Ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted recently addressed the failed Eddie Van Halen tribute show plans. He explained his perspective on whether such a tribute is still possible. His comments were shared during an interview on Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk.
Newsted was asked about the Van Halen tribute project that had been discussed a few years ago involving him and Joe Satriani. The bassist provided detailed insight into why the plans never materialized and his current thoughts on honoring the legendary band.
“Well, I can’t remember when that was exactly. I just remember having a phone call with Alex (Van Halen), and then just telling Joe (Satriani) that I didn’t think it was appropriate,” Newsted said. “You know, and that was the last I ever heard of it. There was never any other anybody reaching out to me about anything.”
The bassist explained his vision for what a proper tribute should entail. He emphasized the importance of doing it correctly or not at all.
“And I think I’m in the same camp as most people in the same as you, that if it can be done properly and concisely, you know, like it needs to be just a quick thing, it needs to be a special thing, like two nights at some place, and it’s just that,” he continued. “And if they do it honorably, but it’s getting kind of a little bit late to do it correctly, I think now. It’d be pretty hard. I don’t think there’s enough, maybe not enough cohesion anymore to really make it proper.”
Newsted stressed that any tribute must be more than just a regular rock show. It requires a special approach to honor the band’s legacy.
“You know, it’s got to be, got to be an honor show. It has to be that. It has to be worshiping, whatever you call that, what happened,” he said. “You know, you have to be able, it’s not just gonna be some kind of rock show. It has to be a hybrid dedication kind of event. And I’m not sure if those logistics can be worked out anymore.”
The bassist also addressed the challenge of balancing tributes to both Eddie Van Halen and the band as a whole. He suggested different approaches for each.
“No further dialogue, and it would have to be, you know, how are you gonna do that and still pay homage to Alex also, and still pay homage, because you still have to do with the homage as the band,” Newsted explained. “If you’re gonna do an Eddie tribute, then have Nuno Bettencourt and Tom Morello line up a bunch of band motherf*ckers, then you do that thing and everybody takes a shot at one Eddie’s songs, something like that. If that needs to be its own category and its own thing anymore.”
Newsted concluded by outlining his vision for what a proper Van Halen tribute should represent. He emphasized the importance of honoring the entire band’s musical legacy.
“If you’re gonna have a Van Halen honor, it needs to be for the band. That’s the way I see it anymore,” he said. “You know, as time has gone by. If somebody would be able to coordinate something that was timely, appropriate, like an anniversary of a passing, an anniversary of the beginning of the band, an anniversary of the biggest album of the band, something that made sense to the fans, and they did it as an honor to the music that was made, not just certain guys that played it. That’s the way it has to be looked on, in my opinion now.”
Newsted’s tribute plans may have stalled, but other musicians continue to find ways to honor Eddie Van Halen’s legacy through various projects and collaborations.
American Songwriter reported that Alex Van Halen announced plans to record a new album with Toto guitarist Steve Lukather. He described Lukather as one of Eddie’s “real, true best friends.” This project represents a more intimate approach to preserving Eddie’s musical legacy. Alex emphasized that no rehearsals would be needed, mirroring how he and Eddie originally created Van Halen music. The collaboration follows Alex’s 2024 memoir “Brothers” and comes more than five years after Eddie’s passing in 2020.
The partnership between Alex and Lukather appears to be rooted in their shared history and Lukather’s close relationship with Eddie. Reports suggest that Lukather is helping Alex finish unreleased Van Halen songs from Eddie. This provides a direct connection to the guitarist’s final creative works. This approach differs significantly from the large-scale tribute show concept that Newsted discussed. Instead, it focuses on completing and preserving Eddie’s actual musical contributions.
Meanwhile, other artists have chosen different paths to honor the guitar legend. Metal Injection noted that Heart guitarist Nancy Wilson released an instrumental tribute single called “4 Edward.” The track was inspired by Eddie writing a song on her acoustic guitar during a joint tour. The track appears on her upcoming album “You And Me” and represents a more personal, heartfelt response to Eddie’s passing.
These various tribute efforts highlight the ongoing challenge that Newsted identified in his comments about creating an appropriate memorial for such an influential musician. Some artists pursue collaborative albums and others release tribute songs. However, the question of a comprehensive Van Halen tribute show remains unresolved. Timing and logistics continue to present significant obstacles for any large-scale celebration of the band’s legacy.
