Van Halen Reportedly NOT Appearing at Grammy Nominations Show After All
Silly us, assuming that a post on the official twitter account for the Grammys -- "Who do you predict the reuniting band will be @ GRAMMYnoms? Does this hint make you wanna 'Jump' & 'Dance The Night Away?'" -- suggested that Van Halen would appear onstage Nov. 30 at the Grammy nominations show to announce their reunion plans. A source tells Rolling Stone magazine that a VH Grammy show appearance is not in the cards, although a spokesperson for the Grammys did not immediately respond to a comment request.
That said, Rolling Stone does confirm reports that Van Halen have signed with Santa Monica, Calif.-based Interscope Records, which means the band's next album will be the band’s first ever not to be released by their longtime label, Warner Brothers. The as-yet-untitled disc, which will also be the first full-length platter with original lead singer David Lee Roth since 1984′s aptly-title ’1984,’ has a rumored February release date.
Van Halen were expected to sign with Columbia Records, but reportedly were pursued heavily by Interscope chairman Jimmy Iovine, who according to the The Hollywood Insider, "heard the band was available and wanted to work with them. It was decided at the 11th hour.” VH were presented with a 360 deal that included marketing, merchandising, touring and recording revenues.
A source told The Hollywood Insider that the Columbia deal was doomed simply because singer David Lee Roth wanted to sign with a West Coast-based label. "He was never on board [with Columbia]," the source revealed. "It was as complicated as anyone would imagine, when one side says black, the other says white. The label was pretty skeptical that things would work out."
We know about DLR's thing for 'California Girls,' but West Coast labels? We can't even think of something witty to say about that one.