Ditch the lighters and dust off your air guitar – a revelation from former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony has the rock world buzzing.
Anthony, gearing up to tour with Sammy Hagar this summer on The Best of Both Worlds, casually dropped a bombshell in a recent interview. He alluded to a massive archive of unreleased Van Halen material, potentially containing “miles of stuff” gathering dust in the late Eddie Van Halen’s studio.
This news is a game-changer for Van Halen fans. The prospect of unreleased Van Halen songs, a hidden history of the band’s creative process, is nothing short of electrifying. Could this be the biggest Van Halen story in years?
A Treasure Trove of Unreleased Van Halen?
The former Van Halen bassist’s latest interview with Ultimate Guitar unearthed more than just a summer tour with Sammy Hagar. He revealed a surprising detail about Van Halen’s recording habits. Apparently, the band had a policy of recording everything in the studio.
“Every time we went into the studio,” Anthony said, “we had the engineer, whether it was Donn Landee or whoever, press record. We recorded everything, every idea that we had.” This compulsive recording could mean a goldmine of unreleased Van Halen material exists.
The hope is that Eddie Van Halen’s son, Wolfgang, who took over bass duties in 2006, might sift through these recordings. Anthony himself expressed interest in Eddie’s solo explorations captured on tape. However, Anthony also acknowledged the reality: “There’s tons of stuff that we’ll probably never see. Or hear.”
Anthony Reflects on Van Halen’s Final Album
Van Halen’s 2012 release, A Different Kind of Truth, marked a turning point for the band. Not only was it their final studio album, but it was also the only one without Michael Anthony. The Ultimate Guitar interview revealed a surprising detail about the album’s origins.
Many of the tracks were reworked or completed versions of much older songs, some dating back to Van Halen’s early years. Anthony himself hinted at his own involvement in the songwriting process. “There were quite a few songs I co-wrote, even a couple from before the first Van Halen record,” he revealed.
While specific details remained a bit fuzzy, Anthony did recall one particular song: “‘She’s the Woman’ is the only thing that comes to mind.” This interview offers a fresh perspective on A Different Kind of Truth, suggesting potential songwriting credits for the former bassist that were previously unknown.
A Different Kind of Truth Has “a Lot of Good Stuff”
Despite not receiving songwriting credit, Michael Anthony offered a positive review of A Different Kind of Truth. He admitted to giving the album a listen, acknowledging the changes present.
It was different,” he said, pointing to David Lee Roth’s vocal approach and the addition of Wolfgang Van Halen on bass. “Different than what we were obviously doing when I was in the band,” he clarified. However, his assessment remained positive: “There’s a lot of good stuff on there.”
This perspective adds another layer to the album’s recent resurgence. A Different Kind of Truth was previously unavailable on streaming services in 2022, but its return allows fans to re-evaluate this unique entry in Van Halen’s discography. With Anthony’s insights and the album’s easy accessibility, fans can now approach A Different Kind of Truth with fresh ears.
A Busy Year for Former Van Halen Members
Michael Anthony is currently busy with his own share of almost-Van Halen gigs, courtesy of the Best of All Worlds Tour which will kick off on July 13th in West Palm Beach, Florida. Anthony is back on stage together with former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar and they’ll be joined by guitar legend Joe Satriani and powerhouse drummer Jason Bonham, promising a high-energy setlist packed with Van Halen classics.
Canadian rock band Loverboy will be the opening act throughout the tour, adding another layer of excitement to this must-see event. This is your chance to relive the magic of Van Halen’s iconic sound with a stellar lineup of musicians.
The tour wraps up on August 31st in St. Louis. Mark your calendars and prepare to rock out!