Irving Azoff, manager of Eddie, Alex and Wolfgang Van Halen, has debunked a rumor singer David Lee Roth has spread in recent interviews that rockers Van Halen will perform “probably 50, 60 shows” in Europe beginning at the end of this year. “Nothing’s been discussed yet,” Azoff tells Rolling Stone. “Why would he say this? Hey, Dave’s a talkative guy. Why don’t you call and ask him?”
The band had to abruptly cancel a tour of Japan last August when guitarist Van Halen developed severe diverticulitis and his reps predicted he’d need four to six months to recover. Azoff emphasizes that the band’s only scheduled shows remain two April festival dates with Billy Joel in Australia, three June dates in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan, and a headlining gig at the Rock USA festival in July in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Would Van Halen possibly do a broader tour, or more dates in 2013? “Not unless something special comes up,” Azoff says. “It certainly won’t be a tour of Europe.”
Roth said on SiriusXM’s Opie and Anthony show Monday, “I am frankly surprised that these [tour dates] happened now. I think probably . . . they had designs on somebody else . . . or somebody else got sick, because we are here to save the day. These are big shows – these are like 50-70,000 person shows. And they’re just coming together fast, which says, hmm . . . probably somebody else bowed out or somebody else took ill.”
Azoff says none of Roth’s declarations about the “big shows” are true, although the band is beginning to rehearse for the Australian gigs.
Roth could not be reached by Rolling Stone for a comment.
Former Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr died last night at the age of 56. Burr had been suffering from multiple sclerosis, and he died in his sleep.
“This is terribly sad news,” said Maiden founder/bassist Steve Harris on the group’s official site. “Clive was a very old friend of all of us. He was a wonderful person and an amazing drummer who made a valuable contribution to Maiden in the early days when we were starting out. This is a sad day for everyone in the band and those around him and our thoughts and condolences are with his partner Mimi and family at this time.”
Born on March 8th, 1957, in East Ham, London, Burr was a member of another up-and-coming British metal band, Samson, before joining Maiden in 1979. As one of the leaders of the “New Wave of British Heavy Metal” (which included such groups as Def Leppard, Saxon and Diamond Head), Maiden quickly showcased a sound that, early on, merged the energy of punk with the power of metal.
It was Burr’s drumming that proved a major ingredient on such early Maiden classics as 1980’s self-titled debut, 1981’s Killers and 1982’s The Number of the Beast, and such headbanging anthems as Running Free, Wrathchild and Run to the Hills. However, during this early era, Maiden members would often come and go, and by December 1982, Burr had exited the group – just as they were about to become a global stadium headliner.
After leaving Maiden, Burr appeared on recordings by such metal acts as Trust, Stratus, Gogmagog, Elixir, Desperado (which included Twisted Sister singer Dee Snider) and Praying Mantis. Burr was eventually diagnosed with MS, and his former Maiden bandmates came to his aid by performing charity concerts and helping to form the Clive Burr MS Trust Fund. In the last years of his life, Burr was confined to a wheelchair.
“I first met Clive when he was leaving Samson and joining Iron Maiden,” added Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson on the group’s site. “He was a great guy and a man who really lived his life to the full. Even during the darkest days of his MS, Clive never lost his sense of humor or irreverence. This is a terribly sad day and all our thoughts are with Mimi and the family.”
Deep Purple have released an official lyric video for the song All The Time In The World and can be seen below.
The tune will be on the band’s 19th studio album, Now What?!, which will be released through earMUSIC, on the following dates:
* Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Finland, Spain: April 26th
* UK, France, Benelux, Poland, Czech Republic, Norway, Denmark: April 29th
* North America, Italy: April 30th
* Sweden: May 1st
Now What?! will also be released as a limited edition with a bonus DVD featuring DEEP PURPLE discussing the new album and one bonus studio cover version. It will also be made available as a double vinyl LP.
Mötley Crüe singer Vince Neil was hospitalized in Sydney on Sunday night (March 10th) after the 52-year-old singer had a kidney stone attack during the band’s performance at Allphones Arena.
According to a Setlist.fm report, the band performed a handful of songs during the Sydney show before Neil left the stage. Bassist Nikki Sixx reportedly told the crowd that the singer was in pain and had been taken to a nearby hospital.
Guitarist Mick Mars later confirmed that Neil was suffering from kidney stones and apologized for the shortened set on Twitter. “Sydney, my apologies for a short set this evening. Vince had an attack of kidney stones. He went straight from stage to the hospital,” Mars wrote.
