Van Halen To Continue Without Cherone

Van Halen will continue on without recently departed singer Gary Cherone. In a press release posted on their Web site (www.van-halen.com), Eddie and the band voiced their regrets about the singer's exit but assured fans that the "departure was both mutual and amicable and they will remain good friends."| The rockers took the opportunity to tell fans that they are currently working on their next album, while Cherone is pursuing new musical ventures. There was no word when or if they'd hold auditions for a replacement singer.

Neither is there any word on what precipitated Cherone's defection, but friends say that as late as two months ago the singer enigmatically informed them that he expected to be back in Boston in November. "There wasn't any bad blood between them," said one friend. "I know Gary and Eddie were close, but both of them knew it just wasn't working creatively." A spokesperson for Warner Bros. concurs, repeatedly insisting that "no one is mad, everybody is friendly, it's all very civilized."

Cherone, former lead singer for Extreme, said in a statement, "I had a great time singing with the band and I wish Eddie, Alex, and Michael all the best. I'll see them in Boston."

Eleanore Ramsey, the founder and director of Boston Rock Opera, who featured Cherone in two mid-Nineties productions of Jesus Christ Superstar as well as last year's Another Night at the Opera, hasn't spoken to the singer recently, but when she last did, they bandied the possibility of Cherone reprising his role in Superstar in the spring for the BRO.

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Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

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