Rock 'N Roll Insight: Plenty of Smoke Around Van Halen Reunion with Hagar and Roth

Friday, March 24, 2017

Plenty of Smoke Around Van Halen Reunion with Hagar and Roth

Is it just coincidence that Sammy Hagar plans on divulging his ultimate Van Halen setlist with both he and David Lee Roth touring with the band?

Or Hagar is just getting the blood flowing a little bit and some publicity for himself ahead of airing his Best of Both Worlds setlist this weekend (Sat. March 25 and Sun. March 26) on his radio show (Top Rock Countdown)?

The timing might just be a coincidence considering yesterday was the anniversary of the release date of 5150 (March 23, 1986), and the anniversary of his first live show with Van Halen on March 27, 1986 in Shreveport, La.

But given how much has been said lately about a tour with both Van Halen frontmen, there might just be some fire along with the smoke.

To wit, ousted bassist Michael Anthony said in February he's open to reuniting with Eddie and Alex Van Halen, even though they treated him like garbage. He spoke with Alex in 2016 after the two hadn't communicated for more than a decade.

Now we have Hagar openly musing about a reunion with he and Roth trading off their Van Halen songs, with Anthony back on bass.

The Red Rocker has clearly stated several times that any version of a Van Halen reunion must involve Anthony, who was canned in 2007, to be replaced by Eddie's son, Wolfgang.

And, for Hagar, anyways, it wouldn't be about the money.

"For me, no money, man. I don’t need money. I would do that for the fans and give the money to food banks or something," said Hagar earlier this month. "I’m not sure anybody else would agree with me, but that would interest me enough to sit down across the table from everybody and work that one out."

Roth and Hagar did tour together, in 2002 without the Van Halen brothers, and when it was over, Hagar vowed he'd never do shows with Roth again.

If - and that's a big if - any Van Halen tour with both singers happens, it'll be next year. 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of the release of Van Halen I, which came out on Feb. 10, 1978.