MelodicRock.com (http://melodicrock.com/) report that with the reunion having been announced, the tour dates having been posted and the tickets selling fast, it's all good in the world of VAN HALEN.
But the band remains extremely quiet, choosing a low key approach over one of hype and mass exposure.
It seems the band will be content on letting the music and their upcoming live performances speak for themselves. There will be little - if any - media interviews for either the tour or the Best Of Volume 2 release.
It seems the band is well aware of the many questions that have arisen over the past few years and don't plan on addressing those anytime soon! Rather, they plan on just getting out there, playing and putting the past where it belongs.
Work continues on Van Halen's Best Of Volume 2 release. Confirmed for release sometime in early June (June 8th seems to be holding firm), the collection is - at this stage - set to mirror the format of the band's first compilation package, Best Of Volume 1.
MelodicRock.com have been sent some details of the package from a long time contact, but state that these details are not yet finalized and true to form within the music industry (and Van Halen), any or all details could change at the last minute.
It seems Best Of Volume 2 will follow the same format of chronologically organized Volume 1. That is Roth tracks moving into Hagar tracks and finishing with the new tracks. There are a couple of rumors that the compilation could be expanded to a 2CD set - and that the release may feature one unreleased DAVID LEE ROTH track from the sessions that took place in 2000. But those two points remain rumor only.
Current information reveals that at this stage the CD is a one disc compilation, just as Best Of Volume 1 was. And the tracks under consideration for the set include: ‘You Really Got Me’, ‘Ice Cream Man’, ‘Beautiful Girls’, ‘Everybody Wants Some’, ‘Mean Street’, ‘So This Is Love’, ‘I'll Wait’, ‘Hot For Teacher’, ‘Best Of Both Worlds’, ‘Love Walks In’, ‘Summer Nights’, ‘Finish What Ya Started’, ‘Black And Blue’, ‘Runaround’ and ‘Top Of The World’.
What will create great debate is news that two Gary Cherone era tracks are also under consideration. They are apparently: ‘Without You’ and ‘Fire In The Hole’. Please note that this is not the final track listing, but rather the tracks in the front running for inclusion, as sent to MelodicRock.com by reliable sources.
Sources suggest the Cherone material could be dropped altogether, with Warner trying to keep the track listing to 16 songs. Then of course we have the two new tracks - which seems to be the favored option by the label - despite the band recording three new tracks. There is little info on these tracks. It seems the two tracks that are to be included on the new Best Of are both rockers! One of them was described first hand: ‘It's About Time’ is a rock track and apparently "vintage" Van Halen, but with a "modern" sound and a "progressive/techno twist" and some very fitting and funny lyrics.
The new tracks are being produced by Glenn Ballard. Glenn was also at the helm of the new tracks included on Best Of Volume 1. Apparently the album art has two possibilities. One is to be the same as Best Of Volume 1, but with the colors reversed (gold background with black logo and letters). Another possibility is the same logo look, but with an Eddie guitar design as the background. Now that sounds interesting, as the USA Today advertisement featured a similar pattern, as does the updated Van-Halen.com website.
But the band remains extremely quiet, choosing a low key approach over one of hype and mass exposure.
It seems the band will be content on letting the music and their upcoming live performances speak for themselves. There will be little - if any - media interviews for either the tour or the Best Of Volume 2 release.
It seems the band is well aware of the many questions that have arisen over the past few years and don't plan on addressing those anytime soon! Rather, they plan on just getting out there, playing and putting the past where it belongs.
Work continues on Van Halen's Best Of Volume 2 release. Confirmed for release sometime in early June (June 8th seems to be holding firm), the collection is - at this stage - set to mirror the format of the band's first compilation package, Best Of Volume 1.
MelodicRock.com have been sent some details of the package from a long time contact, but state that these details are not yet finalized and true to form within the music industry (and Van Halen), any or all details could change at the last minute.
It seems Best Of Volume 2 will follow the same format of chronologically organized Volume 1. That is Roth tracks moving into Hagar tracks and finishing with the new tracks. There are a couple of rumors that the compilation could be expanded to a 2CD set - and that the release may feature one unreleased DAVID LEE ROTH track from the sessions that took place in 2000. But those two points remain rumor only.
Current information reveals that at this stage the CD is a one disc compilation, just as Best Of Volume 1 was. And the tracks under consideration for the set include: ‘You Really Got Me’, ‘Ice Cream Man’, ‘Beautiful Girls’, ‘Everybody Wants Some’, ‘Mean Street’, ‘So This Is Love’, ‘I'll Wait’, ‘Hot For Teacher’, ‘Best Of Both Worlds’, ‘Love Walks In’, ‘Summer Nights’, ‘Finish What Ya Started’, ‘Black And Blue’, ‘Runaround’ and ‘Top Of The World’.
What will create great debate is news that two Gary Cherone era tracks are also under consideration. They are apparently: ‘Without You’ and ‘Fire In The Hole’. Please note that this is not the final track listing, but rather the tracks in the front running for inclusion, as sent to MelodicRock.com by reliable sources.
Sources suggest the Cherone material could be dropped altogether, with Warner trying to keep the track listing to 16 songs. Then of course we have the two new tracks - which seems to be the favored option by the label - despite the band recording three new tracks. There is little info on these tracks. It seems the two tracks that are to be included on the new Best Of are both rockers! One of them was described first hand: ‘It's About Time’ is a rock track and apparently "vintage" Van Halen, but with a "modern" sound and a "progressive/techno twist" and some very fitting and funny lyrics.
The new tracks are being produced by Glenn Ballard. Glenn was also at the helm of the new tracks included on Best Of Volume 1. Apparently the album art has two possibilities. One is to be the same as Best Of Volume 1, but with the colors reversed (gold background with black logo and letters). Another possibility is the same logo look, but with an Eddie guitar design as the background. Now that sounds interesting, as the USA Today advertisement featured a similar pattern, as does the updated Van-Halen.com website.