Journalist and author Greg Prato has shed light on the ongoing tensions between Alex Van Halen and David Lee Roth that continue to prevent a Van Halen reunion. He shared his insights on Booked on Rock.
The author of “The World’s State-Of-The-Art Speed Metal Band: The Megadeth Story 1983-2002” discussed the complex relationship between the surviving Van Halen members and the challenges they face.
“I would love to see one day Dave [Lee Roth], Mike [Anthony], and Alex [Van Halen] just get together,” Prato said. “Whether it be on stage or not, it’d be just cool to see those three guys at least bury the hatchet.”
Prato also addressed concerns about the band members’ current capabilities. He noted their advancing age as a factor.
“The problem now, like we saw at the Ozzy show [Back to the Beginning], is they’re getting kind of old,” he continued. “So, Roth can still cut it, Michael Anthony is still out there [playing and singing], but from what I can see, it seems like Alex Van Halen…he’s not going to be as powerful as he once was.”
The journalist highlighted the contradictory nature of Alex Van Halen’s recent statements about his relationship with Roth.
“It’s weird too how when Alex Van Halen was doing all the publicity for when his book came out, he was saying, ‘Oh, the first person that called me after news broke of Eddie Van Halen dying was actually Dave’…or no, the first person he called was Dave,” Prato explained. “So you hear see hear that, and it’s like, ‘Alright, good. So now they’re on good terms.'”
However, Prato noted that subsequent revelations painted a different picture of their relationship.
“And then, you hear Alex Van Halen saying, ‘We tried to do a tribute tour to Eddie, and David Lee Roth refused to even mention Eddie, and we almost got into a fight,'” he said. “So, I don’t know. These guys will just never get along.”
The current tensions between Alex Van Halen and David Lee Roth are part of a long history of failed reunion attempts that have plagued the band for decades.
American Songwriter reported that Van Halen nearly reunited with David Lee Roth in 1996 during the compilation of a greatest hits package that included tracks from both the Roth and Sammy Hagar eras. The effort collapsed soon after it began. This pattern of near-misses has become a recurring theme throughout the band’s history.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles Times revealed that David Lee Roth has remained active in the music scene. He recently performed on stage and is planning a summer tour for 2025 that includes various venues across the U.S., including state fairs and casinos. This continued activity by Roth contrasts with Alex Van Halen’s more reclusive approach following his brother’s death.
The situation has also affected relationships with other former Van Halen members. Los Angeles Times noted that Sammy Hagar revealed he and Eddie Van Halen had discussed a reunion before Eddie’s death in 2020. Hagar believes Alex is upset with him because he continues to perform and promote his music.
The ongoing disputes highlight how personal relationships within Van Halen have remained fractured even after Eddie Van Halen’s passing. This makes any form of tribute or reunion increasingly unlikely as the surviving members continue to age and drift further apart.
The comments underscore the ongoing challenges facing any potential Van Halen reunion following Eddie Van Halen’s death in 2020.
