This might just be the one – Van Halen‘s much mooted (and now long overdue) Australian tour now has a good chance of happening in the middle of this year. Triple M reporter and Herald Sun journalist Nui Te Koha believes a local promoter is chasing the 70s rock icons for a tour to fit in around dates they have booked in Japan from May onwards.
“They’ve got some dates in Japan in May, June, July and I know that one promoter is chasing this tour. It’s pretty firm at this stage,” he said.
Van Halen were originally going to play dates in Japan in November last year, but had to cancel the shows after Eddie Van Halen had to undergo colon surgery. According to the Van Halen News Desk, they’ll be playing rescheduled shows on 21st June in Tokyo and the 24th and 26th June in Osaka.
So early June or early July would probably be the best bet for an Australian visit, based on those dates.
Rumours are also flying that the tour will feature both of the band’s frontmen from across their lengthy career – David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar. Hagar replaced David Lee Roth as vocalist in 1985, before parting ways with the band in 1996. Hagar then rejoined the group for two years in 2003 to tour a best-of record.
Van Halen fans have put up with an agonising wait to get the band firmly on our shores for some shows. They were originally scheduled to headline the ill-fated Soundwave Revolution festival in 2011, before AJ Maddah cancelled the whole festival. The band were very close to coming last year, but cancelled on a local promoter just as the tour was getting finalised.
Stick with Music Feeds to see whether this year will finally, finally be Australia’s turn.
