During a short interview with Modern Drummer magazine, Alex Van Halen received the 2023 Modern Drummer Hall Of Fame award. Former Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain presented the award and called Alex the second-best drummer in the world.
“It gives me the greatest pleasure and the honor to present to you this 2023 Hall Of Fame award and you truly deserved it, mate. I love you to death, and you’re still the second-best Hall of Fame drummer in the world,” McBrain told him.
While laughing, the Van Halen drummer said, “I don’t know what to say other than thank you. Nicko is someone I’ve known for a long, long, long time. We’re both soldiers in the same kind of line of work.”
“This is kind of a bittersweet moment because I do want to say, a shoutout to all the people in L.A. who may have lost. I know several people have lost their lives, everything in the fires. So let’s keep them in mind,” he added.
McBrain retired from Iron Maiden in early December last year. Since then, he announced new projects — a ‘meat and greet’ event at the Rock N Roll Ribs, and doing some shows once every month or two.
Other than musical projects, the drummer has been offered another project he can keep himself busy with. “I’ve also got a British Drum Company that I can possibly put. There’s some new design stuff that I’ve been asked to work on for some of the hardware. So that’ll take up a nice bit of time, but primarily, it gives me time to be with my family get back into my family life, and then Titanium Tart. That will be the primary focus to playing,” he told Chaoszine.
In other news, Alex also received the Buddy Rich Award at the 2024 Drumeo Awards this year. Drumeo selected the drummer for his impact on rock music.
