That black and white "Fair Warning" tour kit is still, to this very day, the coolest looking, most badass monster kit ever... EVER! and played by a fucking MONSTER drummer!!! Total excellence on both counts.
@@Kinger1625 I had this vision for some time of Alex playing a new kit in the same or similar configuration as he did in more recent days… same dimensions, rack, hardware, and all the other modern streamlined features, and in the black and white striped covered wrap
probably the most definitive interview of Alex. He really felt relaxed and enjoyed the personality of the young jewish kid interviewing him. Excellent stuff. Alex does not like doing interviews at all, you can tell he enjoys this kid. Thanks for putting this out
These interviews are absolutely gold! I saw the band in 79 in Tucson and one of the greatest shows ive ever seen. They were out to rule the world and they did. Alex is such a great interview and one of the greatest drummers alive. I think he has no desire to play drums without his brother. He certainly doesn't have anything to prove. All these years later we cant get enough of Ed andAl. God bless them and thanks for all the great music. The mighty Van Halen will live forever!
He sounds like a cool man and has so many stories. In a way I identify with the VH brothers. My family also immigrated to a foreign country when I was 13 we didn't speak the language my dad worked his ass off to provide for the family and we were raised to become strong minded adults. Great interview. Thanks so much for posting.
I think Alex had a more worldly sense of humour than Edward did…He was more outrageously FUNNY too. I remember this one interview during the recording of the 5150 album in early 1986 and with this interviewer J. D Considine Alex got so fed up with him asking so many questions about Roth rather than VH mk 2 that Alex just got up and went and had a pee in Edward and Valerie’s swimming pool….lol.😅…Ed was furious shouting -‘Hey AL ? OFF the SIDE man’ !!…And Hagar turned to Ed and said -‘aw, man ,,are you gonna let him p*ss in your pool’ ?? Is there chlorine in there ‘ ? …And Alex goes -‘Do you have any idea how many people go to public swimming pools and take a leak’ ? 🤔😳..lol…Ed hit the ceiling.😂
Ed wasn’t on the ‘fame trip ‘ and ‘look at me’ trip like Roth was…Ed just LOVED to PLAY and created with it….That’s why you can understand why Alex couldn’t bear to see someone like Ed being screwed over by ego driven people like Roth….It was like your younger brother is like Thomas Edison and Mozart and he’s being messed about by a mere fame chaser like Rabid Lee Froth…and what I don’t like is that Roth today is currently attacking Ed’s son Wolfgang and his Mother Val when Edward is no longer here to defend them 😔
Steve thanks for all you've brought for us over the years , your first interview I read was when the guys were out during the 5150 tour , that magazine changed my life !
I am loving these interviews with Alex. They serve as a tribute to Ed and his character, as well as provides in depth accounting of Van Halen at a deeper level.
Yes, Alex was actually very generous to Gene Simmons … . TheBill Aucoin guy however sounded as daft as a brush…The way Big Al sent him up was really funny….I don’t think Noel Monk was quite as bad as that but by 1985 I think Ed and Alex were more experienced and they saw that Noel Monk was too much on Roth’s side rather than for the whole band. I think they did better with Ed Leffner who was more for the whole band really.
According to Paul Stanley has said that he and Aucoin decided to go against the idea because GENE would be tied up too much and take away from KISS, which is perfectly understandable. Probably the best for all in the long run. That does NOT negate the HUGE favor that Gene did for them. Gene has never had a bad thing to say about VH from then til now.
Set a side they were in a band together since birth, but that's his brother. His heart and soul must ach for his brother so much becouse I have soooooooooo much love for my brother's it would be devastating to loose one of them. Al God bless you and thank you so much for your work through the years.....p.s. I play the drums and I would love it so much to hear about his experiences with the drummers he's met through the years..buddy rich ,Jeff porcaro and so on.... I have a million questions for him concerning that subject...peace alex....
There's a story that was going around in the early days probably at the whiskey or rainbow and John Bonham took a swing at Alex. Great story if it's true.
