Billy Sheehan has revealed that he is working on a special project for the 40th anniversary of David Lee Roth’s Eat ’Em and Smile, built around songs that were originally planned for the album but never recorded.
Released on July 7, 1986, Eat ’Em and Smile was Roth’s first full-length solo album after leaving Van Halen. The record featured Steve Vai on guitar, Sheehan on bass and Gregg Bissonette on drums, and reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200.
Speaking about the anniversary, Sheehan said he recently got together with several musicians, including Korn drummer Ray Luzier, to finish material that was left behind during the original sessions.
“There were songs that we never recorded for the Eat ’Em and Smile record,” Sheehan said. “There was another four or five songs that we almost recorded, but we didn’t.”
Instead of simply revisiting the album, Sheehan decided to go back to those missing tracks.
“So, we decided, let’s go and record those missing tracks.”
According to Sheehan, the project is already close to completion.
“It’s almost finished. We have a few more things to do, but we have about four or five songs that we were supposed to do, but we didn’t do.”
The project will not only include the unreleased material.
Sheehan also revealed that the musicians recorded new versions of some songs from Eat ’Em and Smile.
“We made some remakes of a couple of the songs from Eat ’Em and Smile also.”
One song known to have been recorded during the original album period but left off the final release was “Kids in Action,” written by Kim Mitchell. The track was completed for the album but was ultimately excluded because of time limits.
Sheehan described the new recordings as a tribute both to Roth and to the album that became an important part of his own career.
“A little tribute to Dave and to the wonderful record. He was so kind to include me.”
Sheehan has remained closely connected to the album’s anniversary this year, including discussions looking back at the record four decades after its release.
He also gave a rough timeline for when fans may hear the new material.
“That should be out, hopefully, about a month. I hope.”
If that schedule holds, the project will offer something more than a standard anniversary release: newly recorded versions of songs that were considered for *Eat ’Em and Smile* 40 years ago, along with fresh takes on material that did make the original album.
