Earlier this year the rumor mill was ablaze with word of a possible “reunion” tour (original bassist Michael Anthony has been replaced by Wolfgang “Wolfie” Van Halen, Eddie’s son), but things never got off the ground for reasons that included Eddie Van Halen’s most recent trip to rehab for alcoholism. “None of us wanted to give you less than our best,” Eddie explained about the aborted attempt this spring. But after four months of rehearsals he assures us now, “We are at our best.”
In addition to the tour, the band is also reportedly looking forward to writing and recording a new album together. Insisting that this is a “new band” and not a reunion, the band is presenting a united front for the first time in more than two decades. Is it possible that Diamond Dave and Eddie have really set aside their longstanding public disdain for each other and are moving forward as friends? It is if you believe what the members themselves are saying these days. “This is like a brotherhood like it never was before,” said Roth at the press conference. "We’re getting along better than we ever have before," Eddie added. Once again, I’ll believe it when I see it.
On a curious side note, earlier this week it was discovered that on the official Van Halen website, Michael Anthony’s image had been altogether removed from the cover art on the albums Van Halen and Women and Children First and replaced by Wolfie’s. Apparently this little tasteless display of altering history generated some serious heat, because the images on the site have since been returned to their original form.
Preliminary tour dates:
- Sep. 27 Charlotte, NC Charlotte Bobcats Arena

- Sep. 29 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum

- Oct. 01 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center

- Oct. 07 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre

- Oct. 10 Cleveland, OH Quicken Loans Arena

- Oct. 14 Indianapolis, IN Conseco Field House

- Oct. 16 Chicago, IL Allstate Arena

- Oct. 18 Chicago, IL United Center

- Oct. 22 Auburn Hills, MI Palace of Auburn Hills

- Oct. 24 Minneapolis, MN Target Center

- Oct. 26 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center

- Oct. 28 St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center

- Oct. 30 Boston, MA TD Banknorth Garden 

- Nov. 03 E. Rutherford, NJ Continental Airlines Arena

- Nov. 13 New York, NY Madison Square Garden

- Nov. 20 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center

- Nov. 23 Glendale, AZ Jobing.Com Arena

- Nov. 25 San Diego, CA Cox Arena

- Nov. 27 Sacramento, CA Arco Arena

- Nov. 29 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion at San Jose

- Dec. 01 Portland, OR Rose Garden

- Dec. 03 Seattle, WA Key Arena 

- Dec. 05 Vancouver, BC General Motors Place

- Dec. 09 Edmonton, AB Rexall Place

- Dec. 11 Calgary, AB Pengrowth Saddledome
