Van Halen usually keep pretty tightlipped about rumors but frontman David Lee Roth has broken with tradition to address the recent rumor that the band was set to play the half-time show at next year's Super Bowl. Roth sent an open letter to fans via the leading news site for the band, Van Halen News Desk. Here is what he had to say:
I'm compelled to address the now-rampant rumors that Van Halen is playing the Superbowl. First of all let me say this — be still my pigskin heart. That honor has not been bestowed upon us at this time though it is one we would accept in a NY minute.
Having heard VH blaring through stadium speakers on any given Sunday – more like every given Sunday, the idea of playing there live would be like – 'okay, now we're in the game'.
Van Halen's collective memories are – and with all due respect to each and every one of these memories, teeming with been-theres and done-that's, but none include playing at the Superbowl. Playing at the Superbowl is a veritable holy grail of musical recognition, a highly prized rite of passage for (game-changing) artists. Not a spiritual rite with snake pits or Hebrew school or anything, but it's up there.
We are not on Commissioner Goodell's dance card at this time, but we would be most honored to dance the halftime away in New Orleans.
It's an honor to be considered and for that we would like to thank the rumormongers all over the World Wide Web.
- D-Ro
