Michael Anthony Shares How He Got Closure From Eddie Van Halen’s Death

Michael Anthony has revealed how he found closure following the death of Eddie Van Halen. The two had been estranged for years, with Anthony being forced to take a pay cut and sign away his rights to the Van Halen band name before touring with the group in 2004. By the time the band reunited for a tour in 2015, he had been replaced by Eddie’s son, Wolfgang Van Halen.

In a recent interview with Sally Steele, Anthony admitted that he didn’t anticipate the lineup change but understood the rationale behind it. The bassist explained:

“I didn’t see [Eddie] grooming [Wolfgang] for my job.
“He initially played drums and knew a few chords on guitar. In 2004, during the Van Halen reunion tour, Wolfie came out and strummed a couple of chords with [Eddie] at some shows. But as Eddie Van Halen’s kid, you’re bound to be a multi-instrumentalist.”

Anthony continued:

“Eddie wanted to play with his son. I think Wolfgang probably wasn’t that excited about being in Van Halen. That’s why in his band now, he doesn’t play any Van Halen songs; he wants to carve out his own path.”

Reuniting with Wolfgang Van Halen: Michael Anthony’s Journey to Closure

Anthony also recounted how he reconnected with Wolfgang Van Halen after Eddie’s passing. He noted that he and Eddie “never had a chance to really settle any differences that we had in the past.” However, Anthony found closure in late 2023 when he attended a concert by Wolfgang’s band, Mammoth WVH. Anthony said:

“I went to the show as his guest.
“We sat and talked, and there was a lot of closure for me. Valerie [Bertinelli] was there too. It was a great night. Besides the fact that Wolf is a great guy and musician, his band kicks ass.”

Anthony will join Sammy Hagar for the Best of All Worlds tour featuring Van Halen material. The summer tour kicks off on July 13 in West Palm Beach, Florida.