Alex Van Halen has shared more details about his upcoming album project. He revealed that Wolfgang Van Halen played bass on previously unreleased Van Halen recordings, as reported by Kazagastão.
The drummer explained the composition of the unreleased material. He confirmed his nephew’s involvement in the bass parts.
“Most of ’em is Wolf [Wolfgang Van Halen, Eddie’s son and former Van Halen bassist], because these are recordings that were made ready for the next record,” Alex Van Halen said.
He provided additional context about the incomplete nature of these recordings. He also explained the circumstances that prevented their original completion.
“Well, these are recordings that were going to be the next [Van Halen] record, and that were stopped because [Ed] didn’t live that long,” he continued. “The drums are already recorded. The drums, the guitar and the bass are already in there. What we didn’t have is a vocalist, and obviously the subtleties and the glue — we call it the glue or the spackle.”
Alex Van Halen is currently working on this album project with Toto guitarist Steve Lukather. He is incorporating these previously unreleased Van Halen recordings.
The project represents a significant undertaking for Alex. He has been carefully considering how to honor his brother’s legacy while maintaining the band’s high standards.
Ultimate Classic Rock reported that Alex emphasized his commitment to quality. He stated “We’re not gonna release it in its embryonic form because it wouldn’t make sense. It has to be of the quality and the level of where we left it.” This approach reflects the band’s dedication to preserving Eddie Van Halen’s artistic vision even in posthumous releases.
The scope of unreleased material appears to be substantial. YouTube sources indicated that Alex noted there could be three or four records worth of material stored in the 5150 vault. This suggests a treasure trove of Eddie Van Halen’s work that fans have never heard.
The search for a vocalist has proven challenging for the project. Ultimate Classic Rock noted that Alex has considered several high-profile singers, including Robert Plant, whom he called an “ideal choice,” though Plant is currently touring. He also approached Paul Rodgers, who declined due to health issues. Past Van Halen vocalists are not being considered for the project.
The collaboration with Steve Lukather adds another layer of musical expertise to the endeavor. Metal Injection confirmed that the Toto guitarist’s involvement brings additional creative input to help complete these unfinished recordings while respecting Eddie’s original musical intentions.
