Alex Van Halen has been actively promoting his memoir, ‘Brothers,’ with a series of interviews, the latest of which appeared in Billboard last Friday. During the interview, Alex reflected on the different eras of Van Halen, contrasting the original lineup with David Lee Roth to the later years with Sammy Hagar. He emphasized that the band was fundamentally different after Roth’s departure, stating, “What happened after Dave left is not the same band. I’m not saying it was better or worse or any of that. We always gave it our best shot, but the magic was in the first years when we were willing to try anything.”
Despite being invited, Alex chose not to participate in the recent The Best of All Worlds Tour featuring Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani, and Jason Bonham, who was later replaced by Kenny Aronoff due to family issues. When asked about his decision, Alex was clear: “I’m not interested. They’re not doing the band justice. They can do what they want. It’s not my business.” He did not elaborate on why he felt the tour did not honor Van Halen’s legacy.
Additionally, Alex addressed rumors about his retirement following the auction of some of his drum equipment in June. He clarified that the auction was simply a way to clear out storage space and not an indication of him quitting music. Despite ongoing spinal issues, Alex remains optimistic about his future in music, thanks to advancements in technology. Alex also revealed his interest in seeing Brothers adapted into a movie.
[Source: Classic Hits Today]