New York’s Times Square is possibly one of the busiest places in the world, more so on New Year’s Eve, which fully justifies Van Halen’s latest marketing ploy, namely that of releasing footage promoting the band’s new album on a billboard displayed in Times Square last Sunday as millions watched the ball drop to ring in the New Year.

Further to this wise manoeuvre, details of the band’s upcoming world tour were announced a few days later, along with the news that the band will be releasing its first new studio album to feature original singer David Lee Roth in 28 years on February 7.

Prior to that, Van Halen will also release a new single and video on Tuesday, the same day that tickets for the tour will go on sale. The video for the new single was shot at The Roxy, a nightclub on Hollywood’s notorious Sunset Strip. The club was in fact also the band’s rehearsal space for the past two months or so as they gear up for the upcoming tour.

Van Halen first came to international prominence with the release of their self-titled debut album in 1978 and has notched a steady stream of hit singles since, among them Jump, Why Can’t this be Love, Dreams and Panama.

The band has also gone through various line-up changes and hasn’t released a new album since 1998. The return of David Lee Roth alongside founding members Eddie and Alex Van Halen is as close to the original line-up as the band could be, with Eddie’s son Wolfgang taking on the role of bassist following Michael Anthony’s departure in 2006.

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