In a candid and emotional revelation, Mitch Malloy has opened up about his experience with Van Halen during the band’s search for a new lead singer after parting ways with Sammy Hagar. Malloy, who was considered for the role and even demoed a song with the band called ‘It’s the Right Time,’ shared his frustration about being left out of the band’s history.
In a post on his YouTube channel, Malloy expressed his dissatisfaction with the way his contributions were treated. “Yeah and I should be able to benefit from the art I worked my entire life to perfect. What person doesn’t get promoted for their accomplishments? In America that’s how it’s supposed to work. Instead of being celebrated as Van Halen’s first choice to replace Sam, I’m left with sticking up for myself,” he wrote, adding, “I’m kinda pissed.”
Malloy also explained why he ultimately turned down the opportunity to join Van Halen. After watching the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards, where the band reunited with David Lee Roth, Malloy felt that the band’s direction was no longer aligned with his vision. He revealed, “I was back in Nashville and turned on the TV to watch. They came out, and Dave came out too…I was like, ‘What? My jaw just dropped.’” Seeing Roth return to the band led Malloy to believe that his chance with Van Halen had passed, and he made the decision to reject their offer, which he conveyed through a letter suggested by Jack Russell of Great White.
Despite the setback, Malloy still holds high regard for his brief collaboration with the band. He acknowledged the strong chemistry between him and Eddie Van Halen, despite being dissatisfied with some of the music presented to him. He also mentioned that, had he joined, they would have created a unique writing dynamic: “We would have grown into a bad ass writing team for sure. I’m extremely melodic as you can hear as this is his music but all my melody and lyric so really 75% my song.”
Malloy also reflected on his admiration for David Lee Roth and how he, too, wanted Roth to return to the band. “I grew up on Van Halen with Dave in it,” he admitted. “Those first albums were amazing. It did what they are today.”
While Malloy’s relationship with Eddie Van Halen was strained after his decision, it did improve when Malloy attended a Van Halen concert in 1998 in Nashville, where Gary Cherone was fronting the band. However, communication between Malloy and Eddie eventually faded, especially after Malloy turned down another indirect offer to join Van Halen.
Now, with the release of a new version of “It’s the Right Time” on his YouTube channel, Malloy is making his voice heard, offering fans a glimpse of what could have been had he become the band’s frontman.