NEW VOICE FOR VAN HALEN?: No one’s...

NEW VOICE FOR VAN HALEN?: No one’s making any official statements yet, but the news is out. With David Lee Roth already having announced plans to star in an upcoming film project and record a solo album with producer Ted Templeman, Van Halen is hooking up with a new front man. The leading contestant--Sammy Hagar--has already been rehearsing and writing songs with the three remaining members of the band, according to sources close to the group. The big musical question--can Hagar, generally considered to be a far better musician than Roth, make up in talent what he lacks in the charisma department, Roth’s obvious strong point.

Hagar, now signed to Geffen Records, quietly sold nearly 1 million copies of his last solo record. That brings us to the big financial question, which already has Geffen chairman David Geffen in negotiations with Van Halen’s label chief, Warner Bros. Records chairman Mo Ostin. How would Warners compensate Geffen Records for the loss of one of the label’s top-selling artists? Warners would not comment. However, David Geffen confirmed that Hagar will join Van Halen, though he would not comment about what his label would receive in return for allowing Hager to leave Geffen Records.