Michael Anthony's exit?

[MAX]

K,

It's been a long time since I've started a serious post around here.

Now, let's really get to the subject at hand, which happens to be Michael Anthony behing replaced in Van Halen.

Everyone speculates that he was "fired" or whatsoever? However, where has it ever been confirmed my either party what actually lead up the the decision?

I truly believe Edward's wanted it for a long time. Billy Sheehan, Jeff Berlin (Both have stated that they were asked to join VH in the early 80's) and David Lee Roth have stated the rumor over the years as well. I think when Anthony and Hag officially did the "Other Half" thing, that was all the ammo EVH needed anymore and at this stage in life.

I know we have many unsubstanciated rumors but name ONE statement ny either EVH or MA claiming what actually transpired?

Me thinketh that the band just had such an inactivity for years and the sisters took a looooooong break after that Van Hagar reuinion and even prior...

However, we all now know that there truly was bad blood among EVH's camp when Anthony stayed tied to the hip with Hag, no?

I wholeheartedly agree that Anthony had/has every right to play with his buddy i.e. Hagar when VH was doing absolutely nothing.

So and at the end of the day, the business just closed... Anthony moved on and thought they'd never reconveine?

Then EVH finally started wanting to shred again? Well, he does along with his brother (as always and to be expected) but his son cometh and plays like a maniac?!?!?!?!? It inspires them, they relearn old and forgotten gems from two decades prior, their mother passes, Dave sends/attends condolences, they all make peace and decide to play...

Then something magical happens!!! The vibe is back and the kid inspires all of them to be on their best behavior and bury the hatchet that's angered them all (excluding Wolfgang) for years. We have peace and especially, this happens (again, after the loss of the Halen's mother) and right around the holidays.

Meanwhile and south of the border, Hagar and Anthony continue playing as "The Other Half" so and in Edward's eyes "No harm and no foul." Mike's been out of the picture for years anyway.

Make any sense?

Hence, where has Anthony EVER been "officially" shitcanned?

There's no doubt we'll find out when VH announces this whole deal or prior to the RNRHOF inductions. Other than that, it's all been cumming from Hagar's mouth and from everyone else's speculations, no?

[Brett]

Who knows what's going to happen, I think the HOF will answer a lot of questions about where this thing is really going.

[MAX]

Me too.

[RAGEN_40]

Great Post...
Now since when has the brother half ever faced up to the truth about band members. Its always been a little of this and a little of that and somewhere in lies the truth. Roth '85 '96 '00...Then again with Hagar in '95. These guys talk out of both sides. Mike has always been there supporting these guys. I am really disappointed about the fact that Mike will not be there. But as time as past. I hope that all that is being said about Wolf is true. I also hope that at his age he is ready for the big time and doesn't burn out like so many child stars before him.

[AT]

The language in VH member departures has never once been clear, hence all of the Roth/Hagar "I was fired"/"You quit" endless debates. Mike was officially written out of Van Halen in '04 and contracted the play that tour, so when the tour ended he'd fulfilled his contract. Could that be called a firing? Perhaps. If one considers the ultimatum Mike was given in the first place a decision on his part, then he did opt to leave. (I personally don't think that's accurate--Mike was ever-so-slowly pushed out over the course of about eight years.) I know this, though; it is mostly unwise and arguably moronic to deal in absolutes. Edward's excuse that Mike was no longer a member of Van Halen because he was "already in another band" is lame. It was merely a recent and easily cited excuse.

We love these guys for their music, definitely NOT for their personal politics.

[cav]

Read the new Roll Stone quotes from Ed. Mike's out.
Sorry to say, but that is the case. He may be at the RROF
but we all know he will be treated like road pizza.....
It always amazes me that folks who have SO much to be
thankful for can act like such fools.... ?? I don't get it.
Mike is a class act and WE all know he belongs on that damn tour !!

[Paul Halen]

Read the new Roll Stone quotes from Ed. Mike's out.
Sorry to say, but that is the case. He may be at the RROF
but we all know he will be treated like road pizza.....
It always amazes me that folks who have SO much to be
thankful for can act like such fools.... ?? I don't get it.
Mike is a class act and WE all know he belongs on that damn tour !!

We all know he belongs on the tour, but the sad part is that people will still buy tickets and support this load of garbage. And until the cash continues to line the pockets of Mr. Edward Van Halen and the tour is profitable, he'll never fully understand or realize how he is continuing to cast a dark cloud over his band.

Say what you want, but Van Halen has always been their worst own enemy. The fact that a few grown men have never been able to properly screw their heads on straight has prevented them from fully reaching their full potential as a musical group in my mind.

For us as fans, that's unfortunate because we'll never know what heights this band could have still reached.

[Downtown Stevie]

I think the bottom line is Eddie wants to play music with his kid. Al went along with it and so did Dave it seems. I just hope if Wolfie can actually play as Eddie says and people dont start slamming him. Be mad at Ed for setting this up you also have to be mad at Al and Dave for going along with it but don't blame Wolfie. If you showed interest in music and your father came to you and said,how would like to spend the summer seeing the country playing music together would you say I dont think so dad to many people will be mad that Mike isnt there I better not. I don't think so.It is what it is you can either support or not it's really that simple.

