Alex Van Halen Breaks Silence on Studio Project With Steve Lukather
Composite image includes photos by Craig ONeal (CC BY 2.0) and Ryanhuntmuzik (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons. This composite image is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Alex Van Halen has spoken publicly about a long-rumored studio project that links him with Toto guitarist Steve Lukather. The comments offer the clearest picture yet of what the drummer is working on and how deeply it connects to his late brother, Eddie Van Halen. While many details remain uncertain, Alex’s own words shed light on the spirit, limits, and purpose of the recordings.
A Podcast Reveal and Creative Process
Alex confirmed the collaboration during a recent appearance on the podcast Metal Sticks, hosted by Modern Drummer publisher David Frangioni and former Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain. Early in the conversation, he said, “I’m getting ready to do this record with Lukather and a couple of other people. It should be exciting.”
Alex also explained how the studio work is taking shape, pointing to the loose and instinctive methods he once shared with Eddie. He said, “There’s a lot to be said for spontaneity. That’s how Ed and I did a lot of things together in the studio. He would just play, and we would just take snippets of it, and then you elaborate on little ideas and make a song out of it.”
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Unreleased Recordings and Longtime Bonds
It remains unclear whether the recordings will be released under the Van Halen name. Previous reports suggested Lukather was assisting Alex in shaping unreleased material recorded years ago with Eddie. In March, Dutch newspaper De Telegraf quoted Alex saying, “Ed and Steve Lukather were very good friends and they often worked together. There is no one who can do this process with me as well as he can.”
Alex was referring to the long friendship between Eddie and Lukather, which extended beyond casual sessions. Lukather played a role in shaping Eddie’s guitar work on Michael Jackson’s “Beat It,” while Eddie later returned the favor by playing bass on Lukather’s debut solo album. Their musical bond has often been described as close and built on mutual respect.
Clarifications and Public Expectations
Lukather later confirmed parts of the story but moved quickly to limit expectations. Speaking to De Telegraf, he said, “Did Alex say that? Oh, in that case the news is true. Ed, Alex and I were very close for years. It is true that we worked on it together.” He later expanded on his role in a public post.
Lukather said he would not play on a track, writing, “For the record: Ever since Alex Van Halen dropped some we were gonna work together I think there is a huge misunderstanding. I will NOT EVER play a guitar note on a VH song ever! Al asked me to help him go thru a ton of unfinished recordings of Al and Ed writing and recording that never saw the light of day. now that’s all I got.”
