There's a Term for This: 5150*

As someone who misspent a huge portion of his youth "listening" (more like melting my ear drums) to the music of Van Halen (an L.A. original), I feel a certain sense of nostalgia over the band's reunion with original frontman David Lee Roth. Although I always appreciated the second iteration of the band -- Van Hagar, as it's known -- that Van Halen was different: softer, poppier, a party band. The original VH with Roth, on the other hand, was one of the great hard-rock acts of all time. "Diamond Dave" is the ultimate showman, and Eddie Van Halen is a revolutionary guitarist. They made for a killer combo.

But Van Halen is also one the great soap operas of all time. This band has had more splits and ill-fated reunions than Elizabeth Taylor. Indeed, part of the fun of following the band is staying atop the relentless saga -- Dave hates Eddie, Eddie hates Sammy, etc. -- that divided fans into competing camps for years. News of the band's reunion seems destined to be followed by news of its re-dissolution. The only question is when, and whether they'll actually complete their scheduled tour first.

But my excitement for the reunion is tempered by the betrayal of Michael Anthony, the band's bassist since the very beginning, who was dumped in favor of Eddie's 16-year-old son, Wolfgang. I realize that nepotism is part of the game in the entertainment biz, but what the Van Halen brothers have done to Mike just ain't right.

Then again, it's about par for the course. We couldn't have all four members of the band getting along, could we?

* 5150 is the section of California's Welfare and Institutions Code dealing with people who must be held, against their wills, for psychiatric reasons. It's also the name of Van Halen's first Hagar-era record, Eddie Van Halen's recording studio, and a line of amps he's endorsed.