According to the Van Halen News Desk, most VAN HALEN fans are unaware that during the summer of 1996, the band auditioned singer Mitch Malloy to replace Sammy Hagar. Surprisingly, one track from Mitch's audition has leaked online. Check it out in the YouTube clip below.

Mitch Malloy told the story of his day at Eddie Van Halen's 5150 studios to MelodicRock.com: "A guy who worked for their management at the time used to be my road manager and he kept calling me and telling me they were going to fire Sammy and that I was going to be the next singer in VAN HALEN and he was calling and calling and finally I got annoyed by this and told him to stop and that I didn’t think I was a good fit in VAN HALEN and that if he was serious he should have Ed call me. A week later, Desmond Child calls me and says he has just left Ed's house and was writing with them and that they were talking about me and that they were watching my 'Anything At All' video, and that he told them that I was perfect for them, and that they would be lucky to get me, and before I knew it, I was on a plane to L.A. Ed did call, a bunch of times. He was great."

The story on the little-known audition can be found at MelodicRock.com.