State of Van Halen: Summer 2008

As summer of 2008 begins the state of Van Halen is arguably good. The current incarnation that is David Lee Roth and Eddie, Alex and Wolfgang Van Halen will complete the first tour in over 20 years in July. The tour has been the highest grossing in Van Halen's history. I saw them at the opening show in Charlotte, North Carolina and in New Orleans from floor seats and thought them to be some of the best live shows I have seen.

With the tour ending it would be good to see the band take the energy back to the 5150 studio and produce the first album in ten years. The fans have waited to hear new Van Halen as long as G&R fans have been waiting for Axl Rose to finish the Chinese Democracy album. The wait has been even longer for a new Van Halen album with Roth, in fact we have been waiting since we bought albums.

Back when Roth parted with Van Halen he went and put together an all-star band that included guitar gun slinger Steve Vai. Dave put Eddie to the test and he responded with his guitar and kept his place as the king. Sammy has been continually playing with his Waboritas and with ousted VH bassist Michael Anthony as "The Other Half". Now Sam and Mike may face the Van Halens and Roth with a supergroup of their own.

Hagar and Anthony have teamed with Chad Smith, drummer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers on a band currently called "Chickenfoot". Rounding out the band on guitar is none other than Joe Satriani of Surfing With the Alien fame. Eddie facing off Satriani directly challenges him for the first time since Steve Vai. For the first time in a while the possibility of seeing a Van Halen/Van Hagar battle of the bands is a possibility. And as a fan I would much rather see a battle through new music and tours rather than the tabloids.