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David Lee Roth all but confirmed recent statements by Jason Newsted and Joe Satriani regarding a possible Van Halen tribute tour led by Alex Van Halen.
Newsted revealed to The Palm Beach Post last week that he was invited to jam on Van Halen material with Alex and Satriani for a possible tribute tour. The former Metallica bassist said he eventually backed out, worried about negotiating the line between honoring and reinterpreting that classic catalog.
Satriani later confirmed Newsted's revelation, but added that he was "pretty shocked" the bassist let the secret out. Planning was in the early stages and any number of factors could prevent the tour from happening. The guitarist added that the idea for the tour was that it would represent "all the eras of Van Halen."
Roth himself weighed in late-Monday, via an all caps statement released to Van Halen News Desk. He said that a post-Van Halen Van Halen band would require many contingencies. Still, he didn't dismiss the idea.
"IN MY MIND 'VAN HALEN 4K,' IN THE AGE OF COVID IS GOING TO REQUIRE TWO OF US FOR EVERY POSITION," Roth said. "SATRIANI AND [Steve] LUKATHER, [Michael] ANTHONY AND NEWSTED, AL OR TOMMY LEE. PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE WHO COULD DO MY JOB TODAY WOULD BE PINK."
Roth has made few public statements about music since he canceled his farewell residency in Las Vegas this past winter. His mention of the acrobatic popstar P!nk suggest that he has little intention to reschedule his final bows.