It's Official, VH to Reunite w/David Lee Roth for Summer Tour!

So this is incredible news, no doubt. Van Halen, after 20 years apart are finally reuniting with David Lee Roth for a 40 date summer tour. And if you're a longtime fan like I am, it's VERY exciting news. Oh who am I kidding, it's exciting for any fan of Rock and Roll. It really is a moment to note in rock history. Or at least should be. The problem is that the reunion is tainted a bit because of Eddie's moronic decision to excise bassist Michael Anthony from the band and replace him with his 15 year old son, Wolfgang.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against Wolfgang. Hell, i'm even curious to see what musical chops the offspring of one of the world's greatest guitarists has. But let's be honest, the kid has only been playing bass for 4 months as of this reunion news, and come on, you're gonna kick out a main member of the band after all this time for a 15 year old amateur right before you go on one of the most anticipated reunion tours in rock history? I don't care how much alcohol you have in your system, that's an insane move.

I don't want to hate on this whole reunion, But i'm angry that Mike won't be there. He should be, and the fact he won't is just tremendously frustrating. I'm trying to think of a way Eddie could have shown less respect for Mike, and I just can't come up with one. And forget the actual tour, just think how ridiculous the promo pics will look, 3 legends in their 50's and a 15 year old kid. It'll be absurd.

And now they have the Hall of Fame induction next month. How in the hell is THAT supposed to go? Is Mike supposed to show up all smiles with the rest of the guys and be inducted with the band when he was just treated like absolute shit? The whole situation is nuts.

The Mike situation aside, I'm stunned Dave even went for the idea of a reunion with Wolf on bass. Dave's career has struggled for a while now, but the guy has alot of respect for VH, and has always had a good bead on what Van Halen's place is in rock history and what the fans want from the band, so i'm shocked that he went for the idea of going out on a sub-reunion tour surrounded by the all Van Halen family band. It just doesn't sound like something he'd do. *shrug*.. who knows anymore with these guys.

I haven't been alone in waiting years for Dave and Eddie to share a stage again. So I really want to be excited about it, after all, the tour should have the industry buzzing with excitement, but for some reason it's just doesnt have the kind of energy it should because Mike isn't involved. It's just not the reunion it should be. I know, you might be thinking who the hell cares about the bass player? But I think some people underestimate Michael Anthony's importance to the band. He wasn't just the bass player, he was a significant part of the whole VH vocal sound. The band will just not sound or be the same without him on Bass. And it spoils what should be the real reunion fans have been waiting 20+ years for. Talk about a letdown of massive proportions.

I dunno, I haven't decided if i'm going to support this. On one hand I really want to see Ed and Dave onstage together again, or to be more accurate, for the first time. I never saw them with Dave the first time around because I was too young, I do have many bootlegs of the Dave Era, so technically I have, just not live in person. And they're different people now, in a different time, with alot of water still roaring under the bridge, but there's no denying that there is a magic that happens between those guys that doesn't happen when they're apart, You just have to listen to the 2 songs they did on the "Best Of" in '96 for evidence of that. "Me Wise Magic" is arguably one of the greatest VH songs of all time. So If they can bring some of that magic to the stage again this time, it'll be hard to resist. Tainted reunion or not.

Besides, VH fans are kind of like some battered wives. It doesn't seem to matter how badly we're treated, we tend to keep coming back for more.

*sigh*..