The long running feud between the former and current members of Van Halen has found a spark once again, all thanks to Eddie Van Halen’s recent interview in Billboard magazine. The guitar god had some harsh words for former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony, possibly shedding a little light on the latter’s exit from the band, and former lead singer Sammy Hagar has fired back.
Hagar and Anthony are close friends these days, bonding over a shared scorn from the Van Halen camp and their musical pursuits that includde the band Chickenfoot. In the video statement above, Hagar fires back at some claims made by Van Halen to Billboard about Michael Anthony, including a statements critical of the bassists abilities according to Rolling Stone:
The guitarist saved his most scathing words for former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony, who was pushed out of the group after their 2004 reunion tour with Sammy Hagar. “Every note Mike ever played, I had to show him how to play,” Van Halen said. “Before we’d go on tour, he’d come over with a video camera and I’d have to show him how to play all the parts.”
Van Halen shockingly refuses to concede that Anthony’s background vocals were vital to the group’s sound. “Mike’s voice is like a piccolo trumpet,” he said. “But he’s not a singer. He just has a range from hell. Mike was just born with a very high voice. I have more soul as a singer than he does. And you know, people always talk about Mike’s voice on Van Halen songs, but that’s a blend of Mike’s voice and my voice. It’s not just him.”
In the clip above, you can tell that the normally laid back Hagar is fairly angry over the comments. Not only does he call Van Halen a liar, mixed in with a few other choice words, he’s visibly angry after he finishes his statement and tears his microphone off. Hell, the existence of this video kinda proves that Sammy Hagar isn’t pleased.
It would seem that old wounds still aren’t healed with this band.
(Via Rolling Stone / Billboard / Sammy Hagar)
