Van Halen bassist cuts hard rock deal

Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony has inked a deal with Hard Rock International to carry his Mad Anthony's Original Style and Extra Hot barbecue sauces at their Hard Rock Cafe restaurants around the world, starting November 30th. The chain will also offer a new menu item, Mad Anthony's Grilled Skirt Steak, an 11-ounce cut cooked to order in the Original Style sauce. Hard Rock shops are carrying special souvenir bottles of the sauce, and Anthony plans to make personal appearances at Hard Rock Cafes in New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

Sammy Hagar, who's worked with Anthony in Van Halen and the side project Los Tres Guzanos, told us that it doesn't take much to get his friend on the road: "Lemme tell ya, man, Mike -- you'd think the guy would have enough of a tour bus. He bought himself his own tour bus for his family, had it custom built. An outta sight bus, by the way. He's a character, Mike. He is Mr. America, I gotta tell ya. He's more fun than I am."

Anthony has no musical plans at the moment and neither does Van Halen, which is back on hiatus after a 2004 reunion tour.