A planned Van Halen reunion is now off after lead singer David Lee Roth refused to pay tribute to Eddie Van Halen on stage, according to the late guitarist’s brother, Alex.
The Van Halen drummer, 71, told Rolling Stone that the reunion made it as far as rehearsals before he broached the subject with Roth, 70, leading to an argument that derailed the potential tour.
Eddie died in 2020 due to complications from throat cancer. He is survived by son Wolfgang Van Halen, 33, whom he shared with ex-wife Valerie Bertinelli.
“The thing that broke the camel’s back, and I can be honest about this now, was I said, ‘Dave, at some point, we have to have a very overt — not a bowing — but an acknowledgment of Ed in the gig,’” Alex said. “If you look at how Queen does it, they show old footage. And the moment I said we gotta acknowledge Ed, Dave f—in’ popped a fuse. … The vitriol that came out was unbelievable.”
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“It’s just, my God. It’s like I didn’t know him anymore,” Alex continued. “I have nothing but the utmost respect for his work ethic and all that. But, Dave, you gotta work as a community, motherf—er. It’s not you alone anymore.”
At the time of the argument, Alex’s health had already jeopardized the tour. The Van Halen drummer began feeling numbness, especially in his feet, from peripheral neuropathy. He feels it could have been “an omen from above” not to push forward.
Roth declined to comment to Rolling Stone, but Alex insists the two are still in touch. In the past, Alex says, the pair has gotten along better than any other duo in the band. When Eddie died, Roth was Alex’s first call.
Alex added that he even consulted with Queen’s Brian May, picking his brain about how the band continues to play while honoring their late singer, Freddie Mercury.
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Ultimately, Alex is at peace with the reunion tour falling through.
“It’s too bad on one hand, but it’s fine on the other,” he said. “Because now, in retrospect, playing the old songs is not really paying tribute to anybody. That’s just like a jukebox, in my opinion. … To find a replacement for Ed? It’s just not the same.”
Four years after his brother’s death, Alex says he can still feel Eddie’s spirit with him.
“Ed’s been around a couple times,” he said. “He was there this morning.”
More than anything, however, he misses his brother’s physical presence.
“I just miss him,” he added. “I miss the arguments. I live with it every day. And I can’t bring him back. I can’t make things right.”
