For the backstory of this podcast kzfaq.info/get/bejne/aa2DmKeCnp7cgoU.html

Way underrated drummer … one of the best

Heard in an interview with David Lee Roth that the brown M&Ms was a quality check in their contract to verify if the venue / promoter actually read it. If they saw brown M&Ms more than likely other more impotent details were missed. Pretty ingenious.

Alex Van Halen is a top 10 drummer in the greatest drummers of all time, he's top 5 in my book, he's just a bad ass, and his drums are distinctive

Awesome interview Alex is the man with all the brains

One of the best hard rock drummers in the fucking world.

Awesome,never hear Alex by himself!Thank You!!

This interview is a gem. With David you got a Lotta hot air, with Eddie I think you had a 50-50 chance of a good interview. However, Alex was really good. Very informative with a little humor but sounds like a true musician. I’m a big fan of the band and of course I miss Ed Van Halen. It would be nice to hear them again…

This is actually July 1980. Probably on or about the 25th, when VH played the Boston Gardens. a.) Alex mentions "And the Cradle Will Rock" on the "new album" (Women and Children First) / b. Alex mentions having recently played "PinkPop" which VH played in May of 1980. / c.) They mention the last time in Boston, when VH played the Orpheum, which would have been 5/13/79

These interviews are gold..thanks for putting these up!!

His drum work on both 'Fair Warning' and 'For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge' is raw power, steady drive, heavy touch. And those are my two all time favorite VH records. Alex van Halen

It was probably Ezren who said “it’s my record, you’re gonna do it my way…”

"Our music doesn't need acoustics", Alex Van Halen

Eddie is in this interview too. Love it!

That was very cool to hear.

Excellent interview - thank you for making it available

VH played Boston garden on 7/25/80. excellent interview.

This is really fun ! I like to hear these honest guys ! Real musicians! And now we will miss it a lot ! But their music stays relevant ! Compliments

This was awesome. Thanks for sharing

They saved the liking of brown for the SOUND. The "M-80" thing...when I saw them that year in New Haven, a large sounding charge went off, and Dave proceeded to say he'd kick the "f-ing ass" of the perpetrator...but then I heard a rumor that it seemed to happen in every city, so I questioned that it was part of the act. Eduardo threw a cigarette at me, I was honored.

Typical drummer... smart, funny, observant, good looking, intelligent...

Man, Alex VanHalen is a wicked smart dude.

Nice to hear Alex give props to The Damned. Great band.

Fair Warning is one of the greatest rock albums of all time. Just press play.

It’s funny how so many say he was underrated. I’ve always felt like the band was 4 incredible musicians no matter the lineup. He’s gotten plenty of props from fans his entire career. AVH is one of the best drummers of all time.

Exellent. Alex is great to listen to. Thanks

impressed, alex is good at breaking situations down into the smaller elements that make them up. dk if hes being entirely honest about how much he went to school becuz he did eventually enroll in community college which probs means he had a high school diploma

Alex should’ve been the mouthpiece, he’s more coherent than Ed and Dave put together!

Captain Sensible speaks!Thanks man!

Great drummer and an extremely sharp mind! WOW!

Can't agree with Alex on The Damned. The music is there as well as the show. Great interview. Big Rock 4ever!

Ted Templeman was a genius

I picture Alex pounding out fresh beats /rhythms while Edward matches some riffs writing original jams weeks or months before recording began. IMO

Alex had/has a real great sense of humor!! Gotta love it. Thanks Alex for being like a big brother to me as well.

It’s a shame Al didn’t do more interviews and even tutorials about drums and stuff.

Love that they didn't at the time reveal the true meaning behind the brown M&M's.

Great interview. Interesting comments about the industry. If you cannot trust live performances, why would you trust anything on a record? It is hard to know what goes on behind the scenes. Interesting comments on art, very down to earth take on what art means. There is no sharp line between high and low art, popular and classical music. Classical education means learning from past achievements. Although at one point it is confused with learning theory. What education really means is not having to reinvent the wheel. People have been making music for a long time.

All that musical training DID have a good influence because it makes you aware of musical form, disciplines your understanding, makes you aware of what you're doing and how you're doing it. Hooks, all that. Like your classical training influences your playing. What I mean is that nothing is wasted. No knowledge is useless, because it disciplines your mind. Of course hard Rock and heavy metal is art. Anything that moves people is art.

great interview

I mentioned this once, but can't find the comment. It's worth mentioning again though... at -21:53 Alex talks about their basic easy to understand lyrics. I honestly think he's referring to Neil Peart and RUSH... especially the 2112 album... long time RUSH fans say that Van Halen was known to criticize RUSH for being "unreasonably complex", and that Dave would make fun of their album covers But seeing how RUSH pulled a 40 plus year history racking up tons of albums and live albums... you can't even count how many they've done. And all the while there was never animosity within the group... basically, Dave should be eating his words regarding RUSH these days. Back then, thry likely thought that RUSH would never be able to adapt to the change in times znd would fade away... he was wrong about that

It's funny Alex quote of "one day at a time' and says it "sounds like a fucking movie/TV show". Little did he know...

Great interview!! Got a few words wrong on the transcript though. Like "Random" is actually "Rather" and others but not too much out of whack. Really great to hear these old tapes though! Thank you!

This fellow is brilliant

The good ole days (daze!)

Alex is a sharp guy. Speaks well and is straight forward. Normal guy in more normal times.

Wow, this was pretty incredible to hear!

Drummers don't swing anymore. Al needs to do some speaking on how he developed his technique and what his vision is on playing.

