Backstage (Van Halen – The Reunion That Never Happened)

Welcome Backstage, I’m Damian DeadLove. The year was 1996, September 4th to be precise. I’m watching the MTV awards show for some reason, I’ve never been huge into watching the award’s ceremony. Not even for live performances, mainly because the sound was never great on those shows. In my opinion that is. 

Dennis Miller, the comedian, was the host that night. He was ready to announce the next presenter, and I was floored when he uttered the name, Van Halen. “Runnin’ With The Devil” is cued up and I’m waiting for the big reveal. Waiting for the curtain to be pulled back so to speak.

Now a little backstory here, this was not the digital age we’re in now. You had to read music magazines or watch MTV to get news. The internet did exist, but we didn’t have a smartphone constantly strapped to our hand at this point in time. All I knew was, Sammy Hagar was out of the band. That had been in the news. Was he fired or did he quit, that depends on which camp you’re asking. 

I was kinda having a sense of Deja Vu, as my mind cast it’s self back to 1985. Van Halen fans know what I’m talking about, and it wasn’t love. David Lee Roth, had quit the band to pursue a solo career. According to the, Van Halen brothers that is. 

Dave’s side of the story was he made the solo album, EP in this case, out of boredom. Mainly because Ed was never coming down to the studio. Which was kinda ironic being it was in his own backyard. “5150”, was already built and had already been used to record the iconic, 1984 album. 

The band was working on what would become the “5150” album. Except, Dave would not be singing on that record. His replacement, Sammy Hagar would be on vocals. Which would start what some call the “Van Hagar” era of the group. 

Van Halen, formed in Pasadena, California in 1973. Originally, it was just the brothers, and bassist Mark Stone. Going under the moniker of, “Mammoth.”, Ed was singing at the time, and they were doing backyard parties and playing cover songs. 

Dave, was singing in a rival group called the, “Red Ball Jets.” And the brothers would often pay to use Dave’s PA system for gigs. Until one fine day the as story goes they decided to combine their efforts. As a bonus the brothers didn’t have to rent the PA anymore. 

From 1974 to 1985, Van Halen was: David Lee Roth – Vocals, Edward Van Halen – Guitar, and Backing Vocals, Alex Van Halen – Drums, and Micheal Anthony – Bass, and Backing Vocals. 

Giving us songs like: “Runnin’ With The Devil”, “Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love”, “Eruption”, “You Really Got Me (Kinks cover)”, “Dance The Night Away”, “Beautiful Girls”, “And The Cradle Will Rock”, “Everybody Wants Some”, “Unchained”, “Oh, Pretty Woman (Roy Orbison cover)”, “Jump”, “Panama”, “Hot For Teacher”, and “I’ll Wait”. That’s just some of the hits, were not even talking deep cuts. Which are where a lot of brilliant gems in composition reside.

From 1985 to 1996, Sammy Hagar was on vocals. Spawning hits like: “Why Can’t This Be Love”, “Dreams”, “Best Of Both Worlds”, “Love Walks In”, “When It’s Love”, “Finish What You Started”, “Poundcake”, “Runaround”, “Right Now”, “Top Of The World”, “Can’t Stop Loving’ You” “Don’t Tell Me (What Love Can Do)”, and “Feelin’” Once again there are killer deep cuts in there as well.

I’ll end the history part of this story by saying this. Dave and Sammy are not big fans of one another and that’s putting it mildly. Diamond Dave, and the Red Rocker even tried touring together. It didn’t change their opinions of one another. There was some drama Backstage, pun intended.

Anyways we now return you to your regularly scheduled program. Runnin’ With The Devil is playing. The curtain opens and out walks, Ed, Alex, Mike, and bringing up the rear is, Diamond Dave. Holy Shit..The hair on my arms is standing up just thinking about that moment.

Van Halen is reunited on stage before my eyes. They’re all smiling the vibe seems cool, the crowd is erupting with cheers all around them. DLR, is off to the side stirring up the crowd as only he can, with hip swirls and hand gestures. 

I’m going to paraphrase what happens next. Ed, tries to go right into presenting the award but DLR is still in showman mode with the crowd. Dave finally makes his way to the podium but instead of doing the presentation he’s in the moment. There is a handshake with Alex, a nod to Mike, and Ed puts his hand out to shake Dave’s. DLR skips the handshake and gives Ed a hug. 

The people are enjoying this moment and it seems we have peace. Then Dave steps up to the microphone and says something like this, “ Last time we was on stage together it was over a decade ago. Notice how things have changed, It used to be I want my MTV, now it’s give me your MTV motherfucker or I’ll blow your head off.” 

Awkwardly, Ed pulls Dave back while laughing, and they proceed to present the award. Dave stays in character while, Beck makes his acceptance speech. There is a sense of tension in the air now. But everybody heads backstage and network probably to commercial break. 

I didn’t care at that moment about the rest of the show. The mighty Van Halen has reunited, Fuck Yeah! I’m on cloud nine. Happy ending right?

You folks now how this show works. Nothing is ever as it appears, and that’s for sure. Turns out the Brothers had decided to do a greatest hits album called, The Best Of Van Halen, Vol.1. Which was going to consist of, 8 classic VH tracks, and 6 from the Van Hagar era. With a couple of bonuses.

“Humans Being,” was added from the “Twister Soundtrack” which was the last song that Hagar sung on to that point in time. Then we got two new songs with DLR on vocals. Which were: “Can’t Get This Stuff No More”, and “Me Wise Magic.” I loved both of these songs.

They had the new songs recorded before the Awards Ceremony. Then after their appearance on MTV, they broke up again. The brothers claim it was never a reunion other than the greatest hits album. Roth claims they were stringing him a long, but he was wise to it. And to document he was wise to what was up he left us the whole roadmap within the lyrics on the two new songs. 

If you want the story behind the lyrics you can find an interview article on the internet somewhere I’m sure. I read it all the way back in 1997, so I know it exists. Also I’d recommend reading DLR’s autobiography, “Crazy From The Heat.” It’s a great read. 

We didn’t get a music video for the new songs, just the songs. While they were recording with Roth, they had secretly found a new singer by the name of, Gary Cherone. He was the singer for the band, Extreme. And is again currently, but I digress. That’s a whole other ball of wax. 

There was a reunion in 2017 with DLR. Only problem was it wasn’t the original lineup. 

Micheal Anthony was fired from Van Halen for playing music with Sammy Hagar while the brothers were inactive and doing nothing musically. Plus, Ed had won his first bout with Cancer during that period. 

That’s after a failed reunion with Hagar in 2004. Mike and Sammy still play music together to this day. Whether it be “Chickenfoot” or “The Circle.”

The 2017 tour had Ed’s son, Wolfgang on bass. We also got an album called, “A Different Kind Of Truth” Which I also loved, not everyone feels the same as me but it’s all good. Wolfgang was on bass on that album. We got conciliation prizes, but never that iconic moment us fans wanted.

Unfortunately we never will. Edward Van Halen passed away on October 6th, 2020. 

Talks of a tribute show or tour were rumored, but have never come to fruition. I think that’s not going to happen anyways. But we got the music and that’s forever. R.I.P. EVH. 

That’s our show for tonight. Remember music is the soundtrack of our lives. Peace, Love, and Lennon. I’m Damian DeadLove