Wolfgang Van Halen on recent reunion with ex-VAN HALEN bassist Michael Anthony: “He’s family”
In a recent Loudwire interview, Wolfgang Van Halen discussed the experience of reconnecting with former VAN HALEN bassist Michael Anthony during MAMMOTH WVH‘s concert on December 8 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Wolfgang, who replaced Anthony in VAN HALEN, said: “He’s family. It was long overdue. I think we had planned that at least since I’ve been touring and it just worked out and it was very wonderful to see him. [I] love that my mom [Valerie Bertinelli] was there [and] my uncle Patrick who is also part of the MAMMOTH team; he goes way back with them. It’s really nice to have that little reunion.”
A few hours after MAMMOTH WVH‘s concert in Las Vegas, Wolfgang took to his social media to share a couple of backstage photos of him with Michael at the House Of Blues, and he included the following message: “Ran into an old friend at the @mammothwvh show in Vegas tonight. (Love ya, Mikey)”
Michael would also share a video of the MAMMOTH WVH concert as well as a photo of himself with Wolfgang, along with the caption: “Went to see MAMMOTH WVH last night here in Vegas, and they threw it down! Love ya Wolf, so great to see ya! (Proud of you brother!!)” When asked by a fan on social media how long it had been since he and Wolfgang last saw each other, Michael replied: “First time in 20 years.”
Speaking with New York radio station Q104.3 before the House Of Blues show, Wolfgang said he was looking forward to seeing Michael. “I’m gonna be seeing Mike in Vegas, so I’m stoked to give him a hug,” he said. He also said that he was “stoked” that Anthony, Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani and Jason Bonham were planning a 2024 tour focusing largely on VAN HALEN music. “Yeah, that’s super cool, man,” he said.
In the early months of 2019, rumors circulated about a potential reunion of the classic VAN HALEN lineup for a series of stadium shows during the summer. If materialized, this would have marked the first joint performance by Michael, Eddie, David, and Alex Van Halen since 1984.
The speculation initially originated from hints dropped by David Lee Roth, who suggested to Vulture that VAN HALEN might be headlining stadiums with Michael Anthony back in the lineup. The relationship between VAN HALEN and Anthony had been strained for over a decade, as Anthony was not included in the 2007 reunion with Roth. The subsequent two tours and the studio album, “A Different Kind Of Truth,” featured Wolfgang Van Halen on bass.
In 2004, Anthony agreed to a pay cut and relinquished all rights to the band name and logo to participate in VAN HALEN‘s tour, which included Sammy Hagar.
The iconic guitarist Eddie Van Halen passed away in October 2020 at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, California, succumbing to complications related to cancer, putting all future full-reunion plans to rest permanently.
As for MAMMOTH WVH, the band continues to tour in support of it’s second studio album, “Mammoth II”.
The initial leg of the current headline tour, running from February 21, 2024, to March 10, 2024, will see the return of special guest Nita Strauss. Following that, the second leg is scheduled from May 4, 2024, to May 17, 2024, featuring rockers INTERVALS as special guests. General public ticket sales for all headline shows went on sale Friday, December 8, at 10 a.m. local time.
Wolfgang says: “2023 has been an amazing year and 2024 is shaping up to be even busier. To be able to headline more shows with Nita Strauss and then having INTERVALS join us later is so exciting. I am honored that I get to return to that incredible METALLICA stage as well as reunite with Dave Grohl and the guys in the FOO FIGHTERS. I can’t wait to see everyone next year.”