Mötley Crüe, currently co-headlining their tour with KISS, is scheduled to continue its trek through Australia on Tuesday night in Brisbane. “If there is a way to safely perform, [Neil] always does,” band manager Allen Kovac told CNN. “In nearly 20 years of managing Motley Crue, I can’t recall a show the band has canceled.”
Highlights from the two hour conversation appear below as transcribed and edited by myself for the site. I apologize in advance for any errors on my part, I tried to do my best.
Roth discussing how the members of Van Halen are getting along and is there any conflict?:
“There is always conflict, I am not going to sugar coat it. In our band there is a constant back and forth, and at the same time, I think everybody’s more than old enough to really respect what we have been allowed to do…We just [keep] coming back.
..For Edward and I, there’s a lot of whatever that chemical that is in guys, we’ve never lost it. We are both competitive with ourselves personally to an [almost] obsessive compulsive [degree]. With or without Eddie Van Halen in my life, a lot of time is spent with my head in my hands going, ‘Come on Dave, come on,’ and [Eddie does] just as much, if not more so. But, when we come together there is that mutual support of ‘Wow, boy am I glad I met you. Wow!’ We’ve done some great stuff together and that also combines with ‘I think you’re in my space.’… The conflict was there from day one. It sustained from day one and has lasted for 35 years. Not a note from the symphony has changed. [But], it is that conflict [and] collision, that is the sound of Van Halen. It’s a mutual push/pull that can be found on the most colorful football [and] baseball teams.”
Speaking about how Wolfgang [Van Halen] is working out:
“He’s doing great. We had a great year of touring on the road.”
Does Wolfgang ever side with his father in times of conflict?:
“No, there is no side any more. In terms of picking the songs, it’s like a great pizza place, whatever’s on top, it’s all good.”
On his relationship with former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony:
“We have no problems. I am proud of the stuff we did in the past. The vocals in Van Halen are as easily important as the rhythm section, production, what have you.”
Discussing why Roth opted for a solo career after the band’s 1984 album:
“The band was in disarray and we were all guilty and all the usual reasons why bands break up. It had a great effect on me..At this point in time, I have come full circle and I got a lot of those wild oats and crazy ideas out. I have gone out into the territory and came back. Now, I like things a little more predictable, and with Van Halen, I have that.”
Does Van Halen perform any David Lee Roth material live?:
“No. That’s Van Halen time.”
On guitarist Steve Vai, who was in Roth’s solo band:
“Steve came out of nowhere. He had been working in the shadows for a little bit with Frank Zappa, of all people. But, since then, he has really built a career.”
Speaking about whether there was competition between Van Halen featuring Sammy Hagar and Dave’s solo band:
“The one thing I learned from Richard Nixon was,’Never pay attention to the press. Never pay attention to reviews. Never look at pictures of yourself and try not to look at the competition much,’ and I have been pretty successful with that….In Rock N’ Roll we never really competed with other bands. We want to be the one you remember at the end of the night, but, you know, it wasn’t like sports. I was surprised when the competition between Van Halen and my solo band sprang up. I think that was a lot of our market friends getting involved. But, the band and I knew, that somewhere, ultimately, we were going to be back together at some point. They have to give us a star in some cement in front of some Vegas hotel someday. But, other bandmembers and other agents get involved and then it becomes a sling fest.”
Discussing how it felt to go from playing in front of 20,000 people to playing in front of 2,000 people:
“That will make you look in a mirror and confront exactly everything you don’t want to confront. ‘Mirror, mirror on the bathroom sink, you used to say my shit didn’t stink, you bitch.'”
Speaking about whether he ever ran out of money:
“No, but I did have to stay working. Playing state fairs, casinos, clubs, theaters, etc.. You what though? I do miss those state fairs, they’re a hoot.”
Did he ever get along with Sammy Hagar?:
“Um, no…well, define long.”
What about the Sam and Dave tour?:
“[That] was a collision course as well. We had our antagonisms, but…I think it was his people…I think our change up was dignified until agents, managers and other people got involved.”
Diamond Dave Lee Roth was a recent guest on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast. Hosts Rogan and Brian Redban spoke to Roth about topics including: nutrition, smoking, his famous jump-kicks, songwriting, and the Van Halen reunion.
 after the 52-year-old singer had a kidney stone attack during the band's performance at Allphones Arena. ... )
 Sirius/XM's The Opie And Anthony Show. Highlights from the two hour conversation appear below as transcribed and edited by myself for the site. I ... )
