Bassist Michael Anthony says he is open to the idea of reuniting with the classic Van Halen lineup for a possible 40th anniversary tour in 2018.
"I'm always the guy that says never say never,” Anthony told Sayaka Shiomi at the recent National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) show in Anaheim, CA where he was launching his new signature Schecter Limited Edition Flame Bass. “But, you know, right now, I'm just having fun doing what I'm doing, and if it happens, it'll happen. I'm obviously open to it, if something happens with it. Next year, I guess, is the fortieth anniversary of our first album, so who knows?"
Van Halen have not revealed any plans for new music or another tour since the end of a 2015 North American run in support of “Tokyo Dome Live In Concert.”
Anthony joined Van Halen in 1974 and appeared on the group’s albums and tours through 2002, when he was removed from the lineup by guitarist Eddie Van Halen because he remained friendly with Sammy Hagar after the singer’s stint in the band.
The bassist joined the group’s ill-fated 2004 reunion trek with Hagar only after taking a pay cut and signing away his rights to any future us of the VH brand name in a business move by the guitarist.
Anthony was eventually replaced by Eddie’s son, Wolfgang, in 2007.
Since his departure from the lineup, the bassist has recorded and toured with the Red Rocker and Hagar-led bands Chickenfoot and The Circle.
Last fall, Anthony revealed that he spoke with drummer Alex Van Halen for the first time in more than a decade when they reconnected through a mutual friend.
Rumors of a possible Anthony/Van Halen reunion that surfaced ahead of the bassist’s appearance at last year’s NAMM show earned the pairing the No. 6 Rock News Story Of The Year as part of the 2016 hennemusic Rock News Awards; Van Halen were also named the No. 2 Rock News Artist of The Year.
See also:
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Search Van Halen at hennemusic
