Alex Van Halen Finally Addresses Rumors He Quit Music

After Alex Van Halen auctioned off 350 pieces of memorabilia earlier this year—including drum kits and cymbals—many fans assumed he was stepping away from music for good.

But in a recent interview with Billboard, the legendary drummer cleared up the confusion, saying the rumors were “misinterpreted.” Alex said:

“I’m not quitting. I don’t know where that came from.
“I’ll die with sticks in my hand.”

Still Battling Health Issues

Alex also opened up about his ongoing health challenges, including long-standing spinal issues that were aggravated by an injury at a shooting range in 2022. Despite the setbacks, he’s optimistic about his recovery. “With modern technology we have now, I should be OK in about five years,” he shared.

Many believed Alex had stepped back from music after the death of his brother, Eddie Van Halen, in 2020. His refusal to participate in Van Halen tribute shows and his decision to turn down Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony’s ‘Best of All Worlds’ tour added to the speculation. However, Alex isn’t done with music just yet.

New Music in the Works

He’s been revisiting old recordings he made with Eddie for the audio version of his upcoming memoir, Brothers, and has even released a new instrumental track called “Unfinished.” But Alex isn’t in a rush to share more just yet. He said:

“I do have a certain obligation to keep it to Ed’s standards.
“He was meticulous… and I need access to the right takes.”

He described how the Van Halen brothers would often record small pieces of music and set them aside. Alex explained:

“We didn’t go in the studio like, ‘Yeah, we’re gonna make a record from beginning to end.’ We had little pieces here, little pieces there.
“Then you go back to it and build something from there.”

Alex Van Halen’s memoir, Brothers, will be available starting October 22.