Van Halen: The Next 'Rock Star'?

(Feb. 12, 10:50AM ET) -- Sources tell TMZ Van Halen is in the market for a new lead singer, and the marketplace will be the upcoming reality show 'Rock Star: The Series.'

Last October, Van Halen reps vehemently denied the band would use 'Rock Star' in a talent search for a new lead singer. The reps are now singing a different tune. Van Halen publicist Larry Solters told TMZ: "I'm not denying it. I'm not going to answer any questions about it."

Last year, the band INXS used 'Rock Star' to find a new lead singer. J.D. Fortune won the competition, and the band is now making a comeback with a hit new album and a sold-out tour.

As for Van Halen, the group has had three lead singers since it hit the scene back in 1978: David Lee Roth, who left the band in 1985, Sammy Hagar, who split in 1995, and Gary Cherone, who did just one album and tour with the band in 1998.

The next season of 'Rock Star,' produced by Mark Burnett for CBS, is scheduled to air during the summer. Neither Burnett nor CBS would comment on the Van Halen buzz.

DC Slater

I love(d) Van Halen too. I missed the 2004 tour though. VH3 wasn't that bad music - but it wasn't Van Halen.

To me, it would beneath them to do Rock Star - but it would fit.

Sammy was upset that it took them months to only finish those 3 songs - he thought Eddie wasn't going fast enough.

Dave wants back in the band - but they apparently don't want him back.

BIue Moon

re: blow up your computer

Your post made me think of the AC/DC song - blow up the radio (or something like that) - I think I have it on my iPod, must check.

The video was very funny.

Keniko

I picked up my copy of Guitar World at Jewel - had the cd enclosed (shrink wrapped).

Do The Stu

re: Van Halen / Rock Star

I saw Sammy as a solo act last spring - very good show.

I have seen Van Halen together (1993 I think) - good show.

But on Rock Star - I think that would be embarassing for them and for us (the fans).

I watched 2-3 episodes of the INXS series - wasn't too impressed with it. Didn't like any of the contestants anyway.

How about other rock stars, to try out to be the next lead singer?

Donald Rumsfeld is briefing president Bush: "Yesterday, 3 Brazilian soldiers were killed."

"Oh no!" exclaims the president, "that's terrible!"

His staff is stunned at this unprecedented display of emotion, watching as Bush sits, head in hands.

Keniko

Knock, knock

Who's there?

You ever hear the joke about the broken pencil?

You ever hear the joke about the broken pencil who?

webmaster

Podcast - is it possible to download it onto an iPod - or though iTunes?

I had no problems downloading the video or audio - but would like to have it in my pod.

Any ideas?

I understand - that it may not be possible.

I just saw the directions on the bottom of the page - thanks for thinking ahead for people like me Mr. Webmaster.

The Preacher is Leaving

The Preacher explains that he must move on to a larger congregation that will pay him more.

There is a hush within the congregation. No one wants him to leave.

Joe Smith, who owns several car dealerships in the city, stands up and proclaims: "If the Preacher stays, I will provide him with a new Cadillac every year and his wife with a Honda mini-van to transport their children!"

The congregation sighs in appreciation, and applauds.

Sam Brown, a successful entrepreneur and investor, stands and says: "If the Preacher will stay on here, I'll personally double his salary, and also establish a foundation to guarantee the college education of all his children!"

More sighs and loud applause.

Sadie Jones, age 88, stands and announces with a smile, "If the preacher stays, I will give him sex."

There is total silence.

The Preacher, blushing, asks her: "Mrs. Jones, whatever possessed you to say that?"

Sadie's 90 year old husband Jake is now trying to hide, holding his forehead with the palm of his hand and shaking his head from side to side while his wife replies: "Well, I just asked my husband how we could help, and he said,......

"Screw the preacher!"

kmittleman

I have a few autographed things from Joe. One I got from his management company (send them a letter, self-addressed stamped envelope) and a few months later - in the mail arrived a nice signed photo and a pic.

I have also gotten Joe's autograph at one of my local music stores - he stopped in for an event - they took pictures and I was able to get 1 thing autographed.

I also met him after one of the shows (platnium package) and got 2 pictures with him and my ticket and pass signed.

My anal-retentive boss scheduled a two-hour meeting with me to talk about the meanings of "meticulous," "conscientious" and "focused," but I pretty much tuned out after the first five minutes.

"Holy Terror, Batman!" Superhero takes on Al-Qaeda

NEW YORK (AFP) - Bored with pitting his wits against the Joker and the Riddler, Batman is setting his sights on a more challenging target -- Osama bin Laden.

"Holy Terror, Batman!" an upcoming graphic novel from famed Batman writer Frank Miller, sees the caped crusader facing off against Al-Qaeda operatives who attack Gotham City.

