Alex Van Halen wants to set the record straight: he's not retiring from music anytime soon. Despite rumors circulating after he auctioned off a significant portion of his drum collection in June, Alex is still very much in the game.
He explained that the decision to sell over 350 lots of drum kits, personal items, and memorabilia was simply a way to let fans enjoy pieces of his storied career. "This Internet stuff is too dangerous, you know," Alex said. "We have several warehouses full of equipment and my drum tech suggested, you know, instead of leaving this stuff sitting here in the dark, why don't you let people enjoy it who appreciate it. So we did, and we donated some of that to charity, so that's good. I'm a happy camper."
The auction featured several truly iconic items, including the gong from Van Halen's 1980 Invasion Tour, which fetched an impressive $219,600. Other notable sales included his gold record for the 1984 album, which sold for just under $28,000, and a set of three handwritten Van Halen practice notes that brought in $3,312. A portion of the proceeds went to the Ride on Therapeutic Horsemanship charity, an organization close to Alex's heart, as his wife Stine is an equestrian.
There are more items available, such as drumheads and backstage passes at VHND.com.
[Source: Classic Hits Today]