Wolfgang Van Halen joins us in the Drumeo studio to celebrate the incredible legacy of his uncle, Alex Van Halen.
In the video above, Wolf revisits iconic moments from Alex’s career—reacting to photos of his over-the-top drum kits, watching legendary drum solo footage, and—for the first time ever on camera—playing through eight of his favorite Van Halen tracks, including “On Fire,” “Panama,” and “Right Now.”
He also shares personal stories about growing up around Van Halen, what it was like being in a band with his dad, Eddie, and Uncle Alex, and why he believes Alex Van Halen is one of the most underrated drummers in rock history.
Watching Wolf play Alex’s parts reminds you of Alex’s greatness. In only the way Wolf can, he brings such detail and depth to the parts. It’s an absolute joy to watch him play drums, because of the obvious fun he’s having doing it!
Chapters:
00:00 – Intro
00:43 – Why Alex Van Halen’s Matters
01:39 – Alex’s Unique Drum Kit Philosophy (And His Early Setups)
02:12 – “Romeo Delight” by Van Halen (Performance)
03:58 – Alex’s 1986 “Live Without Out A Net” Drum Solo
05:20 – Wolf’s Thoughts On “Hot For Teacher” (+ Performance!)
06:23 – “Loss Of Control” by Van Halen (Performance)
07:08 – Wolf’s Favorite Van Halen Drum Kit
07:31 – “Sunday Afternoon In The Park” by Van Halen (Performance)
08:13 – Alex’s Hide Your Sheep Tour Kit (Diver Down)
08:27 – Alex’s 1982 “Burnin’ In Buenos Aires” Drum Solo
09:20 – Why Alex Used Simmons Electronic Drums
09:39 – “Drop Dead Legs” by Van Halen (Performance)
10:25 – Alex’s 5150 Tour Kit
10:32 – How Wolf Ended Up In Van Halen
11:39 – “On Fire” by Van Halen (Performance)
12:30 – Wolf On What Rehearsing With Van Halen Was Really Like
13:33 – Alex’s 2013 “Live At Stone Music Festival” Drum Solo
14:50 – Wolf’s “Jump” Story From Japan
15:51 – “Jump” by Van Halen (Performance)
17:15 – Taylor Swift Introduces Van Halen At The Billboard Music Awards
17:32 – “Panama” by Van Halen (Performance)
18:09 – The Story Behind The Jimmy Kimmel Live “Panama” Performance
18:56 – Is Alex Van Halen Still Playing Drums Today?
19:56 – “Right Now” by Van Halen (Performance)
21:27 – Outro
If you missed out on Alex Van Halen’s auction held last year, don’t worry – here’s your chance to score a cool piece of Van Halen history from his private collection!
Van Halen Store is proud to offer some of Reverand Al’s personal Drumheads and Backstage Passes. These collectibles are now available to fans for the first time. They are all in very minimal supply. When they’re gone, they’re gone! Shop the Alex Van Halen Collection.