Three Van Halens prepare to tour

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- U.S. rock guitar icon Eddie Van Halen has announced his eponymous band will hit the road in 2007 with a third Van Halen on board -- his son.

Longtime Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony has parted with the band and Wolfgang Van Halen, 15, will be joining his dad and his drummer uncle, Alex Van Halen, G4's TheFeed reported.

"He has been in the studio with his dad and uncle rehearsing and writing for an upcoming summer 2007 tour," Van Halen spokeswoman Janie Liszewski told the Web site.

"Wolfgang most certainly has inherited the Van Halen musical genius gene," she continued. "At 15 years of age his knowledge, understanding, skill, and command of multiple instruments is impressive."

Liszeweski refused to reveal whether original Van Halen vocalist David Lee Roth would be fronting the band in the next go-round, TheFeed said.

Roth, whose tenure with Van Halen ran from 1978-1985 was replaced by Sammy Hagar. Extreme singer Gary Cherone's short stint as Van Halen vocalist ended in 1999.