At 70, Michael Anthony – the legendary bassist formerly of Van Halen – has opened up about the turbulent relationship he had with the late guitar icon Eddie Van Halen.

In a recent interview, Anthony didn’t hold back, revealing long-buried truths about the band’s inner conflicts and his personal struggles within it.

“Eddie was a genius, no one can deny that,” Michael began, his voice steady but filled with emotion.

“But he also had a dark side. There were times when his talent and ego overshadowed everything – friendships, respect, even the people who had been with him since the beginning.”

Michael explained that despite being a founding member of Van Halen, he often felt sidelined, especially in the late ’90s and early 2000s.

“I was never the main songwriter, never the spotlight guy, but I always felt like I was part of the family.

Then I realized I was just someone who could be replaced – that really hurt.”

He went on to recall the moment he was excluded from reunion tours and replaced by Eddie’s son, Wolfgang Van Halen.

“I don’t blame Wolfgang – he’s talented, passionate, and a great kid.

But the way Eddie did it, without a real conversation, without a handshake – that broke my trust.”

Despite the pain, Michael’s words carried a sense of loss and lingering affection for Eddie.

He admitted he had hoped to reconcile before Eddie’s passing in 2020.

“I wrote letters, I wanted to call him.

But we kept putting it off… and then it was too late.”

Now, at 70, with nothing left to prove, Michael Anthony has chosen to speak his truth – not to tear anyone down, but to tell his story honestly.

His words offer fans a different lens through which to view Van Halen, and a poignant reminder that behind the glamor of rock ’n’ roll are real people, with real emotions, regrets, and things left unsaid.