AFI Singer Davey Havok -- Cover Band Could SAVE Van Halen Tour!

Legendary rocker and AFI frontman Davey Havok FULLY supports a cover band taking over the upcoming Van Halen tour -- after the original band pulled out -- but he tells TMZ, there's a catch.

As we reported, Van Halen canceled its upcoming tour claiming the band's too tuckered out for a demanding string of live performances -- so a popular cover band called the Van Halen Army stepped forward, offering to fill in.

Davey says letting the cover band take the reigns is a great idea -- but only if fans aren't duped into thinking they're getting the real thing.