This is wonderful! Great stories and love the tidbits of backstory on the grandparents. I wish there could be more of that. Perhaps in Al's book? His finger!!! OMG!!! I'm glad they were able to fix it else who knows how that could've changed history!! Steve and Adam, thank you both again for these gifts! I guess this is the one where the batteries were going down in the cassette machine. Doesn't matter cuz CC picked it up just fine! Super grateful guys! xx
Really wish Alex would get out and play i know he misses his brother and he's really only ever played with him but he's still got it would hate for him to just fade away and never play again.
Agreed. He's a great drummer. Both brothers were very insular though, so it's doubtful Alex will ever go out there again with someone else, even of similar calibre to EVH. That said, I still hold out hope of an all-star tribute concert. It's the very least that should be done for the legacy of that band, and the brothers that were stellar players.
I had a similar relationship with my brother, and although it's been 14 months, I can't even leave the couch, and have resorted to selling my instruments, whatever, just because my life was tied with my younger brother. Its too late to start over, but I'm glad Alex is writing a book, and it might be the last thing he does in public.
@@LoyalOpposition My condolences. Dealing with the pain is a process. I don't think it's good to make major decisions when grieving a loss of a loved one. Think about what he would want for you.
Like Alex, I have a younger sibling who I’ve always looked out for (through the years); it’s evident that Alex did this with Eddie. Psychologically, a big part of the brothers’ perfect playing was obviously done in an effort to make their father, Jan, proud (who was also a true professional).
Again, this is fantastic! Al has so much info, put him and Ed together and you get a better view of the big picture according to the two musical geniuses! I mean that too, Al was just as much of a musical genius as Ed was. Master of all things in time and space, especially live…he kept that band on the rails so well when I saw them anyways. Not to mention underrated as a drummer. The roll on the first beat of Women in love in the chorus, those are the small things, that he created that people just don’t get…and that’s one example. His brush work on Big Bad Bill…great! I miss Ed! I miss Van Halen. These guys were so good. They are so good, just press play!!! ❤
Did he say his mom Eugenia was in a prison camp during WWII?? I also don’t remember hearing about Alex having a machine shop accident, but heard the one about his dad, but it affected his ability to play. I had been to Den Helder which is where the Dutch Navy is based.
💚2024✨I had the opportunity of shaking hands with VH at a backstage meet-and-greet, personally presenting them with artwork I did (Millennium Feast/Valerie & Frankenstein), they liked it! I often wonder what VH did with that artwork...is it up on the wall somewhere or in a storage closet? 🎠🌈🌈🌈💍🌈🌈🌈🔥 🎸 keeping the Faith 💜😎
@@SteveRosenInterviews Thank You Mr. Rosen for these precious gems of an interview with Alex Van Halen! And thank you for your reply, enjoy my video and book. God bless 💜😎
That black and white "Fair Warning" tour kit is still, to this very day, the coolest looking, most badass monster kit ever... EVER! and played by a fucking MONSTER drummer!!! Total excellence on both counts.
Amen to that! Love this kit, and his playing is nothing short of amazing!
@@Kinger1625 I had this vision for some time of Alex playing a new kit in the same or similar configuration as he did in more recent days… same dimensions, rack, hardware, and all the other modern streamlined features, and in the black and white striped covered wrap
probably the most definitive interview of Alex. He really felt relaxed and enjoyed the personality of the young jewish kid interviewing him. Excellent stuff. Alex does not like doing interviews at all, you can tell he enjoys this kid. Thanks for putting this out
These interviews are absolutely gold! I saw the band in 79 in Tucson and one of the greatest shows ive ever seen. They were out to rule the world and they did. Alex is such a great interview and one of the greatest drummers alive. I think he has no desire to play drums without his brother. He certainly doesn't have anything to prove. All these years later we cant get enough of Ed andAl. God bless them and thanks for all the great music. The mighty Van Halen will live forever!
