Sammy Hagar Accuses Van Halen of Using Tapes of Michael Anthony’s Voice in Concert
Sammy Hagar has accused his former bandmates in Van Halen of using their ex-bassist Michael Anthony's backing vocals via tape in concerts on their 2008 tour with singer David Lee Roth, even though Anthony was not performing with the band at the time.
In an interview with Attention Deficit Delirium, Hagar doesn't mince words: "Those vocal harmonies on the last tour were Mike on tape.. Mike should have reamed them for it." Sammy should know, having partnered up with Anthony on four Van Halen albums and two Chickenfoot records so far, as well as countless concerts.
He goes on to declare, "Wolfie (Eddie Van Halen's son and current Van Halen bassist) doesn't sing like that, and Ed sure as hell don't." Hagar then challenges people to go on the internet and listen to audio of Eddie singing along with Hagar during songs like 'When it's Love' (clip here) on their last tour together in 2004. "Ed can't sing, and his voice is shot if he can, from cigarettes and booze anyway."
Sammy also still doubts that the much-discussed new Van Halen album, which would be their first with Roth since 1984, is ever coming out. "I don't think they're ever going to get together with Dave. They've been working on that record for a year and a half or whatever, and they just keep postponing and postponing it."
Watch Van Halen Perform 'Panama' in 2008