Rumors That Never Came Out

**NDL** · 11.12.20, 11:01 PM

Over the past five years, there's been a handful of snippets here and there, about things that the band was planning.

Sadly, these things never came to fruition...

Out of respect for the passing of Eddie Van Halen, there are certain subjects that I wouldn't broach, and I know that y'all felt the same way. Yet, now that Wolf's debuting on Howard Sterns' show on Monday, he's going forward with his music, so...

I am still not over Eddie Van Halen's passing; I am still in a "deer in the headlights" stage.

But those in the know, what was supposed to happen over the past five years?

Someone saw a VH poster at Warner Bros a couple of years ago. We also had DLR mentioning that "there's lots of new music," with him on vocals.

So what was supposed to happen? A reunion tour with Mike? What else? Another album? A double album?

What was in the pipeline?

**Jedi McFly** · 11.13.20, 12:28 AM

A final tour with Michael Anthony. Some dates could’ve been stadium shows with guests like Foo Fighters and Metallica. Wolfgang would have opened with his band/material.

**Metalsludge** · 11.13.20, 02:42 AM

You sure? Mike said on Eddie Trunk that he was contacted and said they wanted him to come out and do his bass solo. I don’t think WVH was leaving the band, just letting Mike sit in for a few songs.

**Casemeister** · 11.13.20, 08:06 AM

Not quite what you're going for, but remember when there were rumours circulating that DLR was quite ill a few years back?

I guess we now know what the truth was.

(From memory -- and I could totally be wrong -- the initial rumour was that a member of the band was ill, and then it was somehow agreed that it was DLR based on how thin he'd become.)

**Zahzoo** · 11.13.20, 08:16 AM

I hear that Brett and the admin team here and currently searching the VHlinks vaults for un-released rumors to be published at a later date...

**It's Mike** · 11.13.20, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by Zahzoo

I hear that Brett and the admin team here and currently searching the VHlinks vaults for un-released rumors to be published at a later date...

shhhh, don't tell anyone

**JUNGLE DRUMMER** · 11.13.20, 08:32 AM

Originally Posted by Metalsludge

You sure? Mike said on Eddie Trunk that he was contacted and said they wanted him to come out and do his bass solo. I don’t think WVH was leaving the band, just letting Mike sit in for a few songs.

Well, Nuno Bettencourt publicly stated that the last time he saw Ed, he told Nuno he was excited to get Mike back and have the original band go out blazing the same way they came in. I imagine Wolf probably would've opened with his band.

**jimmy812** · 11.13.20, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by Zahzoo

I hear that Brett and the admin team here and currently searching the VHlinks vaults for un-released rumors to be published at a later date...

Are we going to need our lawyers for this?

**I Coulda Hada VH** · 11.13.20, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by JUNGLE DRUMMER

Well, Nuno Bettencourt publicly stated that the last time he saw Ed, he told Nuno he was excited to get Mike back and have the original band go out blazing the same way they came in. I imagine Wolf probably would've opened with his band.

This seemed to have been the plan.

**JUNGLE DRUMMER** · 11.13.20, 08:41 AM

Originally Posted by I Coulda Hada VH

This seemed to have been the plan.

Just a damn shame it didn't work out. Effin cancer. It would've been the perfect way for the Mighty Van Halen to ride off into the sunset and Wolf to go on his way.

**I Coulda Hada VH** · 11.13.20, 08:43 AM

Originally Posted by JUNGLE DRUMMER

Just a damn shame it didn't work out. Effin cancer. It would've been the perfect way for the Mighty Van Halen to ride off into the sunset and Wolf to go on his way.

Absolutely. I'm just glad the Eddie finally made peace with Sammy and (hopefully) Mike before he left us.

**ziggysmalls** · 11.13.20, 08:44 AM

Here is a rumor but not from the last 5 years. However unsure if it actually was true or not.

Remember that reality show where a band chose a singer. VH was rumored to have been in talks to do it. I think this was 2005 or so. Was this ever validated?

**JUNGLE DRUMMER** · 11.13.20, 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by ziggysmalls

Here is a rumor but not from the last 5 years. However unsure if it actually was true or not.

Remember that reality show where a band chose a singer. VH was rumored to have been in talks to do it. I think this was 2005 or so. Was this ever validated?

My cousin did some sound work on that show, I believe it was INXS(?) that was on it. I remember he told me there was a LOT of chatter among the crew that producers were talking to VH about doing the show, but not sure if that was ever actually an option that VH seriously considered. May have just been wishful thinking by producers of the show.

**ziggysmalls** · 11.13.20, 09:56 AM

Yeah I do remember chatter but unsure if there was anything to it. That said probably some by Eddie. He was definitely open to throwing out "hey we should do something" to singers, musicians, porn producers, etc May have done the same with that show

**T.B.** · 11.13.20, 12:01 PM

Some rumors of things that never panned out going back to the 80's:

At least one or two promo videos shot in some Dinosaur theme park for songs from the Fair Warning album.

Billy Sheehan joining the band and replacing Mike starting with the Fair Warning album and tour.

The "Road Movie" that Roth talked about in an interview with Hustler around the time of the Fair Warning album. Supposedly a Live album culled from the WACF or even VHII tour that would have included x-rated backstage footage interspaced between songs. The format would be very similar to Led Zep's Song Remains The Same movie except w/hardcore sex. It turned out this was the infamous "home movies" shot of the band in 1978 having sex with groupies filmed by former manager Marshall Berle and shown to secretaries at a Warner Bros meeting while he still managed the band.

Van Halen recorded and filmed show(s) during the US Diver Down tour for a double live album and home video release as part of the strategy to "give the band a breather" before the next studio album (which became 1984).

The Van Halen "Crazy From The Heat" soundtrack for Roth's (aborted) movie.

A late 1985 Van Halen album following Roth's departure that would have featured guest singers on different tracks. Included guests would have included Pete Townsend, Phil Collins and others.

The Mitch Malloy-front VH before Gary was hired.

A Roth reunion in 2000 that would have included either a retrospective box set with several new tracks recorded at the time or a new full studio album and likely eventual tour. Derailed by legal issues between Roth and the band and Ed's cancer diagnosis and treatment.

The 2017 or 2018 reunion stadium tour with Mike and possibly (but unlikely) Dave and Sammy co-fronting featuring major acts like Metallica, Foo Fighters, etc supporting. Basically Monsters Of Rock II.