He sounds like a cool man and has so many stories. In a way I identify with the VH brothers. My family also immigrated to a foreign country when I was 13 we didn't speak the language my dad worked his ass off to provide for the family and we were raised to become strong minded adults. Great interview. Thanks so much for posting.
But I think Alex interviews are better than Eddie’s. He has a lot of details a lot of information it’s awesome.
I think Alex had a more worldly sense of humour than Edward did…He was more outrageously FUNNY too. I remember this one interview during the recording of the 5150 album in early 1986 and with this interviewer J. D Considine Alex got so fed up with him asking so many questions about Roth rather than VH mk 2 that Alex just got up and went and had a pee in Edward and Valerie’s swimming pool….lol.😅…Ed was furious shouting -‘Hey AL ? OFF the SIDE man’ !!…And Hagar turned to Ed and said -‘aw, man ,,are you gonna let him p*ss in your pool’ ?? Is there chlorine in there ‘ ? …And Alex goes -‘Do you have any idea how many people go to public swimming pools and take a leak’ ? 🤔😳..lol…Ed hit the ceiling.😂
Ed wasn’t on the ‘fame trip ‘ and ‘look at me’ trip like Roth was…Ed just LOVED to PLAY and created with it….That’s why you can understand why Alex couldn’t bear to see someone like Ed being screwed over by ego driven people like Roth….It was like your younger brother is like Thomas Edison and Mozart and he’s being messed about by a mere fame chaser like Rabid Lee Froth…and what I don’t like is that Roth today is currently attacking Ed’s son Wolfgang and his Mother Val when Edward is no longer here to defend them 😔
Welcome to our ool. Notice there is no P in it. Keep it that way.@@walterevans2118
Way better than Eds interviews
Yep Not everyone asking HOW DO YOU DO IT ??? 😊
Steve thanks for all you've brought for us over the years , your first interview I read was when the guys were out during the 5150 tour , that magazine changed my life !
Wow, thanks
I am loving these interviews with Alex. They serve as a tribute to Ed and his character, as well as provides in depth accounting of Van Halen at a deeper level.
Thanks Steve!
This is the best interview ever! What a gift AVH & EVH. Thank you Steve. 🙏✍️🎶
Awesome Steve!
So glad you had another one after listening to three. I was kind of bummed. It was only three.
Very cool props to gene Simmons
Yes, Alex was actually very generous to Gene Simmons …
. TheBill Aucoin guy however sounded as daft as a brush…The way Big Al sent him up was really funny….I don’t think Noel Monk was quite as bad as that but by 1985 I think Ed and Alex were more experienced and they saw that Noel Monk was too much on Roth’s side rather than for the whole band. I think they did better with Ed Leffner who was more for the whole band really.
According to Paul Stanley has said that he and Aucoin decided to go against the idea because GENE would be tied up too much and take away from KISS, which is perfectly understandable. Probably the best for all in the long run. That does NOT negate the HUGE favor that Gene did for them. Gene has never had a bad thing to say about VH from then til now.
Set a side they were in a band together since birth, but that's his brother. His heart and soul must ach for his brother so much becouse I have soooooooooo much love for my brother's it would be devastating to loose one of them. Al God bless you and thank you so much for your work through the years.....p.s. I play the drums and I would love it so much to hear about his experiences with the drummers he's met through the years..buddy rich ,Jeff porcaro and so on.... I have a million questions for him concerning that subject...peace alex....
There's a story that was going around in the early days probably at the whiskey or rainbow and John Bonham took a swing at Alex. Great story if it's true.
True!!!!!!! Or close to a punch ..... ha ha....rock and roll baby.
Thanks again Steve.
This is wonderful! Great stories and love the tidbits of backstory on the grandparents. I wish there could be more of that. Perhaps in Al's book? His finger!!! OMG!!! I'm glad they were able to fix it else who knows how that could've changed history!! Steve and Adam, thank you both again for these gifts! I guess this is the one where the batteries were going down in the cassette machine. Doesn't matter cuz CC picked it up just fine! Super grateful guys! xx
More to come!
