Van Halen's 'Tattoo' Music Video - First New Song w/ David Lee Roth in 27 Years

[JamesG]

Van Halen Premieres First New Song With David Lee Roth in 27 Years (Video)
1/10/2012
by Shirley Halperin


Van Halen premiered their first new song with original singer David Lee Roth in more than 27 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 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.







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 1984 days, and plenty of fans are still stung by the absence of original bassist Michael Anthony.






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http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/van-halen-premiere-tattoo-new-song-280120

[Brad]

Van Halen premiered their first new song with original singer David Lee Roth in more than 27 years when 'Tattoo' appeared on YouTube (via VEVO) just after midnight on Jan. 10.

Wrong! It's been 15 years. "Me Wise Magic" and "Can't Get This Stuff No More" were released on Best of, Volume 1 in late 1996. It was kind of a big deal...

Anyway, I don't think I like the song. Downloaded it on iTunes and everything. Eddie made a big mistake not bringing Michael Anthony back.

[dakert]

Well, I made it to 1:30 out of 4:43

[JamesG]

Yeah, 'Tattoo' is not getting much positive feedback from what I've been seeing.

[Brad]

I recently said this on Facebook, and I'll repost it here because it still rings true after the release of this single:

The title of Van Halen's forthcoming disappointment of an album will be A Different Kind of Truth. Sorry, but I'm not looking forward to AARP member David Lee Roth singing (off-key) about babes, booze and partying.

Many been clamoring for a full-fledged Van Halen reunion for almost three decades now (the two 1996 tracks not withstanding), but this isn't it. First of all, Michael Anthony is sorely missed. Secondly, the "good times, partying and babes" Van Halen is best left in the past. After all, the boys were in their twenties when Dave left the first time. To hear a bunch of 56-year-olds singing "She was a-seaside sittin'/Just a-smokin' and a-drinkin' on ringside" is kind of sad and creepy.

I've criticized the Sammy Hagar-led Van Halen ("Van Hagar") many times for its sappiness (how many songs do they have with the word "Love" in the title?), but I still respect the band for forging ahead without David Lee Roth and trying new, more adult sounds. Hell, they even had some great songs during that era.

This song, though, just sounds like a desperate attempt at retreading for the sake of retreading. Oh, and I hate tattoos.

[-STEFFY-]

Oh, and I hate tattoos.
^ I also hate tattoos. And I think Sammy Hagar is definitely a much better singer than David Lee Roth.

[catlover79]

I have the agree that of the two, Sammy is the better vocalist. But, the original Diamond Dave VH era is my favorite. "I'll Wait" is probably DLR's best vocal on a VH song - it's a ballad and a bit more challenging. There's no way Dave could pull of a song like "Dreams" - which is one of my all-time VH songs and my favorite of the Sammy era.

Oh, and I couldn't agree more about Michael Anthony - who deserved much better treatment from Eddie and Alex. Though I did have to laugh when some fans started dubbing the band with Wolfie as "Three Old Men and a Baby". :rofl:

[-STEFFY-]

Though I did have to laugh when some fans started dubbing the band with Wolfie as "Three Old Men and a Baby". :rofl:
That's a good one! :lol:

[Shine]

Uh...well, I've tried to like this song, I really have. I've listened to it five times and the truth is that its not a good song. Also, Alex and Dave are going to be 59 and Eddie is going to 57 and its pretty lame that the decided to write a song about a tattoo. Sammy would have something more adult to write about. That's what was great about Sammy, he could write songs dealing with serious subject matter and then write songs about having fun. I think many of the band's older fans are expecting a return to the days of Van Halen and 1984 and that's just not going to happen. And if the band attempts to make it happen it will come off as fake. As much as I disliked the Cherone album that was at least a continued attempt to move forward where now it seems that the band is having a midlife crisis. :(

[steevo]

I agree with everyone about Michael Anthony's background vocals being missing here. I will reserve judgement about the rest of the album until it comes out, but I have to say I was also underwhelmed by Tattoo, much like I was with van Halen III (their album with Gary Cherone).

[dlemond]

I miss Michael Anthony, like everyone else.

This song isn't the worst, but it's nothing special.
The first song released is not necessarily the best effort anyway.

I have to hear the whole album.