VAN HALEN Has Not Yet Signed With COLUMBIA

According to the usually reliable unofficial VAN HALEN web site Van Halen News Desk, VAN HALEN has yet to officially ink a deal with Columbia despite rumors that the band had signed with the label after spending its entire 35-year career at Warner Bros. An "inside source" tells VHND.com that "there have indeed been serious talks between the parties, but that, as of today, there is no signed deal," reads a posting on the site.

VAN HALEN's already completed new studio album its first in 27 years to feature original singer David Lee Roth is now expected to arrive early next year.

There has virtually no info from the VAN HALEN camp about album or tour plans. Rumors have also suggested that the band pulled out of an Australian festival tour, which was scheduled to kick off later this month.

ALTER BRIDGE guitarist Mark Tremonti recently said in an interview that he had gotten an opportunity to hear new VAN HALEN music through his friendship with Wolfgang Van Halen, saying it sounded like "vintage VAN HALEN."

Producer Ross Hogarth spoke with Ultimate-Guitar.com about the work he did on the project, saying, "The whole VAN HALEN record has been recorded and we're all excited. I'm really stoked about it, as it is the original band, Eddie and Alex with Wolf [Eddie's son] playing bass, and David Lee Roth singing, it's the killing side of VAN HALEN at the top of their game again with Diamond Dave, and the band on fire."

VAN HALEN reunited with Roth in 2007 for a successful year-long reunion tour minus original bassist Michael Anthony, who now plays with ex-VAN HALEN singer Sammy Hagar in CHICKENFOOT.