What really happened is Gene was easily sidetracked from his obligations to Kiss.
Bill Acoin and Paul Stanley put the brake’s on signing Van Halen.
Did Kiss’s manager and Paul Stanley not want to sign them ?
@@walterevans2118 Yes, read Paul’s book.
Thanks again, Great stuff
My pleasure!
Fantastic! Thank you.
Thanks!
Cool..nice to here their history..their Dad was big influence *
Really wish Alex would get out and play i know he misses his brother and he's really only ever played with him but he's still got it would hate for him to just fade away and never play again.
Agreed. He's a great drummer. Both brothers were very insular though, so it's doubtful Alex will ever go out there again with someone else, even of similar calibre to EVH. That said, I still hold out hope of an all-star tribute concert. It's the very least that should be done for the legacy of that band, and the brothers that were stellar players.
That connection he had with his brother. It wouldn't be the same with another band.
I had a similar relationship with my brother, and although it's been 14 months, I can't even leave the couch, and have resorted to selling my instruments, whatever, just because my life was tied with my younger brother. Its too late to start over, but I'm glad Alex is writing a book, and it might be the last thing he does in public.
@@LoyalOpposition 🤘🏼
@@LoyalOpposition My condolences. Dealing with the pain is a process. I don't think it's good to make major decisions when grieving a loss of a loved one. Think about what he would want for you.
Wow that’s why they’re successful. Also he worked at a machine shop 12 hours and then goes and plays at night with his dad at 18. It’s crazy.
Yes, they worked really HARD at what they did.
That explains how he came up with some of the cool modifications on his drumset.
13 days before Eddie and Sammy played Farmaid.
Like Alex, I have a younger sibling who I’ve always looked out for (through the years); it’s evident that Alex did this with Eddie.
Psychologically, a big part of the brothers’ perfect playing was obviously done in an effort to make their father, Jan, proud (who was also a true professional).
I had a younger sibling who I spent my entire life teaching, hoping he'd be the best/smartest person, but he checked out at 37 and I can't start over.
Again, this is fantastic! Al has so much info, put him and Ed together and you get a better view of the big picture according to the two musical geniuses! I mean that too, Al was just as much of a musical genius as Ed was. Master of all things in time and space, especially live…he kept that band on the rails so well when I saw them anyways. Not to mention underrated as a drummer. The roll on the first beat of Women in love in the chorus, those are the small things, that he created that people just don’t get…and that’s one example. His brush work on Big Bad Bill…great!
I miss Ed! I miss Van Halen. These guys were so good. They are so good, just press play!!! ❤
Did he say his mom Eugenia was in a prison camp during WWII?? I also don’t remember hearing about Alex having a machine shop accident, but heard the one about his dad, but it affected his ability to play. I had been to Den Helder which is where the Dutch Navy is based.
POOR JAN 😔
🚬😎 cool dude
The Van Halens were hard working immigrants.
Alex seems like an honest ass clown kids.
Audio quality is not professional. But interesting interview…
As professional as it needed to be for a dictaphone/tape recorder - for conducting an interview.
💚2024✨I had the opportunity of shaking hands with VH at a backstage meet-and-greet, personally presenting them with artwork I did (Millennium Feast/Valerie & Frankenstein), they liked it! I often wonder what VH did with that artwork...is it up on the wall somewhere or in a storage closet?
🎠🌈🌈🌈💍🌈🌈🌈🔥
🎸 keeping the Faith 💜😎
Thanks for sharing!!
@@SteveRosenInterviews
Thank You Mr. Rosen for these precious gems of an interview with Alex Van Halen! And thank you for your reply, enjoy my video and book. God bless 💜😎
@@josephq2228 Great you got to show them your artwork. Nice.
@@walterevans2118
Thank you Walter, join me and feel free in getting the Word out...🎶keep stirring up the Jazz in the Palace Daniel!! 🎸💜😎
@@josephq2228 oh yes …..lol
Poor ALEX too 🤥