First person Alex Van Halen called after Eddie’s death might surprise you

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As a lifelong fan who has witnessed the ebb and flow of Van Halen’s dynamic, I can wholeheartedly affirm that the bond between Alex and Eddie Van Halen transcended the typical sibling rivalry often associated with rock and roll duos. Their synergy was undeniably the lifeblood of the band, a testament to their unwavering commitment and mutual respect.

Many rock ‘n’ roll bands have tales of sibling rivalry, with The Kinks and Oasis being just two examples. Regrettably, it seems that there are more pairs of brothers who couldn’t stand each other while creating fantastic music than those who enjoyed working together in a group.

In contrast to many other bands, Alex and Eddie Van Halen were indispensable members of Van Halen. Regardless of who sang or played the bass, they were the bedrock upon which the band was built. If either Alex or Eddie hadn’t been there, Van Halen as we knew it would have vanished.

The band has experienced different phases throughout its history. In the beginning, their music was primarily straightforward rock, with a fun vibe, led by vocalist David Lee Roth. Later on, when Sammy Hagar took over as singer, the band’s sound evolved to include more ballads, whether it be for better or worse. Some fans favor the David Lee Roth era, while others prefer the Sammy Hagar era. Most people have an opinion about which vocalist they prefer, but there are some who remain undecided between Roth and Hagar.

The first person Alex Van Halen called after Eddie Van Halen’s death was David Lee Roth

Following Roth’s departure in 1985, tensions ran high between Eddie Van Halen and Roth. A brief reconciliation took place in 1996, during which Roth contributed a few tracks with the band, but another disagreement ensued. It appeared that most of the discord stemmed from Eddie and Roth. Alex, however, held a differing perspective on the events throughout the years.

In the moment the band started playing, the drummer strongly believed that Roth was just as essential to Van Halen’s identity as Eddie and Alex. During an interview with Billboard, Alex openly shared that he considered Roth such a crucial member of the band that when Eddie passed away from a stroke in 2020, Roth was the very first person Alex reached out to.

Alex expressed that the breakup with Roth was the most disheartening event in his life, seeming the most squandered and unfair. This feeling was surpassed only by the loss of his brother. The band’s third crucial element, Roth was not immediately recognized as such due to ongoing conflicts. Consequently, when Ed passed away, Dave was the first person Alex contacted. He felt it was necessary because of their shared history, the familiarity between our families, and the fact that we all started at roughly the same level in the band.

Alex Van Halen hinted at possible future music from the group, with a twist: they may employ AI technology to develop complete songs based on fragments of Eddie’s guitar performances. While these tunes might not reach the peak of their greatest hits, they could potentially be enjoyable. Here’s hoping.

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2024-10-22 17:00