Van Halen are coming to OZ in 2013

In the fallout over Soundwave Revolution festival in 2011, festival boss AJ Maddah claimed that headliners Van Halen were “surrounded by idiots”. Strangely, it’s a description that frontman David Lee Roth doesn’t argue.

“I don’t know that I disagree,” Diamond Dave admitted to FL. “Van Halen is represented by one of the biggest idiots in the history of the sport, Irving Azoff. In fact that’s the job description; that’s his official title…We’re surrounded by all kinds of colourful characters. Promoters included.”

http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/news/local/35258/David-Lee-Roth-on-Soundwave-cancellationVan-Halen-is-a-cantankerous-bunch
David Lee Roth on Soundwave cancellation:”Van Halen is a cantankerous bunch”

Mon 25th Mar, 2013 in Local News

In the fallout over Soundwave Revolution festival in 2011, festival boss AJ Maddah claimed that headliners Van Halen were “surrounded by idiots”. Strangely, it’s a description that frontman David Lee Roth doesn’t argue.

“I don’t know that I disagree,” Diamond Dave admitted to FL. “Van Halen is represented by one of the biggest idiots in the history of the sport, Irving Azoff. In fact that’s the job description; that’s his official title…We’re surrounded by all kinds of colourful characters. Promoters included.”

Speaking with FL ahead of the glam rockers’ headline performance at Stone Music Fest on April 20, Roth was candid about the reported infighting and illness that lead to the band’s last efforts to tour Australia as part of the ill-fated Soundwave Revolution Festival: “Van Halen is a cantankerous bunch. It’s the war wagon, no doubt about it. I’m not gonna try and smooth over all of the wrinkles and imperfections.”

He went on to explain that it wasn’t just internal politics that lead to the cancellation of Van Halen’s last tour, Eddie’s ill-health also played a key role. “I think probably the biggest issue last time around was Ed’s health. We have been struggling with that since we started recording this last record, but we’re tough, a lot of artists are very fond of checking into the hospital with ‘exhaustion’, whatever that is, and making sure everybody knows about it, and we don’t do that.” He continued, “But behind the scenes, there’s a lot of fragile politics, there’s a lot of world weary bodies here. You’ve heard the expression 40 is the new 30… Well for me 58 is the new 80.“

Dispelling any concerns that the band might not make it to our shores this month Roth reassured us that the band would be fit and well to play, “[Ed] is fine now, he’s doing great.”

Over the course of a whopping two hours, the Van Halen frontman spoke to FL’s David Swan about the band’s forthcoming album, worldwide fame and how to stay curious about life after 60-odd years. He even offered a quick lesson in Japanese. The interview will be published on FL in coming weeks.

Stone Music Festival will take place on Saturday, 20 April and Sunday, 21 April at ANZ Stadium in Sydney and features performances by Billy Joel, Icehouse and Kings Of Chaos.

mrmojohalen: “The Van Halen frontman spoke to FL’s David Swan about the band’s forthcoming album”

Yes this bit sounds good.

It does indeed sound great and how I wish it is true. However, I am thinking it is a typo and it should be “ban’s forthcoming tour.”

Anyone hear anything about a quote from Ed saying, “No way Jose. Not going on the road with Dave!” My son just sent me a text with that quote he heard on the radio a few minutes ago.