Wow. Alex should have been the spokesperson. Or at least. Done way more interviews. He is sharp on point. Articulate

That was pretty awesome! Fun to hear Alex. He sure was all over the place, reminded me of Dirk Diggler when he was on those coke benders. 😝🥁👍🏻

Either he sounds hauntingly like Ed in some parts, or he is in the interview too.

very well spoken

The family moved to Pasadena in 1962.

I dont get the part where Alex says they moved here, meaning la from Amsterdam for him and Eddie, 10 years ago.so if this interview is 81 that would mean Alex would of been 18 and ed 16 10 years before, but its said that they moved to the states in 62 and ed always says he was 7 in one interview and 8 in another.so seemed to be way off what he says here.

If there’s brown M/Ms, they didn’t read the rider. Simple as that

Love Alex..Rockin Show 🤘🖤✌

Good lord he was my age in this interview. Makes me feel all unaccomplished😭

I agree with that last comment. Alex, this interview, he is coherent, personable, knowledgeable. Dave was always the same. Never any of that. He was always about hyperactive gibberish. Great interview.

10:16 (mumbles) deciphered ... he says " I'll be one of the first to get out and," get a hot dog"

Alex gotta work on his math, ha ha. I figure, the time of this interview, he must’ve been around 28. From what I read, I think he was 10 or maybe a little older when they moved here. Over 15 years from the time of this interview. But for some reason, he really wanted to distance himself from LA. Saying they’re not from LA. And they just moved 10 years ago, ha ha. Then he talked about putting up flyers all over LA. They created their style in LA, wrote all their music in LA. Made their starred in LA, all their careers to LA. I guess even someone in a big band like Van Halen, wants to sound kind of cool and act like they are outsiders. Alex and Ed were a little defensive, always felt they had something to prove. And I’m glad they did, and had great lives. 😝🤘🏻🎸🇺🇸🥁🔥

I thought it would be drum tracks but this'll do!

Interview at 2:23

nice

Why does he say he got to LA ten years ago? If he is 28 here, that would have made him 18 and his family moved to Pasadena when he was maybe 5 or so…..weird

Well coked up here.

☆Alex Van Halen☆ 🥁Amazing Drummer🥁 ☆Keith Moon☆ ☆Bonzo☆ ☆Pretty Purdie☆ ☆Ringo☆ ☆J. D. Sumner☆ ☆Bun E. Carlos☆ ☆Joey Kramer☆ ☆Hal Blaine☆ ☆Steve Smith☆ ☆Eric Singer☆ ☆Steve Jordan☆ ☆Dave Grohl☆ ☆Charlie Watts☆ ☆Frank Beard☆ ☆Carmine Appice☆ ☆Tommy Aldridge☆ ☆Dave Clark☆

We take it one day at a time. Oh the irony...

You should do axl rose. Nice vid

I guess ill go "there"...for those who might be curious about the "M&M's" story...it is true! As Alex did agree. Whst he didnt convulge, was the reason it was written into the contract about no brown mms..Dave later explained that it was a kinda shifty way of making sure the tour managers and their roadies actually READ THE CONTRACT. Most of the contract involved security, equipment and safety issues ...it was a sort of test. ...

9 or 10 dollars for a ticket. My how times have changed!😳

Al is talking 100mph. Coked up? He has a tongue in cheek or sarcastic tone.

Ohh Ohh Little Dreamer Alex I love you and thank you Brother From Dan in Sebring Keep the Speed Pedals to the Metal

5/8/23 It is time to do a tribute show for Eddie Van Halen.

Hey, did they do the live thing when they recorded in the studio throughout their entire career, even with Sammy?

Al is sharp

he lied about "growing up in Holland" and "we've only been here about 10 years ago." If this was 1981.

10:18 "I'll be one of the first to get out and get a hot dog." You're welcome. 🌭

The mighty Van Halen !!!!!!

I wish the original four could have stayed together, thar was the sound.

al is my pal !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think Alex no longer wants to drum without his brother playing guitar and Wolfgang no longer wants to play VH songs without his dad. Wolf said in Oct 2020 when his dad passed that VH is disbanded. Sammy Hagar and Mike are carrying on the VH torch and maybe Dave as well even though he wanted to retire from music. The old farts have to quit eventually. Aerosmith is retiring after final tours. So, as of now there is nobody with the last name of Van Halen playing Van Halen songs right now. I think Eddie's passing was the final nail in the coffin for the band. He was the sound of VH with his unique guitar playing. Their final concerts with Roth as lead singer again were in October 2015. Eddie had planned a reunion tour with Sammy and Mike coming back but his passing nixed that. VH was inactive for about 5 years before Eddie's passing. And there was going to be a VH tribute concert to honor Eddie but Wolf said dysfunction among surviving former VH members nixed that as well. Wolf played some VH songs from the early 80's at the Taylor Hawkins tribute concert in Sept 2022. He felt that was his closure with VH stuff.

AVH rules

He talks like Abed on 'Community'.

That ain't what eddie said about recording in 82

Why pay $9 or $10 for a ticket 😂❤️

Did anybody catch about halfway thru he was getting irritated. And directed the interviewer to talk about their influences? Thought uhoh this is about to get ugly... lol

I fucking WISH I could pay just $10 to see Yes.

Did anybody catch the "one day at a time" reference? lol

32:57

One day at a time…..foretold the future for Ed….

Now 👁want M&M's

Alex ran the band. Ed was a mouthpiece

👍👍 ff to 2:20

i wish they would have stuck with Ted after 1984

LOL......"why pay $9 or $10 for a ticket"

✌️🙂❤️🎗️🇺🇲

Skip to 2:21

Why does it say this is from both 1980 and 1981? Fix the error. A commenter below has been kind enough to determine it is from July 1980, but don't you care enough to correct the discrepancy?

did eddie- with van halen- ever record with any other drummer? case closed!

Funny how he cites The Eagles as being from California-none of them actually were, either.

Rev Al