In a new interview with Gastão Moreira of Kazagastão, Alex Van Halen opened up about the album he is developing with Steve Lukather of Toto, built around previously unreleased material created with his late brother Eddie Van Halen.
Alex revealed that the music dates back to sessions intended for the next Van Halen album before Eddie's passing. "Ed and I had a lot of stuff that we made… that we never let go," Alex explained. "We're not gonna release it in its embryonic form… It has to be of the quality and the level of where we left it."
According to Alex, the drums, guitar, and bass were already recorded. Much of the bass was handled by Wolfgang Van Halen, Eddie's son and the band's former bassist. What's missing now is a vocalist — along with what Alex calls "the glue or the spackle" to properly complete the songs.
"Luke is the connective tissue," Alex said. "He can facilitate things that would've taken me 10 times as long… He knows where to put the solo, structure and organization."
Alex also reflected on "Unfinished," the last piece of music he and Eddie wrote together, included with the audiobook version of his memoir Brothers. The instrumental track was intentionally left incomplete — a nod to Franz Schubert's famous "Unfinished Symphony," a favorite of their father.
As for vocals on the new material, Alex revealed that Paul Rodgers (of Free) had been a top choice, but ultimately declined. "He knows he can't do it — which I think is better than saying, ‘Yeah, I can do it,' and then not be able to do it," Alex said.
When asked about other possibilities, including Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, Alex acknowledged the idea but stressed that nothing is set in stone.
With Lukather helping shape the sessions and unreleased Van Halen recordings forming the foundation, Alex remains hopeful the right voice will emerge — and that the project will reach fruition in a way that properly honors his brother's legacy.
