One year ago … today

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/26/us-vanhalen-idUSTRE7BP0PR20111226

Van Halen unveils new tour with Roth aboard
LOS ANGELES | Mon Dec 26, 2011 6:34pm EST

(Reuters) – Veteran rockers Van Halen unveiled plans on Monday for a tour with original lead singer David Lee Roth returning to the stage.

In a video posted on the band’s website, http://www.van-halen.com, Eddie Van Halen, brother Alex and son Wolfgang play the hit “Panama” while Roth runs around on stage. Underneath reads “Van Halen On Tour 2012″ with tickets going on sale January 10.

No other details were announced, but the video confirms music industry buzz that the band is together again with Roth. An album is said to be in the works, too, after Van Halen signed a record deal in November.

A separate posting on the Van Halen News Desk website said the video was shot at the Roxy Theatre along Los Angeles’ Sunset Strip while the band performed “a brand-new song.”

The news site speculated about a possible February release date for a new song or album, and said the record was produced by Ross Hogarth. It is the band’s first full album with Roth since the CD “1984,” which was released on December 31, 1983.

Van Halen’s relationship with Roth has been a stormy one over the years. Roth left the band in a bitter breakup in 1985, only to rejoin for a performance at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1996, then quickly depart in another bitter split. He returned to Van Halen for a tour in 2007-2008.

The band, whose early hits include “Runnin’ With the Devil” and “Dance the Night Away,” was among the leading rock acts of the late 1970s, 1980s and into the 1990s when Sammy Hagar replaced Roth as singer.

Michael Anthony was the original bassist, but alongside Hagar he has joined another band, Chickenfoot. Wolfgang Van Halen, Eddie’s son, took over on bass.

(Reporting by Bob Tourtellotte)