During a question-and-answer session at the Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy Camp in March 2024, Michael Anthony discussed the forthcoming summer tour. The tour will spotlight him alongside vocalist Sammy Hagar, guitarist Joe Satriani, and drummer Jason Bonham, with a predominant focus on VAN HALEN‘s music.
When asked how the tour came together, Anthony responded (as transcribed by Blabbermouth): “Well, Sammy and I figured it’s 20 years ago this year that we did the last VAN HALEN reunion. And Sammy and I were talking about it. We’re always reminiscing and stuff like that, and we thought, ‘Gosh, 20 years.’ And who knows what’s happening now? We obviously can’t wait much longer.
“Sammy‘s an old man now. But we didn’t wanna wait any longer. And with Ed [Eddie Van Halen, VAN HALEN guitarist], unfortunately, passing away the other year. And Alex [Van Halen, VAN HALEN drummer], he’s still pretty much — I know he still grieves and stuff like that. And he doesn’t really get out; he doesn’t get out and play. And so Sammy and I wanted to get the music out to everybody. And we thought what a better way… Let’s get together and take it and play it. Someone’s gotta play it.”
When asked about his relationship with VAN HALEN‘s original vocalist David Lee Roth, Anthony responded: “Uh, I haven’t spoken with Dave in quite some time. The last time I actually spoke with him was when [there was talk] about a possible reunion thing. It’s really crazy because I hadn’t heard anything about Jason Newsted [METALLICA] coming into the fold [and doing the tour]. And I got a call from Alex and Dave from [manager] Irving Azoff‘s office some years back asking about my thoughts on doing a reunion, a tour. And Joe Satriani was gonna be the guitar player. And that was probably the last time I talked to Dave. That was — God, I don’t know — about a few years ago now. I forget — something like that.
“Dave‘s kind of a crazy guy. It’s hard to explain Dave. We don’t have enough time. But, no, other than that, no. I mean, I don’t have anything against Dave. And I’ve said this in the past to different people, whatever, that if the chance ever came up or whatever, I would definitely be willing to jam with him or whatever. In fact, I think the last time he did his last [residency] shows at the House Of Blues in Vegas some years back. I was actually gonna come to one of those shows and surprise him and come up and jump on stage, but, unfortunately, we were playing a gig somewhere else — Sammy and I were. But to answer your question, [it was] probably a few years ago [that I last spoke with Dave].”
Hagar had previously expressed that Roth was “welcome” to join the group. In a response obtained exclusively by Van Halen News Desk, Roth simply stated, “Let’s do this”.
However, Hagar later said that Roth is not included in the entire “Best Of All Worlds” tour. While Hagar initially extended an invitation to Roth, he has clarified that Roth will only be permitted to perform one or two songs, rather than participate in the entire tour.
