Wolfgang Van Halen Opens Up About Making a New Album With Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony
Photo by Stefan Bollmann, Attribution, via Wikimedia Commons.
Remembering the “Kitchen Sink” Tour That Never Happened
In a recent episode of the Thinking About Guitar podcast, Wolfgang Van Halen shared new details about his late father Eddie Van Halen’s plans for a full-scale Van Halen reunion tour. The concept, nicknamed the “kitchen sink” tour, would have brought together all eras of the band — including original bassist Michael Anthony and both frontmen, Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth. There were even early discussions about inviting Gary Cherone, who sang on 1998’s Van Halen III.
However, the ambitious project never came to life. When asked why it fell apart, Wolfgang explained (as transcribed by Blabbermouth.net): “It was dad’s health. But that had been always our idea. Dad and I came up with that idea, the kitchen sink tour, when we were in the hospital in 2019. And it just always was working under the assumption that things would get better, and it didn’t. So that’s why.”
Wolfgang Focuses on His Own Path
When asked if he might one day record with Hagar and Anthony, Wolfgang quickly ruled it out. “Never. It’s not in the cards for me,” he said. “MAMMOTH is very much where I’m happy. I have nothing but appreciation for Van Halen and its history. But when it comes to MAMMOTH, that’s all I wanna do.”
Wolfgang’s focus on his own band, Mammoth WVH, shows how determined he is to forge his own identity while still honoring the Van Halen legacy. Though he joined Van Halen as bassist in 2007, replacing Anthony for the band’s later tours and album A Different Kind of Truth, he’s since dedicated himself to fronting his own project — writing, singing, and playing nearly every instrument on his records.
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The Reunion That Almost Happened
Rumors of a full Van Halen reunion began circulating in early 2019, when Vulture reported that David Lee Roth had hinted at stadium shows featuring the band’s classic lineup — Eddie, Alex, Roth, and Anthony — for the first time since 1984. For longtime fans, it would have been the reunion of a lifetime.
Unfortunately, relations between Van Halen and Anthony had been strained for years. Anthony was not invited to join the band’s 2007 reunion with Roth, and he had to sign away his rights to the band name and logo — as well as accept a pay cut — to take part in Van Halen’s 2004 tour with Hagar.
Reconnecting After Two Decades
Eddie Van Halen passed away in October 2020 at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, California, after a long battle with cancer. His death marked the end of an era in rock history. But years later, Wolfgang and Anthony shared a long-awaited reunion of their own.
Speaking to Loudwire in January 2024, Wolfgang described seeing Michael again during Mammoth WVH’s December 8, 2023 show in Las Vegas. “He’s family. It was long overdue,” Wolfgang said. “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.”
“Love Ya, Mikey” — A Heartfelt Moment
After the Vegas concert, Wolfgang posted photos of himself with Anthony backstage at the House of Blues, writing, “Ran into an old friend at the @mammothwvh show in Vegas tonight. (Love ya, Mikey).”
Anthony shared his own tribute on social media, posting a video from the concert along with a photo of the two musicians together. “Went to see Mammoth last night here in Vegas, and they threw it down! Love ya Wolf, so great to see ya! (Proud of you brother!!),” he wrote. When a fan asked how long it had been since they’d last met, Anthony replied, “First time in 20 years.”
Looking Ahead
In an interview with New York’s Q104.3 before the show, Wolfgang expressed excitement about reconnecting with Anthony. “I’m gonna be seeing Mike in Vegas, so I’m stoked to give him a hug,” he said. He also praised the upcoming 2024 tour featuring Anthony, Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, and Jason Bonham. “Yeah, that’s super cool, man,” Wolfgang added.
