In a new conversation with “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk” from August 22, bassist Michael Anthony was asked if he was in contact with Alex Van Halen since former Van Halen singer, Sammy Hagar, announced his tour with Joe Satriani, Jason Bonham, and the bassist himself:
“No, I haven’t. In fact, the last time I tried to get a hold of Alex, I tried to get a hold of him on his birthday in May, and I did not hear back from him. So, I don’t know. I didn’t wanna push it or keep trying to get a hold of him or whatever.
”I figured he knew that I tried to get ahold of him, I think, so I just kind of left it at that. God, at this point, I’m just waiting for his book to come out, so I can read that.”
Asked about Alex Van Halen’s upcoming book ”Brothers” and what he would know about it, Michael Anthony said:
“I know as much as everybody else. The book’s coming out in October and I’m looking forward to reading it myself. […]
“I was surprised when I first heard about it, yeah. I was very surprised. And then when I heard he was selling all of this gear, and when I checked into that, I mean, it was like he was selling everything right down to the last drumstick and backstage pass that he had, whatever.
”That really kind of surprised me, but maybe that’s his way of just, that’s gonna be his closure on the whole thing, doing that and the book now.”
7 comments
I believe that Anthony was done wrong. He played in that band and was dedicated. I beleave they had to make up a reason instead of them just saying look. You know Ed’s situation. He wants to play the last years of his life with his son,Wolfgang. I feel for all of them but I know if I had a friendship that many years. I would talk it out.
That could be true or another reason could be Wolfgang kind of fell into the job due to Eddie’s feeling that Mike deserted him and the band by partnering up with Sammy.
I feel the same way. I mean Michael no matter what happened was the foundation of VH groove. I really feel like he was shunned and that’s not cool. He was every bit van helen as much as the brothers. Alex could at least reach out and say hi at this point. All of them made history and no one can deny that.
Dave, Al, and Ed cut him out of song writing royalties in 84. Said he didn’t do any song writing so he shouldn’t get 1/4 share in royalties, thus he was no longer an equal member of the band, but the somehow forgot to mention that Alex didn’t write either. Go figure..
So as far back as 84 they started screwing Mike over. For the 2004 tour Sammy said he wouldn’t play unless Mike was allowed to play. Ed said he’d let Mike play if he signed away all rights to Van Halen and went on tour as a hired gun and not as a member of the band. Mike, as usual, agreed, thus leaving nothing in the way of Ed being able to replace him. So Ed and Al had been doing Mike wrong for years. Way before they finally replaced him.
I agree 100% with Eric.
Everyone grieves differently. His way of moving on and living comfortably with family. Should’ve had Micheal on still on bass and Wolfgang on cowbell. Everyone needs more cowbell.
Van Halen had fundamental issues with creative differences between the brothers and Roth. Roth wanted to be more Pop and the brothers wanted to be more cutting edge rock. With Eddie’s genius on guitar, Roth was holding the man back. The band was doomed after the first years together. Michael’s vocals were great and his bass playing was good too. Eddie’s guitar playing was just so much better.