VAN HALEN Spokesperson Shoots Down Reports Of New Album And Tour In 2011

Larry Solters, the spokesman for VAN HALEN, has dismissed as "untrue" a report the MelodicRock.com web site that indicated that work on the first VAN HALEN album in more than 25 years with David Lee Roth on vocals was moving forward. The site reported earlier in the week that the band had tapped producer Ross Hogarth (MÖTLEY CRÜE, COAL CHAMBER, FASTER PUSSYCAT, DEVILDRIVER) for the record, which was tentatively due out sometime in 2011. The report also stated that Roth was recording his vocal tracks at a different location than guitarist Eddie Van Halen's "5150" studio, adding that Eddie is "receiving various vocal tracks from the singer, but not always to the guitarist's satisfaction...it's a work in progress between Eddie and Dave."

The report also stated that Eddie had recorded most of the bass parts for the album. The band's touring bassist is his son, Wolfgang, who replaced founding member Michael Anthony.

Solters told MelodicRock.com that there is "no tour on the books" right now and "no new album on the books." He did, however, concede that the guys hung out together "working on stuff," but as of right now — there will be no album or tour in 2011.

Music publishing company Warner/Chappell Music announced in August that it had extended its publishing administration contract with guitarist Eddie Van Halen and drummer Alex Van Halen, noting that the band "is currently in the studio recording an album with (singer David Lee) Roth that is due for release in 2011."

Meanwhile, according to Billboard.com, VAN HALEN manager Irving Azoff, who is also the executive chairman of Live Nation, mentioned on two separate conference calls that VAN HALEN was expected to hit the road next year, presumably in support of a new record.

Word of a new VAN HALEN album, the band's first with David Lee Roth on the mic since 1983, first began circulating in late June when MelodicRock.com reported from an unnamed source that the project was halfway completed.

VAN HALEN spokesperson Janie Van Halen, Eddie's wife, denied the rumors, telling Rolling Stone, "I don't have any updates at this time."

Eddie himself told Rolling Stone last year that he was working on material for a new record, but was waiting for his hand to heal from surgery and for Wolfgang to graduate from high school.

A new VAN HALEN record would be the band's first full studio effort since 1998's "Van Halen III", which featured Gary Cherone on lead vocals.

VAN HALEN's 2008 reunion tour with Roth grossed more than $93 million and drew nearly one million fans to 74 shows.