For 42 years, drummers have debated one of rock's greatest mysteries: What exactly is happening during the opening moments of Van Halen's "Hot For Teacher"? Was it a Lamborghini engine? A hot rod? Electronic drums? Four bass drums? Layered parts? Or was it simply Alex being Alex? In a new Drumeo video titled "Alex Van Halen Fooled Everyone With This Drum Intro," drummer … [Read more...]
Alex Van Halen
Steve Lukather Clarifies Alex Van Halen’s Upcoming Project: “These Are Finished Tracks With Ed And Al”
For months, fans have been speculating about the mysterious project that Alex Van Halen has been developing with longtime friend Steve Lukather. Now, Lukather has offered his clearest explanation yet of what the project actually is — and what it isn't. Speaking with Guitar Player, the Toto guitarist emphasized that the music is not a collection of unfinished scraps pieced … [Read more...]
A Look Back: Van Halen’s ‘OU812’ Released On This Day In 1988
"Oh, You Ate One Too!" Released 38 years ago today - May 24th, 1988! 'OU812' was the second Van Halen album to feature Sammy Hagar as lead singer. It reached number one on Billboard (the band's second consecutive #1), sold over 4 million copies in the US and featured six songs that landed on the Billboard Hot 100 and/or the Mainstream Rock Tracks! Hagar looked … [Read more...]
Alex Van Halen: ‘We Did Call Mike’ Before Wolfgang Joined Van Halen
Alex Van Halen has revealed a surprising detail about the lineup shakeup that led to Wolfgang Van Halen joining Van Halen in 2006. During an interview from earlier this year with Brazilian journalist Igor Miranda, Alex said that he and Eddie Van Halen actually attempted to contact longtime bassist Michael Anthony before bringing Wolfgang into the band — but never heard … [Read more...]
Happy Birthday to a Drumming Legend!
Happy Birthday to Alex — the heartbeat of Van Halen! Born May 8, 1953 in Amsterdam, Holland, Alex helped build one of the greatest rock bands of all time alongside his younger brother, Eddie. From backyard party gigs in Pasadena to selling out arenas around the world, Alex’s drumming became a defining force behind the band’s sound. Fans often focus on Eddie’s guitar … [Read more...]
40 Years Ago: 5150 Takes Van Halen to No. 1
Dreams Realized On April 26, 1986, 5150 officially reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It was anything but inevitable. By 1986, the band had already built one of the most powerful runs in rock. Six albums deep—all of them charting, and all of them shaping what Van Halen was. Yet none had taken that coveted top spot. Then everything changed. New lineup. New … [Read more...]
Van Halen ‘Live in New Haven 1986’ Coming to Vinyl & CD June 5
Van Halen fans are getting another shot at Live in New Haven 1986—this time as a widely available release. A crystal-clear vinyl edition of the album was released today as part of Record Store Day and quickly sold out at many independent record stores. Now, a standard black vinyl version is on the way, set for release on June 5, along with the first-ever standalone CD … [Read more...]
Alex Van Halen Shares Personal Video Tribute to Donn Landee
Following the news of Donn Landee’s passing, Alex Van Halen has shared a brief, personal video tribute; a clip of himself hanging out and reminiscing with Donn Landee, offering fans a rare, candid glimpse of the legendary engineer in his later years. It's embedded here: The accompanying caption said it all: “Rest in Peace Donn Landee.” All of the recent … [Read more...]
Going Mad in Wisconsin: Van Halen Destroys the 7th Floor of the Sheraton Inn
In 1978, Van Halen was a four-man party looking for a place to happen. For the third stop of their first world tour, the band checked into Madison, Wisconsin's Sheraton Inn. The problem was that the seventh floor didn’t survive their visit. Inside the liner notes for their second album, Van Halen II, the band thanks, among others, “The Sheraton Inn (seventh floor), Madison, … [Read more...]
Alex Van Halen Poses for Living Room Portrait by L.A. Artist
Los Angeles artist Robert Vargas recently shared a special behind-the-scenes moment with Alex Van Halen — and Van Halen fans are getting a glimpse inside. (Note that Robert Vargas is the artist who painted the epic Eddie Van Halen mural in Hollywood a few years ago. Yes, that guy!) In a video posted to social media, Vargas is seen sitting on the floor of Alex's living … [Read more...]
Alex Confirms NEW VAN HALEN ALBUM in the Works. Eddie, Alex, and Wolf Have Already Recorded Their Parts
In a new interview with Gastão Moreira of Brazil's Kazagastão, Alex Van Halen has confirmed that his previously mentioned collaboration with Steve Lukather is that Steve is helping Alex put together songs that the three Van Halen's have recorded together (Eddie, Alex, and Wolf). Alex: "Many people have asked, what about releasing unreleased stuff?' Well, we're not gonna … [Read more...]
Van Halen Trail 2026: Historic Pasadena Locations [Video]
Photo by Zeil Zlozower Pasadena played a critical role in the early lives of the Van Halen brothers, David Lee Roth, Michael Anthony, and original Van Halen bassist Mark Stone. The Van Halen Trail 2026 video, filmed this week by VHND contributing writer, Jeff Goebel, documents the real locations connected to the band's history — from childhood homes and rehearsal spaces to … [Read more...]