Celebratory drink probably out of the question

Is anyone out there thinking that Eddie Van Halen and British actor Bill Nighly ("Love Actually") are twins separated at birth?

The reason I ask is that Eddie looks like he's going to be out of commission for a while, and maybe if Bill inherited any guitar skills, he could help out Van Halen if they do go through with a summer tour.

Eddie Van Halen has released a statement on his band's website that he'll soon enter rehab for unspecified reasons. Van Halen is set for induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Monday night, but there's no word on whether Eddie will be there or not.

My prediction: Eddie will be there, and the tour with David Lee Roth will be back on track by 9:02 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Top 5 suggested names for the Van Halen Summer 2007 tour:
5. "Jack Daniels presents Eddie Van Halen and Friends"
4. "Forget Brown M&Ms -- We Have Bigger Problems Now"
3. "Women and Hagar First"
2. "Rehabilitated and Reunited ... Really"
1. "Subject to cancellation. Please hold your ticket as receipt."

[Don't forget to listen to our Van Halen vs. Van Hagar podcast from last year. Fantastiche!]

This just in: No Van Halen show at the Hall?!?

Just when it's safe to get snarky and secure about Van Halen's future, someone throws a curveball that you weren't expecting. News reports this morning say that Van Halen won't be performing at all at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. Instead, a "house band" or possibly Velvet Revolver will perform Van Halen's music.

David Lee Roth is enraged. Roth said he was looking forward to performing, but he refuses to sing "You Really Got Me" -- the tune picked out by organizers for that night -- because it's a Kinks' cover and not a true Van Halen song. Instead, Roth would prefer to sing "Jump" -- but organizers counter there might not be enough time to change plans.

Can this saga get any stranger?

Comments

[The Professor]

No Tampa dates? No Florida dates? No South Eastern dates? Somebody in the SE must have really pissed off Eddy.

[Kathy]

OMG! Eddie looks like crap! He looks like he is at death's door. Van Halen was great but that was then.....what a shame.

[Douglas Arthur]

That is by far the scariest picture I have ever seen. I was never a huge VH fan, but what does it say that Shaun of the Dead star Bill Nighy is better looking these days?

[Mike]

I thought it was already decided that Velvet Revolver was going to play "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" from the DLR era and "Runaround" from the Van Hagar era. Either way, it's a crock. Let DLR perform his tune w/ Michael Anthony and then Hagar do the same.