Alex Van Halen, the legendary drummer and co-founder of the iconic rock band Van Halen, has confirmed he is developing a new album in collaboration with Toto guitarist Steve Lukather. Van Halen revealed the news during a January 1 appearance on the Metal Sticks podcast, hosted by Iron Maiden’s Nicko McBrain, noting that the project involves “a couple of other people” and expressing his excitement for the work.
While the drummer did not specify if the record constitutes a formal Van Halen release or a standalone side project, the band has remained dormant since the 2020 passing of Eddie Van Halen. Previous reports indicate the duo may be refining a collection of unfinished archival material. Lukather, a long-time confidant of the brothers, confirmed his involvement, stating that no one else could navigate this creative process with Alex quite like he can. Van Halen has previously estimated that the band’s “vaults” contain enough quality material for three or four additional records, though he emphasized that he intends to take the necessary time to ensure the final products meet his standards.
Analysis: Preserving a Musical Legacy
The collaboration between Alex Van Halen and Steve Lukather represents more than just a musical partnership; it is an exercise in archival preservation. Following Eddie Van Halen’s death in 2020, the future of the band’s unreleased catalog became a subject of intense speculation. By enlisting Lukather—a musician who shared a deep personal and professional bond with the brothers—Alex is ensuring that the “three or four” records worth of music remaining in the vaults are handled with emotional and technical precision.
This process mirrors other significant posthumous efforts in rock history, such as the completion of The Beatles’ “Now and Then” or the extensive curation of Prince’s vault. For Alex, the primary challenge lies in the “thick of it”—the realization that great material often went overlooked during the band’s original run. As seen with the 2024 release of the track “Unfinished,” there is a clear public appetite for these final collaborations. However, the project remains shadowed by long-standing internal friction, specifically the 21-year silence between Alex and former vocalist Sammy Hagar, which highlights the complex interpersonal dynamics that often complicate the management of a legendary band’s estate.
