"There has to be one," Anthony tells Matt Pinfield at 95.5 KLOS Los Angeles. "Obviously, we all loved Eddie, and the music was all great, whether you're a Dave fan, a Sammy fan, a Gary fan, or whatever. And it's gotta be celebrated at some point. But, obviously, now is not the time, because his family's grieving, his son's grieving. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it actually having happened.
"But I'm sure it will happen some time here in the hopefully not-too-distant future. And I'm definitely in when it does happen. It'll be a great celebration, I think."
Anthony joined Van Halen in 1974 and appeared on the group’s albums and tours through 2002; he was replaced by Eddie’s son, Wolfgang, in 2007 and, since his departure has recorded and performed with Sammy Hagar in both Chickenfoot and The Circle.
A full Van Halen reunion was considered as part of a farewell tour in 2019 before Eddie’s health issues shut down the plans; the iconic guitarist died last October at the age of 65 after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Last November, Wolfgang told Entertainment Tonight that the family may eventually organize a tribute show in honor of Eddie, with proceeds going toward his favorite charity, Mr. Holland's Opus, which helps underprivileged students access musical instruments.
Anthony says he was somewhat aware of the guitarist’s challenges in his final years but that the two had not reconnected prior to his passing.
"I actually did not have the chance to do that, and I really feel bad about that,” adds the rocker. “We all, kind of in the inner circle, that were kind of close to him, knew that he was ill, but I didn't know to what extent. And he was very private about his illness, and so we all kind of respected that. So we really weren't that much in touch before I found out, with everybody else, that he had passed."
Van Halen were named the No. 2 Rock News Artist Of The Year as part of the 2020 hennemusic Rock News Awards.
See also:
Wolfgang Van Halen to perform on Jimmy Kimmel Live
Michael Anthony reflects on passing of Eddie Van Halen
Sammy Hagar shares vintage piano performance with Eddie Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen honored by National Guitar Museum
Search Van Halen at hennemusic
