MTV News' $.02 (Doesn't Look Pretty)

[FanHalen]

Having just left their label following 23 years and 11 albums, Van Halen's career is in limbo and their future seems uncertain.

The band severed ties with Warner Bros. Records last month, according to a source close to the group, who emphasized that the band willingly left the company. "There's been a major housecleaning at the company over the last couple months, and anybody that was actually any part of anything when we were around is gone," he said. "They're all about taking care of their young bands now."

A publicist at Warner Bros. confirmed the band is off the label and said the decision was mutual.

Where Van Halen go next is anyone's guess. Guitarist Eddie Van Halen and drummer Alex Van Halen continue to write new material, and last summer Eddie Van Halen said he had three albums' worth of new songs, but still no lead singer (see "Eddie Says Van Halen Loaded With Songs, Short On Singers"). The group's last vocalist, former Extreme frontman Gary Cherone, parted ways with the band in 1999 after just one record, the poorly received Van Halen 3 (see "Gary Cherone Leaves Van Halen").

Since then, rumors have circulated that David Lee Roth had recorded three songs with the group and was getting ready to rejoin, but the band has no plans to do anything with its original vocalist, the source said.

"I think they're just getting over Ed's health problem right now," he said, referring to Van Halen's recent battle with cancer. In April, the guitarist announced he was fighting the disease but was on the mend and feeling great
—Jon Wiederhorn

[ January 30, 2002 at 04:21 AM: Message edited by: FanHalen ]</p>

[MDoggie]

Yeah, this sure doesn't look pretty. Some people might give the "Well, they don't know shit. They made fun of VH at that one awards show" kind of response, but that's just their wishes getting the best of them.
Although the more I think about it, the more it's hard not to believe something is going to happen soon just by the sheer fact that Brad now has some sort of countdown until something. I swear though, if it's a countdown until the Pleasure Dome re-opens, I'm gonna find where he lives, tie him down, and poop on his damn head.

[ January 30, 2002 at 04:35 AM: Message edited by: MDoggie ]</p>

[CHRIS]

Well, it wasn't just a rumor they recorded three new songs with DLR, both parties told us it happened.