
Mike: Yes. And he did the latest Aerosmith, but I don't even know if that will ever come out. Glen wasn't going to be able to do this with us because he was mixing Aerosmith. But they got some problems, so he quit their project to do us. Which was great because we wanted to work with him. I think these two songs turned out great. We're taking this a small step at a time. Now everybody wants the reunion tour.
Michel: Is it going to happen?
Mike: Right now, I don't think it's going to happen. But we're taking it a small step at a time. If the demand is really so overwhelming then we might... They already offered us to headline Donington next year. Yeah, lots of money. Big money. We wouldn't want people to think that we that that's the reason that we're doing it.
Michel: I'm afraid that's the first thing that people are going to say. It's the same thing with Kiss. I'm not interested in Kiss, but I like to see that show. And I think a lot of people do.
Mike: We make it perfectly clear that we don't need the money. If we do it, we would be doing it do it strictly for our fans and it would be one tour and that's it. Because after we've finished mixing these songs, we will be looking for a new singer.
Michel: I've heard some names. One of them is Chris Segan. I've never heard of that guy.
Mike: Neither do 1. (laughs). Some people thought it would be Vince Neil. They passed me a rumor that said it would be Sabastian Bach. We're thinking about it right now... when we're looking for a singer, we're going to find somebody who's unknown. Anything you hear right now, is just rumors.
Michel: I turn out the cassette if you want, then we can talk about it off the record.
Mike: There'tr so many rumors, right now that this guy is going to sing for us or that guy. And they're all just rumors because we didn't start looking for anybody yet.
Michel: The first name I heard was Billy Squier.
Mike: Billy Squier called our office, so that might have been why you heard. He is very popular in the United States for a long time. We know that he called our office but we weren't considering Billy Squier. He wouldn't be right for our band.
Michel: I bought his new Best Of-cd and there's some pretty good stuff on it.
Mike: He's a good singer.
Michel: He's got a good voice. With Van Halen-music it would sound great.
Mike: Well, you know Michael, the way I think of it: we can make any singer sound good. We're going to be known as the band that take any singer and make him famous. People tell me "everybody can sing with your band'. Eddie, Alex and myself, we're the core of Van Halen. People say "anybody can sing with you".
Michel: Don't forget Michael Anthony
Mike: Well... yeah. On these songs Dave did with us, you hear a lot of the harmony that will remind you on the old Van Halen.
Michel: I guess you're the most underestimated singer in the rock world.
Mike: Well, thank you. People tell me when we go on tour I should sing some of the old stuff.
Michel: Yeah, why not?
Mike: I might. I don't know.
Michel: That's the funny part. I've always been waiting for a duet on an album. You and Sammy or somebody else. Maybe it's a new idea?
Mike: Until the new singer... maybe I'll do a little lead singing myself.
Michel: That would be great. I've heard you singing Rock And Roll.
Mike: Every now and then I sing a little bit. I never take any vocal training, so... I sing in the shower a lot. Michel: You must be very clean. Mike: Basically, what's going on right now, we're mixing the two songs this week. And we hope for a October release. We already have more than enough material for a new album. So all we have to do is find a singer. We'll be ready to start recording.
Michel: Erwin told me you will start recording anyway. With or without a singer.
Mike: Yeah, probably. The music is there. We will record it anyway. There're so many ideas. We just turn the tape on and we record.
Michel: Let's see what happens. I don't know how you feel about Sammy now, but will you still be playing the Cabo Wabo shows?
Mike: I haven't spoken to Sammy since June when he left. I probably give him a call soon. The last time that Eddie talked to Sammy, he said "Well Ed, I hope we still can be friends. If you ever change your phone number, I hope you'll give it to me." Then he immediately went to the press and started badmouthing Van Halen. So we were thinking "What kind of friend does that?" That kinda hurt, but I probably talk to Sammy pretty soon. So much went on when David Lee Roth left the band... that's why you haven't heard any interviews with Van Halen.
