Van Halen Reunion Cancelled Due to Roth's Actions

David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen had a complicated relationship for many years, which ultimately derailed a planned reunion tour after Eddie's passing, according to the band's drummer and Eddie's brother, Alex Van Halen, in an interview with Rolling Stone.

Alex revealed, "The thing that broke the camel's back, and I can be honest about this now, was when I told Dave, 'At some point, we need to have a clear acknowledgment of Ed during the show.' I suggested we do something like Queen, who shows old footage." Alex recalled that Roth reacted extremely negatively to this idea. "The moment I said we need to honor Ed, Dave completely lost it. The anger that came out was shocking."

Alex had previously discussed with Brian May from Queen how they continue to perform without their late frontman, Freddie Mercury. He felt that Roth was offended by the suggestion of acknowledging Eddie, which led to a heated exchange. "I’m from the street," Alex stated. "You talk to me like that, and I’m ready to fight. That's how it ended."

Roth has not provided any comments for the magazine, and Entertainment Weekly has reached out for further statements.

Reflecting on their relationship, Alex said, "It's like I didn’t know him anymore. I respect his work ethic, but, Dave, you have to work together as a team. It’s not just about you anymore."

Despite his disappointment over the tour not happening, he mentioned that he is still dealing with the aftermath of a back injury he sustained in 2022. "On one hand, it's unfortunate, but on the other, playing the old songs doesn’t truly honor anyone. It feels more like a jukebox, in my opinion. Replacing Ed? It’s just not the same."

Nevertheless, Alex confirmed that he and Roth still keep in touch. He shares stories about his time with Eddie in his upcoming memoir, Brothers, set to release on October 22.