New Van Halen Songs on “Best”
Van Halen, reunited with singer Sammy Hagar, have recorded three new tracks for inclusion on The Best of Van Halen, due this summer.
“It’s About Time,” “Learning to See” and “Up for Breakfast” feature guitarist Eddie Van Halen, drummer Alex Van Halen and bassist Michael Anthony backing Hagar for the first time since his tumultuous departure from the band in 1996 after eleven years of service. The songs will be the first new offerings from Van Halen since 1998’s Van Halen III.
The new cuts will be surrounded by more than two decades of Van Halen favorites from almost all of the band’s eras, including the early Eighties period with singer David Lee Roth (“Jump,” “Panama”) and Hagar’s first tour of duty with the group (“Why Can’t This Be Love,” “When It’s Love”). Van Halen III, which featured singer Gary Cherone subbing for Hagar, is not represented on the two-disc set.
The group will have the chance to give the new songs a test-run this summer when it heads out on a forty-nine-date tour starting June 11th in Greensboro, North Carolina. Van Halen are planning one final dress rehearsal for the tour on June 1st at an undisclosed location in the Los Angeles area. Fans can register to win tickets at van-halen.com
Van Halen tour dates:
6/11: Greensboro, NC, Greensboro Coliseum
6/13: Hershey, PA, Hershey Park Stadium
6/14: Buffalo, NY, HSBC Arena
6/16-17: Philadelphia, Wachovia Center
6/19-20: Worcester, MA, Worcester Centrum
6/22-23: East Rutherford, NJ, Continental Arena
6/25: Washington, DC, MCI Center
6/26: Albany, NY, Pepsi Center
6/28: Hartford, CT, Hartford Civic Center
6/29: Pittsburgh, Mellon Arena
7/1: Indianapolis, IN, Conseco Fieldhouse
7/2: Cleveland, Gund Arena
7/3: Toronto, Air Canada Center
7/7: Columbus, OH, Schottenstein Center
7/9: Grand Rapids, MI, Van Andel Arena
7/10: Detroit, Joe Louis Arena
7/11: Auburn Hills, MI, The Palace at Auburn Hills
7/19-20: Chicago, United Center
7/22: St. Paul, MN, Xcel Energy Center
7/23: Green Bay, WI, Resch Center
7/25: Oklahoma City, Ford Center
7/26: Kansas City, MO, Kemper Arena
7/28-29: St. Louis, MO, Savvis Center
7/31: Omaha, NE, Qwest Center
8/1: Denver, Pepsi Center
8/3: Salt Lake City, Delta Center
8/5: Phoenix, America West Arena
8/6-7: Las Vegas, Mandalay Bay Events Center
8/10: San Jose, CA, HP Pavilion
8/11: Sacramento, ARCO Arena
8/13: Oakland, Oakland Arena
8/14: Fresno, CA, Save Mart Arena
8/16: Anaheim, CA, Arrowhead Pond
8/17: San Diego, Coors Amphitheater
8/19-20: Los Angeles, Staples Center
9/8: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Office Depot Center
9/9: Tampa, FL, St. Pete Times Forum
9/11: Jacksonville, FL, Veterans Memorial Arena
9/23: Houston, Toyota Center
9/25: Dallas, American Airlines Center
9/28: San Antonio, SBC Arena
9/29: Lubbock, TX, United Spirit Arena