And only Sammy and Mike show up. And what song do they play? I know some people dig Van Hagar and they did some good tunes but let's face it, "Why Can't This Be Love?" isn't even a pimple on the bellybutton of "Running With The Devil".
NEW YORK - Fragments of party band Van Halen accepted induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Monday, punk poet Patti Smith brought her earthy growl and the Ronettes' Ronnie Spector thanked everyone but her ex-husband.
R.E.M. and the institution's first hip-hop act, Grandmaster Flash, were also ushered in during the hall's 22nd induction ceremony.
Only Van Halen's second lead singer, Sammy Hagar, and ex-bass player Michael Anthony turned up for Monday's ceremony. Guitarist Eddie Van Halen has just gone into rehab and original lead singer David Lee Roth stayed away in a tiff over what he would perform.
Hagar said he wished his bandmates could be there, but "it's out of our control."
"It's hard for Mike and I to be up here to do this, but you couldn't have kept me away from this with a shotgun," Hagar said.
It took less to keep Roth away. He stood up the hall, reportedly because he couldn't agree on what to sing with the band Velvet Revolver, which offered a tribute. Joel Peresman, president and CEO of the Hall of Fame, said Roth was offered a chance to sing a song of his choice with the house band. "The decision not to come was solely his, not ours."
Hagar and Anthony joined Velvet Revolver to sing "Why Can't This Be Love."[/i]
