Van Halen’s Last Interview During Failed Reunion

The 1996 MTV VMA incident saw a disastrous, tense reunion appearance by Van Halen with David Lee Roth, which was meant as a “testing the waters” for a full reunion. However, it blew up in awkward interviews and backstage drama.

When host Dennis Miller announced reunited members of Van Halen, the crowd at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards went crazy. Little did they know how crazy the relationships between David Lee Roth and his estranged bandmates still were, even after a decade apart.

Earlier in the year, Sammy Hagar left the group. The band was without a frontman as the members worked to record a few new tracks for Van Halen’s first greatest hits compilation.

Because the collection would include selections from Roth’s tenure in the band, Warner Bros. Records contacted the singer to notify him of the forthcoming release. This prompted Roth to call Eddie for the first time in years, and the two agreed to put aside hurt feelings and attempt recording a couple tracks together. The band recorded two new songs: “Me Wise Magic” and “Can’t Get This Stuff No More.”

At the MTV VMAs, after making their entrance, and getting a huge reaction, Anthony and the Van Halen brothers appeared more interested in getting to the business of presenting the Best Male Video.

However, Roth seemed to relish the moment. The friction between an embarrassed Eddie and a grandstanding Roth was palpable, with the former even physically pulling the latter away from the mic.