MICHAEL ANTHONY Says VAN HALEN Reunion Tour Is 'Not Gonna Happen'

Michael Anthony says that his much-rumored reunion tour with VAN HALEN is “not gonna happen.”

A recent rumor has suggested that the original VAN HALEN lineup — including the bassist, who has not played with the band since 2004 — will reunite in 2019 for a run of stadium shows. This would be the first time that the four founding members of the band, including singer David Lee Roth, guitarist Eddie Van Halen and drummer Alex Van Halen, perform together since 1984.

Three days ago, Anthony — who spent much of the last few years on the road with SAMMY HAGAR & THE CIRCLE — posted an Instagram photo of him sitting by a motorhome with an acoustic bass in hand along with the following caption: “A little R&R in the motorhome with the family before the start of The Circle tour with @Sammy-Hagar, @jasonbonham, and@Vic Johnson!! #lovethemotorhome #thecircle #readytorock”

After one fan wrote in the comments below the photo, “Thought the circle was on hold because of VH tour??” Anthony responded, saying: “VH tour not gonna happen”

Anthony‘s THE CIRCLE bandmate Sammy Hagar — himself a former VH member — recently confirmed that Michael was contacted last year by VAN HALEN‘s management about reuniting with the group for a tour.

Anthony said at his past January’s NAMM show in Anaheim, California, that he wasn’t opposed to reuniting with VAN HALEN, adding: “I don’t know what kind of rumors are floating around or whatever, but I personally haven’t been contacted by them yet or anything. So, at this point, nothing is happening. But you never know.”

The rumors originally started with Roth, who hinted to Vulture that VAN HALEN would be playing stadiums this summer with Anthony back in the lineup.

VAN HALEN and Anthony have not been on good terms for more than a decade, with Anthony not invited to join the reunion with Roth that began in 2007. The subsequent two tours and studio album, “A Different Kind Of Truth”, featured Eddie Van Halen‘s son Wolfgang on bass.

Anthony took a pay cut and signed away all of his rights to the band name and logo in order to participate in VAN HALEN‘s 2004 tour, which featured Hagar.

SAMMY HAGAR & THE CIRCLE‘s debut album of original material, “Space Between”, will be released on May 10 through BMG.

View this post on Instagram

A little R&R in the motorhome with the family before the start of The Circle tour with @Sammy-Hagar, @jasonbonham, and@Vic Johnson!! #lovethemotorhome #thecircle #readytorock

A post shared by Michael Anthony (@mad_anthony_bassman) on Mar 27, 2019 at 9:51am PDT