Exclusively Van Halen: Michael Anthony Says Make New #VanHalen Album Instrumental? 🎸🔥 2/26/26

On this episode of Exclusively Van Halen, we dive into a major development surrounding a possible new Van Halen album — and now Michael Anthony has weighed in. After Alex Van Halen surprised fans by announcing he was working with Steve Lukather on unreleased Van Halen material, speculation has been swirling. Although Lukather initially insisted he’d never “play a guitar note on a VH song,” it was later confirmed the two are indeed collaborating on archival Van Halen demos recorded before Eddie Van Halen passed away. According to Alex, the band had nearly completed an album before Eddie’s death. Lukather’s role? Helping assemble and finish the material. At one point, Paul Rodgers of Bad Company was even approached to handle vocals — but Rodgers declined, saying he’s currently in an “acoustic, zen phase” of life. Now Michael Anthony has shared his perspective — and it’s a powerful one. Speaking to WNCX (via Ultimate Classic Rock), Anthony suggested the most fitting tribute would be to finish the project as a fully instrumental record — a pure nod to Eddie’s genius. In his view, bringing in a new singer would shift the focus away from what truly matters: the unreleased guitar work Eddie left behind. Anthony believes the spotlight should remain squarely on Eddie’s playing — not on launching a new era or reinventing the band. There’s still no official release date, but Alex and Lukather are reportedly continuing work on the material. In 2024, Alex released “Unfinished,” the final piece he worked on with his brother — and now fans are waiting to see what comes next. Stay tuned. "Exclusively Van Halen" is your ultimate destination for all things Van Halen. From deep dives into the band’s legendary history to giveaways and gear showcases, we celebrate one of the greatest rock bands of all time — every week. 🎸 Join one of the biggest Van Halen fan groups on Facebook: http://facebook.com/groups/EVHFANPAGE 🔔 Subscribe, hit that like button, and join the conversation! 🔔 Follow Johnny Beane: 🌐 Website: www.johnnybeane.com 📘 Facebook: Johnny Beane 📸 Instagram: @johnnybeane 🐦 Twitter/X: @johnnybeane 🎵 TikTok: @johnnybeanetv 📬 Send Fan Mail or Products for Review: Johnny Beane 4768 Soquel Dr Box 232 Soquel, CA 95073 USA 💥 We talk all things Van Halen — live shows, rare guitars, interviews, deep cuts, and more. Subscribe and join the fun on Johnny Beane TV! 🎥 Want to create streams like this? Use StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/4906555367489536 #davidleeroth #EddieVanHalen #alexvanhalen #wolfgangvanhalen #VanHalen #ExclusivelyVanHalen #JohnnyBeaneTV