Michael Anthony Recalls First Reaction to Finding Out About Failed Van Halen Tribute With Jason Newsted: ‘I Heard About It in the Press’
For years, fans have wondered if the surviving members of Van Halen would ever come together for a proper tribute to Eddie Van Halen. At one point, there were whispers of an all-star lineup featuring Metallica’s Jason Newsted, but the project never materialized. Now, former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony has opened up about his initial reaction to the news—and it wasn’t from anyone in the band.
“I actually heard about it in the press,” Anthony admitted in a recent interview. “Nobody called me. Nobody said a word. Suddenly, I see headlines about a Van Halen tribute tour with Jason Newsted on bass, and I’m thinking, ‘Wait a minute—what’s going on here?’”
The rumored project, sometimes referred to as a “Van Halen Celebration,” reportedly would have featured Alex Van Halen on drums, Joe Satriani on guitar, and Newsted filling in on bass. But according to Anthony, the idea was already fraught before it got off the ground.
“To be honest, I thought it was kind of strange,” Anthony said. “I have nothing against Jason—he’s a great player and a good guy—but Van Halen was my life. To find out about something like that from the outside… it stung a little bit.”
The would-be tribute fizzled quickly after Newsted himself revealed that he had been approached, only for the plans to fall apart shortly after. Anthony says he was relieved it never moved forward without proper communication.
“Eddie meant so much to the fans, to music, and to us personally,” he continued. “If there’s ever going to be a tribute, it has to be done the right way. Not thrown together as some kind of touring package. It has to come from the heart.”
Anthony has remained tight-lipped about whether a true Van Halen celebration will ever happen, but he made it clear that he would always be willing to honor his late bandmate.
“I’ll never close the door on paying tribute to Eddie,” Anthony said. “He deserves it. But it has to be for the right reasons, with the right people. Until then, the music speaks for itself.”