[onefootoutthedoor]

K,

It's been a long time since I've started a serious post around here.

Now, let's really get to the subject at hand, which happens to be Michael Anthony behing replaced in Van Halen.

Everyone speculates that he was "fired" or whatsoever? However, where has it ever been confirmed my either party what actually lead up the the decision?

I truly believe Edward's wanted it for a long time. Billy Sheehan, Jeff Berlin (Both have stated that they were asked to join VH in the early 80's) and David Lee Roth have stated the rumor over the years as well. I think when Anthony and Hag officially did the "Other Half" thing, that was all the ammo EVH needed anymore and at this stage in life.

I know we have many unsubstanciated rumors but name ONE statement ny either EVH or MA claiming what actually transpired?

Me thinketh that the band just had such an inactivity for years and the sisters took a looooooong break after that Van Hagar reuinion and even prior...

However, we all now know that there truly was bad blood among EVH's camp when Anthony stayed tied to the hip with Hag, no?

I wholeheartedly agree that Anthony had/has every right to play with his buddy i.e. Hagar when VH was doing absolutely nothing.

So and at the end of the day, the business just closed... Anthony moved on and thought they'd never reconveine?

Then EVH finally started wanting to shred again? Well, he does along with his brother (as always and to be expected) but his son cometh and plays like a maniac?!?!?!?!? It inspires them, they relearn old and forgotten gems from two decades prior, their mother passes, Dave sends/attends condolences, they all make peace and decide to play...

Then something magical happens!!! The vibe is back and the kid inspires all of them to be on their best behavior and bury the hatchet that's angered them all (excluding Wolfgang) for years. We have peace and especially, this happens (again, after the loss of the Halen's mother) and right around the holidays.

Meanwhile and south of the border, Hagar and Anthony continue playing as "The Other Half" so and in Edward's eyes "No harm and no foul." Mike's been out of the picture for years anyway.

Make any sense?

Hence, where has Anthony EVER been "officially" shitcanned?

There's no doubt we'll find out when VH announces this whole deal or prior to the RNRHOF inductions. Other than that, it's all been cumming from Hagar's mouth and from everyone else's speculations, no?

So when do you plan on making this serious post?

[79th and Sunset]

It's hard to call this a "reunion" tour without Mikey. Who would have thought it would come to this ?

Once again, to me, its not Van Halen without Mike.

It's cool if Ed, Al, and Dave can get along and tour. But how could they "diss" Mike like this ?

Just think, if he didnt play with Sammy on these Summer tours, he probably still wouldnt be invited on this "reunion". He could still be sitting at home waiting for the call. If Ed and Al had given two cents about him, they would'nt have this issue. All because he went out and performed while we all waiting through the "no news is good news" nonsense. Who cares if they billed themselves as the "other half", heck they were promoting the name Van Halen because the sisters Halen wouldnt play.

I cant wait to hear the BS from the Halen sisters.

I will also be very dissapointed in Dave, if his is playing along with this. Remember how Dave would'nt play with Mikey on the Roth Hagar tour ?

I continue to be very dissapointed by this whole mess. Oh well.

Of course, I am assuming that the reunion is a go with Wolfgang. If not, please disregard this post

[StevieD]

its van halen with out mike. it was van halen with out dave, and sammy, they are more important than mike. If eddie and al are there, its van halen,

if you're dissapointed and / or whining , go away, don't go to the show , and dig on the past.

[ziggysmalls]

Great post OU812...

Well as Sammy said "what's understood does not need to be discussed" or whatever from RHRN DVD.

I think Mike has been on his way out for quite some time. Even though he stuck with the band when Sammy left before BOV1 he barely played on VH3. I don't blame him as well for wanting to jam with other bands. That just was the final straw in a realtionship that had went bad. Yeah its probably 95% on Eddie and Alex but when you come down to it its just a business. At this point at least with no new material.

I do feel sorry for Mike because he is in a no win situation. His allegiance with Sammy finished him with VH. However he can't join Sammy's band because of Mona. Sammy can't fire her because he would be doing the same thing Eddie did. Fire a loyal bassist for your personal pick. So Mike is stuck playing in Chickenfinger with Chad Smith.

I bet he wishes now that Other Half tour never happened.

[Raldo]

Very good post.

I seem to agree with what you were explaining regarding what happened with Mike. If it's Eddie's band, then he has the right to make those decisions. We should all know by now that Eddie doesn't always do what we think is best for the band. Who knows, maybe this will lead to something big in the near future with the 3 Van Halen's. We just have to wait and see.

[StevieD]

Chickenfoot Rules!!!

[Lodewijk]

Chickenfoot Rules!!!

With as many loyal fans Mike has, he should start a solo project !

It would be BETTER than Van Halen, because Mike was the REAL reason they were so popular and successful ! He could fill a 20,000 seat arena right now on his bass and background vocal abilities right now, without a doubt.

Now we can finally get that much anticipated solo record he's been thinking about since the Right Now video !

He owes us ! We supported him though all the drama with Van Halen and now we want new Mike music ! I bought a case of his Hot Sauce so I have a say in how he runs his life !

Mike !.....Mike !......Mike !......Mike !....Mike !.....