Van Halen Premieres First New Song With David Lee Roth in 16 Years (Video)
The bluesy mid-tempo "Tattoo" made its internet debut just after midnight on Jan. 10.
Van Halen premiered their first new song with original singer David Lee Roth in more than 16 years when “Tattoo” appeared on YouTube (via VEVO) just after midnight on Jan. 10. The track comes from their forthcoming album A Different Kind Of Truth, which is slated for release on Feb. 7. The last time Van Halen released a studio recording with Roth was in 1996 "Can't Get This Stuff No More" appeared on the band's Best Of Volume 1 (UPDATE: a previous version of this story reported that it had been 27 years since the band's last work with Roth).
The black and white performance video for "Tattoo," shot inside iconic Sunset Strip club The Roxy, features Roth on vocals and guitarist Eddie Van Halen’s son Wolfgang on bass along with original drummer Alex Van Halen.
VIDEO: Van Halen Announces 2012 Tour With New Rehearsal Footage
The mid-tempo bluesy track contains several Van Halen trademarks -- a breakdown spoken by Roth along with the frontman's signature scream and manic dance moves; a guitar solo, all but a lost art these days, performed by the still stellar shredder Eddie Van Halen.
At the same time, the song’s super-crisp production may not have the bite that some might remember from the early days, and plenty of fans are still stung by the absence of original bassist Michael Anthony.
Judge for yourself, watch the clip below:
THR's Daily Must Feeds
-
Billboard Music Awards Winners List
-
Bradley Cooper On Why He Left 'Jane Got A Gun'
-
Zoe Saldana & Marion Cotillard: 'Blood Ties' Cannes Premiere
-
Justin Bieber Booed While Accepting Award
-
Jay-Z Says Beyonce is Not Pregnant
-
The Final Word On Daft Punk's Album
-
Oh, Drake Is Also in 'Anchorman 2'
-
Robin Wright’s Film Takes ‘Craziest Movie at Cannes’ Honors
In This Week's Magazine
- MOST SHARED
- MOST POPULAR
- 1
'Grey's Anatomy' Boss Shonda Rhimes: Callie 'Isn't a Victim'
- 2
Cannes Crime Spree Continues With More Burglaries, Physical Attacks
- 3
Cannes: India's New Wave Producer Guneet Monga (Q&A)
- 4
Cannes: Philippines Cinema Comes to the Fore
- 5
Sony Board to Discuss Spin-off of Stake in Entertainment Business
- 6
Daft Punk's 'Random Access Memories': What the Critics Are Saying
- 7
'Pretty Little Liars' Recruits Rumer Willis for Season 4 (Exclusive)
- 8
TV Notes Decoder: What Those Baffling Executives Really Mean
- 9
Cannes: 'Nymphomaniac' Producer Reveals Graphics Are Used in 'Groundbreaking' Sex Scenes
- 10
'How I Met Your Mother' Reveals the Mother (Video)



