Post by Erik Rupp on May 19, 2013 9:52:12 GMT -5
Singer Mitch Malloy auditioned for Van Halen in 1996, and was given the job. Eddie Van Halen told him he was in the band. The band's manager Ray Daniels told him he was the new singer in Van Halen. So what happened?
Let’s talk about your link with Van Halen. So the story goes, the band offered you the position as replacement for Sammy Hagar, but their manager Ray Danniels, who also represented former Extreme man Gary Cherone, railroaded his client through the door.
Ray called me [after the audition] and said: “I think you’re the next singer in Van Halen – I can’t imagine anyone better for the job. But if you don’t get the job then I want to manage you and when people become tired of artists wearing their pyjamas and looking at the floor then you’re going to be a huge star.” Quote unquote.
So what changed?
I don’t know. I only know that Eddie [Van Halen] told me I was in the band. Then the whole MTV presentation with David Lee Roth happened, which I didn’t know about. I got upset and called them and it all kind of imploded. My manager sent them a letter saying that I’d “respectfully passed” on the gig, which they couldn’t believe.
How did it make you feel?
Really sad, I mean… I was actually in Van Halen – even if it was just for that moment. I’d had the kiss on the cheeks, the hugs, the congratulations [from the band]… that had all seemed pretty official to me.
Did the experience cause you to step away from rock music and into the realm of country?
That happened accidentally. I just went to Nashville to write songs. But I was upset. In my life now, that’s not the case. I’m a father, a husband; I love family and my life. But when my career didn’t do what everyone in New York said it would – people had told me, and I hate to even utter these words: “You’re going to be bigger than Bon Jovi” – I was bummed, man.
And yet Edward Van Halen financed your return to the rock arena with 2000’s Shine.
Yeah, Ed was like my big brother back then and he really loved those songs. We’re no longer in contact but I had all of his phone numbers because I was a member of the inner circle.
www.classicrockmagazine.com/features/malloy-eddie-told-me-i-was-in-van-halen/
So here's an audio recording of the band and Malloy playing, "Panama," during the first audition, with his comments about it below...
Imagine growing up on Van Halen. Never imigining in your wildest dreams you would ever get to sing with them. Then Ed calls and fly's you in and he asks right before you start. "What do you wanna start with"? I said PANAMA! And there it is.
Malloy was almost the singer on the album that would eventually come out in 1998. One can only wonder how that album would have turned out...
Let’s talk about your link with Van Halen. So the story goes, the band offered you the position as replacement for Sammy Hagar, but their manager Ray Danniels, who also represented former Extreme man Gary Cherone, railroaded his client through the door.
Ray called me [after the audition] and said: “I think you’re the next singer in Van Halen – I can’t imagine anyone better for the job. But if you don’t get the job then I want to manage you and when people become tired of artists wearing their pyjamas and looking at the floor then you’re going to be a huge star.” Quote unquote.
So what changed?
I don’t know. I only know that Eddie [Van Halen] told me I was in the band. Then the whole MTV presentation with David Lee Roth happened, which I didn’t know about. I got upset and called them and it all kind of imploded. My manager sent them a letter saying that I’d “respectfully passed” on the gig, which they couldn’t believe.
How did it make you feel?
Really sad, I mean… I was actually in Van Halen – even if it was just for that moment. I’d had the kiss on the cheeks, the hugs, the congratulations [from the band]… that had all seemed pretty official to me.
Did the experience cause you to step away from rock music and into the realm of country?
That happened accidentally. I just went to Nashville to write songs. But I was upset. In my life now, that’s not the case. I’m a father, a husband; I love family and my life. But when my career didn’t do what everyone in New York said it would – people had told me, and I hate to even utter these words: “You’re going to be bigger than Bon Jovi” – I was bummed, man.
And yet Edward Van Halen financed your return to the rock arena with 2000’s Shine.
Yeah, Ed was like my big brother back then and he really loved those songs. We’re no longer in contact but I had all of his phone numbers because I was a member of the inner circle.
www.classicrockmagazine.com/features/malloy-eddie-told-me-i-was-in-van-halen/
So here's an audio recording of the band and Malloy playing, "Panama," during the first audition, with his comments about it below...
Imagine growing up on Van Halen. Never imigining in your wildest dreams you would ever get to sing with them. Then Ed calls and fly's you in and he asks right before you start. "What do you wanna start with"? I said PANAMA! And there it is.
Malloy was almost the singer on the album that would eventually come out in 1998. One can only wonder how that album would have turned out...