Michael Anthony Was ‘Crucified’ By Eddie Van Halen

Eddie Van Halen was critical of Michael Anthony

Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony recently reflected on making Van Halen’s “Balance.” They noted that it was more serious and less fun compared to earlier albums. They credit producers Bruce Fairbairn and Mike Fraser for achieving a polished, modern sound—though it lacked the distinct “Van Halen” character captured by longtime engineer Donn Landee.

Eddie Van Halen’s guitar tone had changed significantly, and while the bass and drums sounded strong, they also felt more generic, like they could belong to any rock band of the era.

Sammy Hagar recalled how tense things were in the studio. Whenever Anthony laid down a bass track, Eddie Van Halen would immediately go in, put it under a microscope, and pick it apart.

Eddie kept insisting on replaying sections, trying to find flaws, even when producer Bruce Fairbairn assured him there was nothing wrong with Anthony’s notes. Sammy Hagar described it as if Eddie wanted to “crucify” Anthony, turning what should have been creative collaboration into constant criticism and pressure.

Sammy said, “So Bruce Fairburn felt the tension between Ed, and me and Mike and Ed. You know, Mike would put a bass part down and Ed would go in there and listen to it like this kind of under a microscope, you know. And you ‘wait, wait, wait. Go back. Go back. Go back’ and Bruce will go, ‘there’s nothing wrong with that note.’ ‘No, let me hear it again.’ I mean, he he just wanted he wanted to crucify Mike.”

Michael Anthony on changes in Van Halen

Michael Anthony said, “Things weren’t so as as not really loose, but live sounding as as it as it was early on, you know, everything was, you know, perfect.”

Anthony felt personally targeted by Eddie, who was relentless in criticizing his bass work, despite there being no real mistakes.

Van Halen’s 1995 album, Balance, was a bit of a departure for the band, foreshadowing the end of their Sammy Hagar era. And their choice in cover art reflected that new tone.

Glen Wexler previously worked on the group’s For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge cover and he was brought in again. The album was originally to be called The Seventh Seal. But then the title was changed to Balance, representing the band’s own quest for internal harmony — which had been increasingly difficult.