VAN HALEN

Report: VAN HALEN Among Rock Hall Inductees

MSNBC.com ( www.msnbc.msn.com ) has issued the following report via Associated Press:

VAN HALEN made a “jump” into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame on Monday along with GRANDMASTER FLASH AND THE FURIOUS FIVE, R.E.M., THE RONETTES and PATTI SMITH.

A panel of 600 industry experts selected the five artists to be inducted at the annual ceremony, to be held March 12th in New York.

Van Halen was the 1980s hard rock quartet led by guitarist Eddie Van Halen, outrageous lead vocalist DAVID LEE ROTH, and later rocker SAMMY HAGAR, that put out hits such as 'Jump' and 'Dreams'.

R.E.M. was the quintessential indie rock band until breaking through to mass success in the early 1990s with songs like 'Losing My Religion'.

Grandmaster Flash led the most innovative act in early hip-hop, and the song 'The Message' was like a letter from urban America.

Punk rock poet Patti Smith and Phil Spector favorites The Ronettes round out the 2007 class.

To be eligible, artists must have issued a first single or album at least 25 years before nomination.

VAN HALEN Publicist Confirms Summer Tour; Rumored To Be Eddie Van Halen's Girlfriend

Launch Radio Networks has issued the following report from Bruce Simon:

VAN HALEN will be on the road this year, although the band's singer is still unknown. That confirmation is from a source directly in the Van Halen camp - publicist Janie Liszewski, who is also rumored to be guitarist Eddie Van Halen's girlfriend.

Liszewski has worked as a publicist in the adult movie industry, and in an interview posted in the Adult Video News website at avn.com, she said, "I am so excited to be given the opportunity to work with such a legendary musical force and look forward to going on the road this summer. Obviously, this is a dream come true in many capacities."

There are very strong indications that original frontman DAVID LEE ROTH could be returning to Van Halen for the tour, including Eddie's challenging Roth in a recent interview, but no one has gone on record yet. For now, the lineup officially includes Eddie on guitar and keyboards, his brother Alex Van Halen on drums, and Eddie's 15-year-old son Wolfgang on bass.

Liszewski reportedly met Van Halen while she was doing publicity for the movie Sacred Sin, which featured his music on the soundtrack. But she no longer works in porn, saying, "This new venture does not allow me to do publicity in adult any longer."

In other Van Halen news, as reported earlier today (January 8th), the band are among the acts being inducted this year into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, along with GRANDMASTER FLASH AND THE FURIOUS FIVE, R.E.M., THE RONETTES and PATTI SMITH.

A panel of 600 industry experts selected the five artists to be inducted at the annual ceremony, to be held March 12th in New York.

To be eligible, artists must have issued a first single or album at least 25 years before nomination.

OFFICIAL Press Release: "VAN HALEN Is Back"

BW&BK has received the following press release regarding VAN HALEN officially announcing their summer tour with David Lee Roth:

"In what is no doubt one of the most anticipated moments in rock and roll, Van Halen officially announces their 2007 North American tour.

The tour will mark the first time since 1984 that original Van Halen front man David Lee Roth will perform with Eddie and Alex Van Halen along with new bassist Wolfgang Van Halen for 40 shows this summer.

Van Halen fans can look forward to legendary high intensity performances, featuring a set list of the most iconic hits ever produced by America’s premiere rock band.

Eddie Van Halen states, “I am very excited to get back to the core of what made Van Halen”.

VAN HALEN Guitarist Hopes To Record New Material With DAVID LEE ROTH

Hit Parader (www.hitparader.com ) has issued the following Q&A session with VAN HALEN guitarist Eddie Van Halen in which he discusses the band's upcoming North American reunion tour with original frontman DAVID LEE ROTH:

Q: So how does it feel to be back?

A: "Back where? I haven't gone anywhere."

Q: What have you been up to since your 2004 tour with SAMMY HAGAR was cut short?

A: Oh, just writing, recording. Jamming with my kid (current Van Halen bassist Wolfgang Van Halen) and Al (drummer Alex Van Halen). My son Wolfie, the kid's a natural. Started on guitar. Moved to bass last year, and we've just been jamming it up."

Q: Did you know from the outset that you would be getting Dave (original Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth) back in the band?

A: "Y'know, it didn't really matter who it was. It could be Dave. It could be someone else. We actually had a couple of people come up to the house and sing. It could have been them."

Q: Or Hagar?

A: "Nah. After the last tour, I realized that was sort of a mistake."

Q: What happened?

A: "We just wanted to play. Couldn't get it together with Dave, though we'd sure tried. So Sam called Al and that set into motion. I was the last one. I said sure. Then we got Sobolewski (original Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony) in, though I didn't really want to. Anyway, it just fell apart. Nobody was on speaking terms. And Hagar and the bass player were just using the press coverage to sell tequila or hot sauce. It was below the belt."

Q: So no chance on getting Anthony back in the band?

A: "Why? He hasn't played on a Van Halen record in years. We've not spoken. I don't mean to slight him, he's a good player. But there hasn't been that vibe or closeness for years. Plus now he's off playing with the enemy." (laughs)

Q: You mean Hagar? Their band, THE OTHER HALF?

A: "Yeah, what's with that? They're out there selling hot sauce and tequila and playing all the songs I wrote. It's kind of sad."

Q: So how did Roth enter the picture? I've been under the impression that you two haven't gotten along for years?

A: "We wanted to play music again. Wolfie came to me last year and told me how much he loved those old songs. They were easy to learn and fun to play. So we've been jamming them for ages now, and I just sort of looked at Al and said, 'Forget it, get Dave in here!' So we called him."

Q: Just like that?

A: "No, it wasn't just like that. There were lots of lawyers and things to go through." (laughs)

Q: Did Anthony contact you?

A: "No, but my agent, who is also my girlfriend, told me she'd heard that Hagar was trying to contact me. I don't know what the hell he wants."

Q: So cancer-free, going into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, a tour with Roth? That's a big turnaround.

A: "Yeah, it's great. But I don't think we're all going to play at the "Hall Of Fame". I can't imagine us all trying to share the stage together. Frankly, I don't want to play with everyone."

Q: What about a new album?

A: "Yeah, maybe. I've got so much music. The name Van Halen, the family legacy is going to go on forever. Passed on. My kid is a natural. I'm going to have him play on a solo record at some point."

Q: And new music with Roth?

A: "Well, that's what we hope. We all sound great. You have no idea. And there's more than enough new music. But one thing at a time. We haven't even rehearsed that much yet."
(thanks: VHLinks.com)