Michel: It's a strange situation. Because I'm the president of the Van Halen Fan club and people are asking me. I'm supposed to inform them but even I don't understand.
Mike: When the Best Of-album comes out, we will be doing some interviews. I personally don't want the same thing to happen like when Dave left the band. Because it's just one of those things that didn't work out. I wish Sammy the best. Van Halen will move forward... will go on.
Michel: I think it's a much nicer thought, by just going on and saying bad things.
Mike: That's why we couldn't understand why Sammy started saying all that stuff about us. When I'll do interviews I will tell them that I prefer not even to talk about it. Because it was so much that went on when Dave left the band. We don't feel like doing that again. We rather just say "Here it is, here's the new Van Halen." And just continue on. Hopefully it will be bigger and better.
Michel: I got a bad feeling about the old songs, like The Seventh Seal, Poundcake..Will we ever hear them again?
Mike: Oh yes, when we have a new singer, one thing I guarantee you is that we're going to do, next time we go on tour, besides the new songs, we will play songs from Sammy and we're going to play much more of the old Van Halen.
Michel: A song like Feeling. It's so personal.
Mike: It is.
Michel: I'm afraid it's gone.
Mike: Hopefully we'll find a new singer that can relate to the songs and put almost as much feeling in the singing like Sammy did. We're pretty confident about that because we're not just go out and find a singer real quick. We're going to take our time and make sure that it is the right person.
Michel: Does Sammy mind, other people singing his songs?
Mike: I'm sure he's going to mind. But I mean, they are Van Halen songs. That's one of the sad things. We'll play them as best as we can.
Michel: So then we'll get to bear some of the really old songs?
Mike: Oh yeah, I guarantee you Mike, that on our next tour we will be playing some of that stuff. We agreed that we should play more different old Van Halen songs. The new singer we get, we make sure that he sings the new and all the old.
Michel: So we get some positive things out of this sad situation.
Mike: Wait until these new songs with Dave come out. You have to call me as soon as you hear it because you're going to be surprised.
Michel: I'm sure. That's the point. I don't like the fact that you're working with Dave again but I know it will sound great.
Mike: The reason we did it anyway, was that it would really surprise our fans. Personally I have never patched up my old feelings towards Dave. In fact I told Eddie and Alex that I would not tour with him, again. But who knows. I'm not the kind of person... I'm not a hateful person. I like to think I'm a good person. Maybe even Dave deserves another chance. Glen Ballard did get him to sing very well on those two songs.
Michel: Did it take a lot of time?
Mike: Yes, it did. But if nothing ever comes up, if we never do the reunion tour or whatever, at least we have those two new songs. And I think people will really enjoy them. People that really like the old Van Halen.
Michel: Was the band pushed by the record company?
Mike: Yeah.
Michel: I guess they said it can bring in big money if Dave comes back.
Mike: Oh yes, all the promoters, everybody is offering us a lot of money. We could do what Kiss is doing. We don't wanna do that because we don't feel that our career is over, yet. We still have a long way to go. So we will do it very carefully. Like I said, if we did do a reunion tour it will probably be... maybe we do a summer tour, next year something. Then we let people know that it's just one tour, just for our fans. And then we'll be going on with a new singer.
Michel: There are already a lot of rumors about the tour.
Mike: Let me tell you, that those are just rumors. Right now, we have no plans to tour, yet. The only plans we have right now is that when this is finished with Dave doing these songs we start looking for a new singer.
Michel: O.k., that's about it, then.
Mike: I'll call you and let you know what we're doing, how's that?
Michel: That's great. Do you know a title for this column, because you appear in every issue lately.
Mike: O.k., I'll think of it.
Michel: I want to thank you very much for your time.
Mike: Sure, no problem. Tell everybody I said hello and not to worry because Van Halen will be better than ever. We always move forward, we never take any backward steps.
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