The Supergroup Eddie Van Halen Almost Created

When David Lee Roth left Van Halen in 1985, the band's future was completely up in the air. Eddie Van Halen and his bandmates reached out to several singers to fill the role, but none accepted. These rejections led Eddie to explore new possibilities to keep his music career alive—one of which could have changed rock history forever. However, before this ambitious plan could materialize, Van Halen found their next frontman, Sammy Hagar.

Before discovering Hagar, Eddie was uncertain about where his career was headed. With no clear path forward, he envisioned forming an '80s supergroup that could have been groundbreaking. In a 1996 interview with Guitar World, Eddie revealed details about this bold idea, explaining that he had spoken to some of rock’s biggest names about joining forces.

“My plan at the time—and I wouldn’t necessarily have called it a solo record because Mike [Anthony] and Al [Alex Van Halen] would have played on it—was to get Mike Rutherford [Genesis], Pete Townshend, Phil Collins, and Joe Cocker, all of whom I had talked to,” Eddie said.

He even had a specific vision for the project, including an early version of Right Now, which later became a hit for Van Halen. “I had written ‘Right Now’ back then, and I wanted Joe Cocker to sing on it. It would have been f— great. That’s what I wanted to do—write a record where I did all the music and had a different singer on each song,” he added.

Despite the incredible potential, the project never got off the ground. Eddie admitted that logistical challenges—such as conflicting schedules, contractual obligations, and record label interference—made it nearly impossible. “Logistically, it would have been a nightmare—people on tour, contractual agreements, companies pissing and moaning—and we’d probably only be finishing it now,” he reflected. “It would have been fun.”

Though Van Halen ultimately thrived with Sammy Hagar, it's fascinating to think about what could have been if Eddie’s supergroup had become a reality. While we’re grateful for the music Van Halen created with Hagar, this glimpse into Eddie’s musical vision leaves us wondering about the alternate history that never happened.

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