Van Halen's Ex-wife Reassures Fans.

Eddie Van Halen's ex-wife Valerie Bertinelli has reassured Van Halen fans the guitarist "sounds terrific" despite his current medical concerns.Actress Bertinelli contacted her former husband immediately after rumours the one-time alcoholic had returned to rehab began to circulate earlier this week (beg03Mar08).And now she's stepped forward to let fans know the 53-year-old virtuoso is in much better shape than she thought he'd be in, although she sheds no light on the exact nature of Van Halen's medical issue.Bertinelli tells Canadian newspaper the Edmonton Sun, "I just talked to him a couple of days ago. I understand the curiosity - I was curious until I talked to him. He sounds terrific."He's just being very pro-active. It's not as awful as people think it is.I'm so proud of him right now. He sounded terrific".The actress is hopeful the stalled Van Halen reunion tour - with her and Eddie's son Wolfgang on bass - will "start back up again on the 11th (March, in Charlottesville, Virginia)".Van Halen rescheduled two concerts in Virginia and Georgia at the end of last month (Feb08) and another this week (beg03Mar08), prompting internet reports claiming all tour dates had been pulled indefinitely.

On Thursday (06Mar08), representatives for the rockers insisted the tour was still on, despite announcing Van Halen "is undergoing a battery of comprehensive medical tests to determine a defined diagnosis and recommended medical procedures".