Van Halen: David Lee Roth Reunion Tour Confirmed

David Lee Roth to Tour with Van Halen

The Taylor Lautner People Magazine cover turned out to be a hoax, but another Christmas-weekend media item is very much true: the David Lee Roth-Van Halen reunion.

Van Halen released three videos on December 26, 2011 (see below) showing David Lee Roth rocking with Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, and Wolfgang Van Halen at the Roxy on LA's storied Sunset Strip.

The Van Halen 2012 tour dates will be specified soon.

Since David Lee Roth was originally kicked out of the band in 1985. He was replaced by Sammy Hagar (then of "I Can't Drive 55" fame).  Hagar remained wiht the band for 11 years, before his own tensions with the Van Halen brothers reached boiling point.

After a temporary reunion with David Lee Roth (i.e. less than a year), Van Halen brought in former Extreme frontman Gary Cherone, who stayed with the band for three years. Warner Brothers, Van Halen's label, pressured Eddie Van Halen to fire Gary Cherone, which he did.

(Dis Gary Cherone all you want, but you're not doing too badly if you have your own "era" in Van Halen history.)

Brief reunions with Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth followed. In 2006, Michal Anthony was kicked out of the band, replaced as bassist by Eddie Van Halen's son Wolfgang.

Now David Lee Roth is back, at least for now. He's looking good, albeit with very short hair. Van Halen is working on a new album, their first with David Lee Roth in 27 years.

Tickets for the 2012 Van Halen tour go on sale beginning January 10, 2012.

Van Halen - Jump Trailer from Van Halen on Vimeo.

Van Halen - Panama Trailer from Van Halen on Vimeo.

Van Halen - Hot For Teacher Trailer from Van Halen on Vimeo.