Editing Van Halen (section)

===1999–2003: Hiatus from public===
Eddie recovered from his hip surgery in November 1999, but from 2000 to early 2004 no statements were made by Van Halen and no music was released. However, information about members past and present trickled in. The Van Halen brothers continued writing at 5150 Studios, Cherone recorded an album and toured with new band [[Tribe of Judah (band)|Tribe of Judah]]. One of the songs that Cherone had written for the scrapped second album with Van Halen, titled "Left For Dead", had its lyrics set to a new musical arrangement with Tribe of Judah.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

[[File:Sammy Hagar and the Waboritas.jpg|alt=The band hugging onstage|thumb|left|After leaving Van Halen, Hagar has focused on his band the Waboritas as well as branching out into the [[Cabo Wabo]] nightclub, merchandise, and alcohol brands.]]
Responding to speculation that he had been approached to replace Cherone, [[David Coverdale]] said, "I called a mutual friend and said, 'Tell Eddie I had nothing to do with this.' It just got ridiculous. I've heard that they were going to approach me, but since I left [[Deep Purple|Purple]] I've always done my own thing. Why would I join anybody else?"<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The big picture: The hands fell off the clock!|magazine=[[Classic Rock (magazine)|Classic Rock]] #28|date=June 2001|page=6}}</ref>

In 2000, the band reunited briefly with David Lee Roth attempting to do a new album, only for disputes with Roth to abort these plans. The recorded demos were among the ones reworked into new songs on 2012's ''[[A Different Kind of Truth]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/van-halen-2000-roth-album/|title = Did van Halen Almost Finish a David Lee Roth Reunion LP in 2000?| date=July 21, 2021 }}</ref> The band also tried to just schedule some concerts with Roth at a later date.<ref name=ant>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vhnd.com/2006/03/17/michael-anthony-breaks-his-silence/|title=Michael Anthony Breaks His Silence|date=March 17, 2006|website=Vhnd.com}}</ref> In 2001, the band had entered early discussions with [[Ozzy Osbourne]] to serve as the next lead vocalist of the band. Negotiations ended, due to the production schedule of ''[[The Osbournes]]'' however.<ref name="2025_RS" />

In the summer of 2002, Roth and Hagar teamed up in the ''Song for Song, the Heavyweight Champs of Rock and Roll'' tour (also known as the 'Sans-Halen' or 'Sam & Dave' Tour). The tour, with both singers headlining, attracted media and audience fascination because it seemed more improbable than ever a Van Halen tour with Roth or Hagar. It drew large crowds and featured no opening acts, Roth and Hagar alternating as the first act. Roth contrasted his personality with Hagar's: "He's the kind of guy you go out with to split a bottle with a friend. I'm the kind of guy you go out with if you want to split your friend with a bottle."{{cn|date=April 2025}} Anthony guested with Hagar's band, [[the Waboritas]], numerous times and sometimes sang lead vocals. During performances, Hagar would tease Anthony by asking, "Do the brothers know you're here?" Anthony never played with Roth. Cherone appeared on occasion. Hagar released a live album (''Hallelujah''), featuring vocals by Anthony and Cherone, and a documentary DVD, ''Long Road to Cabo'', about touring with Roth. While the two singers promoted the tour and publicly claimed mutual respect, rumors of bitter acrimony and mutual loathing swirled. The allegations were later supported by backstage video, which showed the Roth and Hagar camps maintaining strict separation.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

Next, Hagar joined with [[Joe Satriani]] and [[Journey (band)|Journey]] guitarist Neal Schon to form a side project, Planet Us, with Michael Anthony and Deen Castronovo (also of Journey) on drums. The band recorded just two songs and played live a few times before dissolving when Hagar and Anthony rejoined Van Halen.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

On July 4, 2004, Roth performed with the [[Boston Pops]], at United States' annual ''Pops Goes the Fourth'' celebration in Boston. Hagar remained active, releasing five albums and creating his own merchandising brand Cabo Wabo, which lends its name to the line of [[tequila]] he formerly owned,  as well as his franchise of cantinas. He reunited with [[Montrose (band)|Montrose]] in 2003 and 2005 for a few performances and maintained contact with Anthony, often playing with him. With Van Halen inactive, Anthony set up a website and worked on merchandising projects such as his signature [[Yamaha Corporation|Yamaha]] bass and range of hot sauces.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.madanthonycafe.com/ |title=Mad Anthony's Cafe |publisher=madanthonycafe.com |access-date=March 12, 2011}}</ref> He became involved with the annual music industry [[NAMM Show]].