In a new in-depth Billboard interview (found here) on the inner workings (and not) of Van Halen, guitarist/co-founder Eddie Van Halen makes the claim that "Every note Mike ever played, I had to show him how to play," referring to former bassist Michael Anthony.  

He goes on to say that “before we’d go on tour, he’d come over with a video camera and I’d have to show him how to play all the parts.”

Those comments have rubbed former Van Halen singer Sammy Hagar the wrong way, who remains close friends with Anthony and continues to share the stage with him. He voices his thoughts on Eddie Van Halen's comments below:

 

In Defense of Mikey

During an interview with Sammy someone read what Eddie said about Mikey in Billboard and here’s Sammy's spontaneous response that he wanted to share in defense of his brother.Original Billboard article: http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/6605231/eddie-van-halen-addiction-david-lee-roth-touring

Posted by Sammy Hagar (The Red Rocker) on Friday, June 19, 2015

During a recent appearance on Eddie Trunk's Podcast, former Van Halen vocalist Sammy Hagar - who is currently fronting The Circle alongside ex-Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony, guitarist Vic Johnson, and drummer Jason Bonham -  claims that the other half of his previous band, guitarist Eddie Van Halen and drummer Alex Van Halen, are attempting to prohibit him from performing songs that he co-wrote and sang on originally; specifically the hits from the albums: 5150, OU812, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, and Balance. The complete interview with Sammy Hagar can be heard via the audio player below; a portion has been transcribed.

"We sold 47 million records, whatever it was, together, we had all those number ones. Those are great songs: 'Right Now', 'When It's Love', freakin' 'Finish What You Started'. Just keep going down the line, man. It's, like, these are great songs that need to be played for the people that supported it during the era."

"If you wanna know the truth, I'm gonna tell you something that's gonna stir everything and everybody up so bad, you're not gonna believe it. Eddie and Alex Van Halen are trying to stop me from being able to even play those songs. They have had attorneys and people say, 'No, he can't play 'em.' Like, sometimes you need permission to play something, like on TV and stuff, and they say, 'No.' And they will actually fight legally to try to stop me. And I'm going crazy. I'm going, 'I'm gonna break these guys' neck.' It's like they're so jealous that they can't do 'em, and they don't want 'em to be heard, because they wanna pretend it never happened because of what they're doing now. And it's, like, when I just got wind of this, I'm going nuts. And so I've hired an attorney, and I'm gonna fight these guys to the end. Those are my songs. I wrote every lyric and every freakin' melody on every one of those songs. And for them guys to say that I can't sing my own songs, oh my God — I'm going crazy."

"But for The Circle, we will play them songs all day and all night, because nobody's gonna walk out on stage and tell me, 'Sorry, sir, you can't sing this song.' 'Cause I'd beat their ass!"