About two years ago, former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted unexpectedly revealed that he had been approached for a potential Van Halen reunion, where Joe Satriani would play guitar. This raised eyebrows because fans had expected Michael Anthony or Wolfgang Van Halen to be part of any reunion alongside David Lee Roth and Alex Van Halen.
Recently, Michael Anthony, gearing up for an upcoming tour with Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, and Jason Bonham under the banner of The Best of All Worlds, shared his thoughts on the matter. When asked about the rumored Van Halen reunion that included Jason Newsted, Anthony appeared calm and collected.
“It was really interesting because I didn’t even know about it until I read it in the press,” Anthony shared. “Around that time, I actually received a call from Alex and Dave about the possibility of a reunion.”
“So I’m not sure what was going on there. It seems like it was around the same time they were reportedly talking to Jason. It was intriguing because they reached out to me too. But unfortunately, things fell apart before any plans could materialize.”
Anthony’s comments basically give more detail on the behind-the-scenes discussions and complexities involved in attempting to bring together a legendary band like Van Halen for a reunion. After all, he basically revealed all the challenges, uncertainties, and dynamics at play when considering lineup changes and the desires of different band members.