Miller, who has already inked his way through 120 pages of the 200-page opus, told a recent comic book convention that the novel was an unashamed "piece of propaganda" in which Batman "kicks Al-Qaeda's ass."

The driving force behind the work, Miller said, was "an explosion from my gut reaction of what's happening now."

Holy Terror is "a reminder to people who seem to have forgotten who we're up against," he said in remarks posted on the entertainment website, IGN.com.

A 20-year comic book veteran, Miller became one of the best known names in the industry with the graphic novel "Dark Knight Returns," in which he brought Batman out of retirement.

He was also the creator of the graphic novel series "Sin City," which was turned into a hit movie of the same name last year directed by Miller, Robert Rodriguez, and Quentin Tarantino.

Miller said the use of comic book heroes for propaganda had an honourable tradition.

"Superman punched out Hitler. So did Captain America. That's one of the things they're there for," he said.

"These are our folk heroes," he added. "It just seems silly to chase around the Riddler when you've got Al-Qaeda out there."

miichelle

I saw Motley last summer - good show. I was bothered that there were some 10 year olds or so there (with parents doing pot), but the music was great.

FDA is urged to ban treated meat Carbon monoxide helps food look fresh longer, but safety debated

Picture two steaks on a grocer's shelf, each hermetically sealed in clear plastic wrap. One is bright pink, rimmed with a crescent of pearly white fat. The other is brown, its fat the color of a smoker's teeth.

Which do you reach for?

The meat industry knows the answer, which is why it has quietly begun to spike meat packages with carbon monoxide.

michelle

Every Motley show I have been to recently (last 3 tours - except when they toured with Megadeth) - young kids were there with parents. Parents were wasted or drunk.

Last summer, the 2 kids just sat there - about ages 9 and 13 or so - especially during when Tommy was using his camera. The look on the daughter's face said it all - shocked, outraged, ect. I was too.

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.

"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

2. My mother taught me RELIGION.

"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.

"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

4. My mother taught me LOGIC.

"Because I said so, that's why."

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC. "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT. "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

7. My mother taught me IRONY. "Keep crying and I'll give you something to cry about."

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS. "Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM. "Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

10. My mother taught me about! STAMINA . "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER. "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

12 My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY. "If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE. "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. "Stop acting like your father!"

15. M! y mother taught me about ENVY. "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION. "Just wait until we get home."

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING. "You are going to get it when you get home!"

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE. "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."

19. My mother taught me ESP. "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

20. My mother taught me HUMOR. "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.

"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

22. My mother taught me GENETICS. "You're just like your father."

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS. "Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

24. My mother taught me WISDOM. "When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

Leaked Guns N' Roses Tracks Give Fans Hope

NEW YORK - Guns N' Roses fans went into frenzied overdrive when three studio-quality tracks from the mythical "Chinese Democracy" album were leaked onto the Internet.

The leaks came just weeks after frontman Axl Rose ended his hermit-like lifestyle by venturing out to a Korn tour launch party in Los Angeles and to trendy nightclubs for some post-birthday bashes (his 44th) in Manhattan.

Asked at the Korn bash about "Chinese Democracy," which has been in the making for a decade, Rose told Rolling Stone.com that "people will hear music this year."

The tracks leaked Wednesday take a different direction from Rose's traditional raunchy Sunset Strip-style rock. "Better" has emo/industrial touches mixed with Rose's trademark vocals and hard rock backdrop. "There Was A Time" is a rough studio mix of a power ballad with similarities to GNR's classic "Estranged." "IRS" is closer to the sound of yesteryear, with powerful guitar solos and classic rock flavor.

Rose's manager, Merck Mercuriadis, ordered the Internet sites to remove the links, but declined to comment on them. Fans also sent one of the leaked tracks to radio stations. Mercuriadis said cease-and-desist orders were sent to the stations, but some, such as WAAF in Boston, still had "IRS" in heavy rotation Monday night.

News also surfaced Monday that several music festivals, such as the Rock in Rio-Lisboa and the NovaRock festival in Austria, had booked the band to play in May and June, respectively.

Lisa Reed, wife of keyboard player Dizzy Reed, said on her husband's web site that "all signs point to (the album) getting closer and closer," and she pleaded with fans not to leak the rest of the album.

Namm Man

cuthbert1776

PhryDom

Thanks for the link - just got finished with all 13 songs.

achoo

Good to see you around here again.

I am very exicited about Joe's new cd and tour.

Planet's Population to Hit 6.5 Billion Saturday Leonard David

A population milestone is about to be set on this jam-packed planet.

On Saturday, Feb. 25, at 7:16 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, the population here on this good Earth is projected to hit 6.5 billion people.

achoo

There will be a Wednesday and Thursday night concert !!

What animal should you never play cards with?