Eddie Van Halen in rehab

Neither Eddie Van Halen nor David Lee Roth will be on hand for Van Halen's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Monday (March 12th), but for very different reasons -- Eddie's entering rehab, while Dave is staying home because he's been barred from performing. As of now, original bass player Michael Anthony and former vocalist Sammy Hagar will be the only bandmembers at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City to accept the honor, since Alex Van Halen is presumably staying close to home to be supportive to his brother.

Eddie released a statement on Thursday, March 8th, that read:

"I would like Van Halen fans to know how much I truly appreciate each and every one of you. Without you, there is no Van Halen.
"I have always, and will always, feel a responsibility to give you my best. At the moment, I do not feel that I can give you my best. That's why I have decided to enter a rehabilitation facility to work on myself, so that in the future, I can deliver the 110 percent that I feel I owe you and want to give you.
"Some of the issues surrounding the 2007 Van Halen tour are within my ability to change, and some are not. As far as my rehab is concerned, it is within my ability to change, and change for the better. I want you to know that is exactly what I'm doing, so that I may continue to give you the very best I am capable of.
"I look forward to seeing you in the future better than ever, and I thank you with all my heart."

For his part, Roth had every intention of being at the Waldorf to celebrate, and he also wanted to perform. He asked to sing "Jump" with Velvet Revolver, who are scheduled to do two songs in tribute to Van Halen, but he was told the band didn't think they could learn the song and do it justice in time for the ceremony. Then Roth offered to do any other song from his era with Van Halen, at which point he was told that he would not be allowed to perform. So he's decided to skip the event altogether.

Roth told the Los Angeles Times, "I don't make speeches for a living. I sing and dance for my dinner... It's just not an option for me to go and watch some other band -- who are only performing because they have some new record coming out -- do our music. I have nothing against Velvet Revolver -- I'm not familiar with their music -- but that was my three minutes and 22 seconds up there."

Roth also addressed Eddie's health when he said, "Ed is indisposed and working toward a better future here. If Ed ever dries up, this is going to be a stadium act, man... What's happening here with (Eddie and Alex not attending the Rock Hall ceremony) is part and parcel of the same spiral that screwed up the tour."

Roth made his comments about Eddie before the guitarist made his public statement.