VAN HALEN News Desk reports:

"One week from today we will all be hearing the brand new song from Van Halen, titled, 'Tattoo'. Their new album is due February 7th (the album title is still a secret, believe it or not)!

Another bit of exclusive news – Van Halen’s tour begins as soon as next month! It will kick off in Louisville, KY. The full list of tourdates for the first leg of shows should be revealed soon (anytime between now and when the tickets go on sale January 10th).

Enjoy another exclusive photo of rock’s greatest frontman and greatest guitar player (at left)! Stay tuned to VHND.com for more exclusive details."

Andy Greene of RollingStone.com recently reported that journalists across New York have been invited to a Van Halen concert at the Cafe Wha? in Greenwich Village this Thursday, January 5th. Though nothing is official, word is the band are going to perform a 45-minute set. The group hasn't played in public since the end of their 2007/'08 reunion tour with original frontman David Lee Roth, though they have been rehearsing for their upcoming world tour at the Roxy in Los Angeles for the past few months.

The 250-seat Cafe Wha? may seem like an unlikely place for Van Halen to launch their new tour, but the club has an important family connection to David Lee Roth. His uncle Manny Roth owned and operated the venue, providing a stage to then-up-and-coming acts such as Jimi Hendrix, Bill Cosby, Bob Dylan, Richard Pryor and many others.

Click here for further details.

Interscope/Universal will release the as-yet-untitled new Van Halen album on February 7th in North America. Interscope/Universal Japan will release the album a day later as a regular version plus limited deluxe with a bonus DVD will be available. The first single and video from the album will be released on January 10th.

Van Halen will be hitting the road in 2012 and the first tickets will go on sale January 10th. Dates will be announced soon.