MICHAEL ANTHONY Says VAN HALEN's ROCK HALL Induction Was 'A Pretty Bittersweet Thing'

Although both Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2007 with VAN HALEN, the band never performed at the induction since Eddie and Alex Van Halen were no-shows at the event.

Artisan News Service recently caught up with Hagar and Anthony to get their thoughts on the induction.

"You know, it was a pretty bittersweet thing for me," said Anthony "It was uncomfortable. It was one of the greatest nights, you know, one of the biggest accolades a person in the business can have. To be recognized for everything that we've done. I remember turning to Sammy, I think R.E.M. was playing and we were going, 'Man, it should have been us.'" Sammy added, "It could have been. Like the way METALLICA did it this last year, they brought both bass players. The brought the father of the bass player that died, Cliff, and they all played together. That's the way you're supposed to do it at an event like that. So, it wasn't cool, I don't care what anybody says — I'll dog those guys the rest of my life for not doing that — but for me not to be there, or Mike not to be there, are you kidding? Like I said, it would take a shotgun to keep me from being there. It's an honor to be brought into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame and I'm going to show up if I'm invited, you know?! It's as simple as that."

Watch video footage of Hagar and Anthony talking about the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction at this location.

Hagar and Anthony are currently playing together in CHICKENFOOT, which also includes guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS drummer Chad Smith.

CHICKENFOOT's self-titled debut album has sold 247,000 copies in the United States since its June 5 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The LP is packaged in heat-sensitive artwork, which means when you put your hand on the CD inlay, photos of the band members are revealed behind the CHICKENFOOT band logo.

The band will launch its first major North American tour on August 2 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, finishing up on September 27 in Universal City, California.