Firetalkers: Interview with Michael Anthony of Chickenfoot and Van Halen

To millions of Van Halen fans, bass player Michael Anthony was not only the cucumber-cool glue that held the band together and provided their distinctive high harmonies, but was also the member of the band they could identify with the most; more specifically, a down-to-earth, real guy that you’d want to sit down and have a beer with.

Unfortunately, in 2004, Michael was unceramoniously ousted from Van Halen to make room for Eddie Van Halen’s son Wolfgang in the bassist role. Not to throw a pity party, Michael instead formed a new group with close pal and former Van Halen lead singer Sammy Hagar, legendary guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani and Red Hot Chili Peppers stickman Chad Smith. They dubbed themselves Chickenfoot, and have since released two albums; the second of which is humorously titled Chickenfoot III. The four-piece unit is currently gearing up for the second leg of their U.S. tour in support of it.

Many hard rock fans also know of Michael’s extracirricuar pursuits – hot rods, collecting Mickey Mouse watches, acquiring old unrelased and bootleg Van Halen tapes, and fiery foods. It’s that last passion that chileheads have taken an keen interest in.

Mike – or “Mad Anthony” as he’s sometimes nicknamed – is a well-known heat freak in the rock ‘n’ roll world who hooked up with Ring of Fire Hot Sauce creator Mike Greening of Mike and Diane’s Gourmet Kitchen. Between the collaboration between the two Mikes, they unleashed Mad Anthony’s Hot Sauces, which include a lineup featuring the his original Hot Sauce, the XXXTra Hot Private Reserve (read my review of this here), Fiery Mustard Sauce, Original Style BBQ Sauce and Extra Hot BBQ Sauce, plus an upcoming (and as of this writing untitled) bhut jolokia-based seasoning.

Oddly enough, although I at one time I was a diehard Van Halen fan who once maintained three different VH websites (VHTrading.com, VHFAQ.com and VHGuitar.com), it wasn’t until I become a fiery foods writer that I was granted the opportunity to interview Michael Greening, and now Michael Anthony. Now withour further ado, here’s Mike chatting with me a little about Chickenfoot and a great deal about the wonderous foods that make our mouths feel like it’s on fire…Copyright 2011 ScottRobertsWeb.com.