Former Great White singer Mitch Malloy auditioned to front Van Halen after Sammy Hagar’s departure three decades ago. He recently addressed speculation about a potential return to the band’s orbit following an on-stage reunion with Michael Anthony.
Malloy appeared at the Vegas Rocks! Magazine Awards, where Anthony brought him onstage to perform “Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love.” Malloy described the experience and reflected on his history with the band.
“What a night!! Michael Anthony is just as great and nice now as he’s always been,” Malloy said. “So great to see you again kind sir. And even better to rock with you again and this time in front of a crowd. Sally Steele makes amazing things happen she is a legend.”
A Van Halen fan reacted to the performance by asking whether Malloy could be “the new future of VH.”
Malloy responded directly to that speculation, clarifying his role at the event and his connection to the band.
“No man, I was just there to receive my Vagus rocks best front man award and I’m just a small part of the VH past,” Malloy said. “So that was the second time rockin with Michael as the first time was at 5150 with VH. Total blast!”
Malloy’s comments put to rest speculation of any current involvement with Van Halen, framing the Vegas Rocks! reunion with Anthony as a nostalgic moment rather than a sign of future plans. His reference to 5150 points back to a chapter of Van Halen history that fans have long debated. This chapter adds weight to why the reunion carried such personal significance for him.
In the summer of 1996, following Sammy Hagar’s exit, Malloy traveled to Los Angeles to audition for the band at 5150, Eddie Van Halen’s home studio. Over several days, he recorded demos and jammed on Van Halen classics alongside Eddie, Alex Van Halen and Michael Anthony. This effectively placed him inside the band’s inner circle at a pivotal moment in its history.
By all accounts, the audition went well. Eddie Van Halen reportedly told Malloy he had won the job outright. The singer briefly believed his tenure with one of rock’s biggest bands was set to begin.
That outcome never materialized. Manager Ray Danniels ultimately steered Van Halen in a different direction. The band instead recruited Extreme frontman Gary Cherone, who went on to record 1998’s “Van Halen III.” Malloy’s connection to the band was left as a footnote for three decades. It resurfaced only through leaked demo tapes and interviews recounting what might have been.
Michael Anthony, for his part, has remained a visible presence in rock music since his own Van Halen exit in 2006. His willingness to bring Malloy onstage at the Vegas Rocks! Magazine Music Awards reflects a continued enthusiasm for reviving the band’s catalog live, even outside the group’s official lineup. It also underscores the genuine camaraderie between the two musicians decades after their first meeting at 5150.
