For VAN HALEN, the stars seemed aligned for a triumphant 2007. Next month, the group will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the plan was to follow that with a summer reunion tour that would feature David Lee Roth back at the mike for the first time since the Reagan years.
But, once again, the backstage soap opera of VAN HALEN is the story of the day.
The VAN HALEN tour has been "shut down," according to a top official at Live Nation, the huge concert promoter that finally surrendered in the face of the chaos surrounding guitar hero Eddie Van Halen. Roth, meanwhile, says he is unsure whether the mercurial guitarist will even travel to New York for the Hall of Fame induction on March 12.
"We have fragile politics in VAN HALEN; please accept that as a partial answer," Roth said. "But I don't know if the Van Halens are going to go....I hope they do, but right now, I just don't know. Hope springs eternal."
Eddie Van Halen declined interviews through his publicist and girlfriend, Janie Liszewski. Conversations with the business team behind the tour paint a picture of a rock star who is somewhere between Axl Rose and Michael Jackson on the music industry scale of eccentric recluses. The result is that the VAN HALEN venture imploded before takeoff, even as THE POLICE, THE EAGLES and GENESIS have efficiently geared up for lucrative reunion tours.
"I cannot tell you how frustrating and completely nuts this has been," one key business figure in the tour said while asking not to be identified on the outside chance that the reunion might be salvaged. "Right now, I have to say, I don't see that happening."
Each track from MANOWAR's new album, Gods Of War, is available for purchase ($1.25 per song) here.
Gods Of War is Manowar’s first entry in a cycle of concept albums; each a tribute to a different war god. Opening with the epic piece 'Overture To The Hymn Of The Immortal Warriors', the tone is set for an album beyond anything Manowar has done before. This album honors Odin - almighty father of the Norse gods - and details the history and exploits of this storied character. His power and wisdom were unmatched among the gods and he is paid tribute with human sacrifice on the battlefield, as heard in the song 'The Sons Of Odin', the stomping title track 'Gods Of War' and the storytelling 'The Blood Of Odin'.
The first dates of The Police's 30th anniversary reunion tour sold out in a matter of minutes, prompting the band to announce several additional North American shows. The tour's producer, Arthur Vogel of TNA International, told Billboard that the sales were "pretty damn hot," and added that "We knew (interest) was strong, but it's always nice to see it unfold in reality. I'm ecstatic."
The newly added Police concert dates are:
June 13 - Oakland, CA - McAfee Coliseum
June 23 - Los Angeles, CA - Dodger Stadium
July 23 - Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre
July 26 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
July 29 - Boston, MA - Fenway Park
August 5 - East Rutherford, NJ - Giants Stadium
The Police kick off their North American tour on May 28th in Vancouver, British Columbia at the General Motors Place.
