The first Van Halen album with David Lee Roth in 27 years has at least

one fan: guitarist Mark Tremonti of Alter Bridge and Creed. Tremonti

says he witnessed a live performance by Eddie, Alex and Wolfgang Van

Halen of the full new album at Eddie's 5150 studios.

In a new interview with Austria's Mulatschag TV, Alter Bridge guitarist Mark Tremonti reveals that he was recently at Van Halen's 5150 studios, where Eddie, Alex, and Wolfgang Van Halen treated him to a live performance of their upcoming album, played in it's entirety. Tramonti: "We played with Van Halen years and years ago at Madison Square Garden and Palace in Detroit. The first time I saw Wolfgang, he was just a little… probably five-year-old kid or six-year-old kid and Eddie, that day, gave me one of his guitars, so I got to know Eddie.

"Then years went by and Wolfgang ended up being a fan of Alter Bridge, so we got to know him through Alter Bridge. And Wolfgang invited us to go see soundcheck when Van Halen did a tour a couple of years ago, and we were the only in there, so it was quite a treat.

"And then recently, I was in Los Angeles and Wolfgang invited me to his Dad's house and I got to go to 5150 studios and watch Eddie and Alex and Wolfgang play their new record from front to back. So I was one of the only people who have heard the new Van Halen. It was incredible."

Van Halen have been recording their as-yet-untitled new album with Grammy Award-winning producer John Shanks. It will mark the band's first album with David Lee Roth in more than 25 years. The album's release date is unknown, but is rumored to be sometime in the Fall of 2011.


Alter Bridge guitarist hears new Van Halen album The first Van Halen album with David Lee Roth in 27 years has at least one fan: guitarist Mark Tremonti of Alter Bridge. Tremonti says he witnessed a live performance by Eddie, Alex and Wolfgang Van Halen of the full new album at Eddie's 5150 studios.

In a new interview with Austria's Mulatschag TV, Mark was asked about his band friendship with VH bassist Wolfgang Van Halen.

"We played with Van Halen years and years ago at Madison Square Garden and Palace in Detroit," said Tremonti. "The first time I saw Wolfgang, he was just a little… probably five-year-old kid or six-year-old kid.
Eddie, that day, gave me one of his guitars, so I got to know Eddie.

"Then years went by and Wolfgang ended up being a fan of Alter Bridge, so we got to know him through Alter Bridge," he continued. "And Wolfgang invited us to go see soundcheck when Van Halen did a tour a
couple of years ago, and we were the only in there, so it was quite a treat.

"And then recently, I was in Los Angeles and Wolfgang invited me to his Dad's house and I got to go to 5150 studios and watch Eddie and Alex and Wolfgang play their new record from front to back. So I was
one of the only people who have heard the new Van Halen. It was incredible."

The latest news comes on the heels of a VH update from Slash last month, who told Rock Radio's Tom Russell that he heard - through a shared connection - the new album was "in the mixing stages."

Expected to be released before year-end, the highly-anticipated record represents VH's first new music with original lead singer Roth in 15 years, and the band's first full album since 1998. The group began recording in January with producer John Shanks.

Van Halen are confirmed to headline Soundwave Revolution, an annual music festival held in major cities around Australia. The fall dates start September 24 in Brisbane; Alter Bridge is one of the many acts also on the bill.

The Alter Bridge connection goes a step further: in early January, Wolfgang sat in on drums for a song with the band at the House Of Blues in West Hollywood; check out the video

Footage of Wolfgang Van Halen sitting in with Alter Bridge, Tuesday night at the House Of Blues in West Hollywood, has surfaced.Wolfgang Van Halen played drums on "One Day Remains" while Eddie
watched the show from sidestage.

The volume in the club was ear-splitting, judging from fan reports and singer Myles Kennedy's comment during the Van Halen jam – "My God, it's loud in here." Alter Bridge are on the road in support of "AB III." The band's 2008 concert DVD, "Live From Amsterdam," is released on Blu-Ray next Tuesday.