Sal Collaziano
2-15-00, 06:33 PM
Alright. This is some Van Halen news that comes directly from melodicrock.com ----------------------------------------------- VAN HALEN This exclusive report comes to me from directly within the Van Halen camp. In this exclusive Van Halen report: Van Halen with David Lee Roth The Grammy's Greatest Hits Volume 2 The Summer Tour Why Sammy Said No Truth Behind The Coverdale Tapes The Next Van Halen Vocalist? The DLR Band VAN HALEN WITH DAVID LEE ROTH: David Lee Roth is to reunite with Van Halen under the moniker Van Halen with David Lee Roth but don't expect this to be permanent, this will be very much on a trial basis. The band is still looking for a permanent singer but has finally given in to label and fan pressure to reunite with their original lead singer. No contracts have been signed and no agreements reached but the following has happened. The band has been meeting with Roth and they have jammed together. They have also been working on song ideas. However, contrary to other reports nothing has been recorded yet. The title Van Halen with David Lee Roth is one the band is reluctant to adopt but feel it best fits the situation. They are not welcoming David back permanently but as a transitory member only. THE GRAMMY'S: Official confirmation and their first public appearance together are likely to be at the Grammy Awards February 23. A slot for the band to appear is being worked on at the moment. By appearing, the band is hoping it could recapture some of the spirit of the 1996 MTV Music Awards appearance. It seems the idea of recording a full album of new material with Roth is not want the band want to do. They feel any material with Roth may not be strong enough and would rather move on than go backwards. Their first choice for vocalist was to have Sammy Hagar rejoin. They feel his songwriting ability is a major strength. The band felt they could have picked up where they left off with Hagar but unfortunately Warner Bros. were firmly in favor of a reunion with Roth. There is major pressure from the label for an album and tour with Roth. The guys love touring and know that a big tour would be very successful. I have been told from another source that Warners will put up big bucks if this tour was to get off the ground. Eddie Van Halen is on record as saying that Van Halen is not a nostalgia band and wouldn't want to do a nostalgia trip. But to most it does seem inevitable this tour will happen. Sammy Hagar was interested in rejoining but would rather see the fans and the label get over the whole Dave reunion thing before he could even contemplate further talks. He is also extremely happy with what he is doing now. Warner Bros proposed a dual Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth tour but Hagar rejected this immediately. GREATEST HITS VOLUME 2: Current plans for Van Halen with David Lee Roth do not include a full new studio album. Instead what is being prepared for release is Greatest Hits Volume 2, which will once again include 2 newly recorded tracks with Roth. These 2 new songs will come from work the band had already started with Gary Cherone before his departure. Roth is contributing song ideas. No recordings have taken place and a producer has not even been selected. Danny Korchmar who was working with the band most recently and prior to Gary's departure will not be involved. A possible producer is Glenn Ballard who last worked with the band on the 2 new tracks that were added to Greatest Hits Volume 1. THE SUMMER TOUR: The planned tour will be to support Greatest Hits Volume 2. The tour will go under the before mentioned name Van Halen with David Lee Roth. I have been informed it is at this point the band intends to let David Lee Roth go. There are also contingency plans in place should the relationship with Roth deteriorate mid tour. Van Halen's future from this point is so far undecided but several ideas are being discussed. In order to explain the options we need to take a step back to Gary Cherone's departure. WHY SAMMY SAID NO: After Cherone left the band, Sammy Hagar was approached but due to label pressure and their dual tour idea, Sammy declined. The band then began their search for a new vocalist. The band talked with several singers before giving into label pressure for the current David Lee Roth reunion. Talks took place between the band and Billy Squier, Chris Cornell of Soundgarden and even Sass Jordan. The band was looking for a vocalist with a solid reputation and past history yet who were not involved in anything at present. Other singers talked about but never contacted include Eric Martin (Mr. Big), Patty Smyth, Mitch Malloy, Johnny Gioeli (Hardline), Louie Merlino (Beggars & Thieves) and Danny Bowes of Thunder. The rumored Sebastian Bach link was false. There is only one singer the band have met with and written and recorded any songs. That is David Coverdale. THE COVERDALE TAPES: Coverdale's involvement with the band is all true. Everything rumored several months ago actually happened. The news was initially linked to the press to gauge fan reaction. After initial reaction wasn't entirely favorable stories were run to cover up the project. An interview with David Coverdale rumored to be false and attacked was in fact true. Sessions took place and a demo tape was recorded. This tape contains 3 new songs written by the band with Coverdale and were produced by the legendary Bob Ezrin. These new tracks are said to be amazing and along the lines of Coverdale/Page with a For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge feel. It is also said these tracks blow VH3 out of the water. The remainder of the tape contains 20 songs, some in medley form with Coverdale jamming with the band on various Van Halen tunes. Both Roth and Hagar eras, plus some Whitesnake tunes, were covered. Coverdale's drummer Denny Carmassi guests on the sessions. Mr. Big bass player Billy Sheehan also guests as his band were recording in the studio next door at the time. The sessions with Coverdale went extremely well to the point where Eddie Van Halen wants Coverdale as the next lead singer. Contact continues with Coverdale and an arrangement exists if David Lee Roth leaves the band mid tour Coverdale will step in. THE NEXT VOCALIST: That brings us now to the bands current options. With the tour to support Greatest Hits 2 over there are two thoughts. One is to record an all new studio album with a new lead singer, preferably Coverdale, or the return of Sammy Hagar. The second option is to record an album with multiple vocalists. This is something that was previously touted, as this would allow the band to feature several vocalists at once and gauge fan reaction to each. The feeling is should one of these vocalists make a specific impact with the fans then they would be the frontrunner for the permanent vocalist position. This album, should it happen, will include at least 2 of the already recorded Coverdale songs. Other possible vocalists for the project include the already mentioned Billy Squier, Sass Jordan and Sammy Hagar. If the band chooses Coverdale for lead singer and then find themselves without a label then there is apparently a guaranteed contract for the band to record and tour for Portrait Records/Sony. John Kalodner has lent his full support to the band. The band is in no way contemplating retirement and would like to settle the vocalist position. The fans and the label are all currently backing David Lee Roth but the band feel it would all be for show and are not totally comfortable with the idea of touring with him. I have it on good authority that the band has been monitoring various sites for fan reaction. If you have any reasonable or realistic suggestions on who the band could approach to guest on the album, should they choose that option, then add your thoughts to the message board below. Things change of course but it is my understanding that when there are any further developments I will be notified. THE DLR BAND: Meanwhile, a source within the DLR Band camp confirmed they are still booked to play some live dates in April/May and are scheduled to record a new studio album later this year. Van Halen are aware of these arrangements.