SAMMY HAGAR TALKS ABOUT VAN HALEN TO BE ON ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME "COULD GO A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAY"
Gary Graff from Billboard reports that VAN HALEN's appearance at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on March 12 "could go a lot of different ways," according to Sammy Hagar. That said, Hagar — the group's second frontman, from 1985-96 — tells Billboard.com he has high hopes that the famously combative group will take the high road on that particular night.
"My hope is that everyone lets everything go and we go there in complete respect of each other and in a loving way, with the attitude that 'I couldn't have done it without you' towards everybody," says Hagar, who received the official word of VAN HALEN's selection at his Cabo Wabo Cantina in Mexico, where he and VAN HALEN bassist Michael Anthony have spent the past week jamming with RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS drummer Chad Smith in a newly developing side project called CHICKENFOOT.
But he also notes that, "The biggest fear for me is there'll be animosity and 'I won't talk to that guy' and maybe some harsh words towards each other or some sly remarks in speeches ... and it's not out of the question that that could happen. But in the end, no matter what happens, when you hear the music you're gonna go, 'That's one of the greatest rock'n'roll bands in the world, ever, and well-deserved the inauguration into the Hall of Fame."
metal queen DORO was a guest on the German sports TV show "Das aktuelle Sportstudio" (broadcast on the ZDF network) on January 6. She and her friend, WIBF flyweight female boxing world champion Regina Halmich, discussed Halmich's next match, which is scheduled to take place on January 13 at the Brandberge Arena in Halle/Saale, Germany. Halmich will be defending her title against Hungarian Reka Kempf. Doro also performed her song "She's like Thunder", which she wrote and recorded as a theme song for Halmich's fights. A new version of the song, re-titled "We're like Thunder", featuring Halmich, was released in September 2005 via AFM Records.
Check out the interview and performance footage at this location (click "Start").
Due on March 6 via Relapse Records, 'Open Fire' was recorded at The Etching Tin Studios in Richmond, VA with engineer Ian Whalen and is the group's first record to feature new vocalist Kyle Thomas (ex-EXHORDER, FLOODGATE).
Commented drummer Bryan Cox: "We worked harder on this record than on anything we've ever done and grew a ton as a band in the process of doing so, including hooking up with Kyle, who is absolutely the best vocalist I've ever worked with. We had a 'no-bullshit' policy in mind when we started writing 'Open Fire' and I think it shows. It's straight-forward, honest and mean, and that's what we were going for from the start. I'm very excited about it!"
Thomas added: "It is so good to be back doing what I love most... These songs run a wide spectrum of emotions and I believe that there are some truly special moments on this [album] that pleased my soul. Ian has really pulled something better from us."
