Another End Of The Road For VAN HALEN?

Andrew McNeice of MelodicRock.com reports: "The world of VAN HALEN is a fickle thing and the band have never been far from a headline. The guys are currently working their way through their last weeks of 2004 tour dates — shows that some never thought would happen.

"But they did, after the feud between vocalist Sammy Hagar and the Van Halen brothers was laid to rest earlier in the year. The guys finally hit the road again on the back of a new compilation that featured three new tracks.

"There have been numerous reports of problems within the band and just as many reports of Eddie Van Halen drunk on stage.

"Rumors flared again last week after Hagar appeared on U.S. radio station KSHE, stating in an interview that he thought the VAN HALEN reunion was fun, but it bought closure to that chapter. He went on to voice his unhappiness with the high ticket prices from the tour and how he wished some members of the band were into fan interaction as much as he was. It was implied that once the current dates were completed, Hagar would return to touring with THE WARBORITAS and the future of VAN HALEN would again be up in the air.

'What really is going on? What's next for VAN HALEN?

'The reality is that at this point — no one knows. But I for one am not hopeful of anything continuing once this leg of the 2004 tour concludes.

'Everything I am hearing from my sources — past, proven sources that have all contributed to past VAN HALEN reports — is negative. Everything I hear points to a band that is managing to function despite inner turmoil. And it seems all that turmoil is centered around Eddie Van Halen.

"It is no secret that Eddie is drinking heavily and has been since the start of the tour — that drinking and his subsequent behavior has put a major strain on relationships within the VAN HALEN organization. As one source put it — Eddie is 'unstable.' As a result, there are no band commitments planned past next month. Sammy Hagar is planning to tour with his solo band THE WARBORITAS and could be playing solo as early as December, with further plans being made for summer 2005.

"Apparently Hagar did not want the reunion to play out as it has, but would rather return to being a solo artist than tour with VAN HALEN under current circumstances. I am told there are no 2005 tour plans and no album plans. All will become a little clearer once the tour concludes next month.

"To sum up, everything I have heard points towards confirming what Sammy Hagar said on KSHE-FM last week. Once this tour is done, another chapter of the VAN HALEN history will close with it."