David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen Controversy Which Led to the Cancelation of Van Halen Reunion: Explained
- Van Halen's tour was canceled because David Lee Roth refused to tribute Eddie Van Halen.
- Alex Van Halen opened up about the emotional struggle and grief after losing his brother.
- Looking back, the group's drummer noted that it’s crucial to honor the guitarist's legacy.
The rock world was hyped with excitement for a potential Van Halen reunion tour, especially after the passing of legendary guitarist Eddie Van Halen in October 2020. Fans were eager to see the iconic band back together, honoring Eddie’s legacy.
However, what seemed like a promising comeback quickly turned into a dramatic fallout. Alex Van Halen opened up about the chaos that led to the cancellation of their reunion tour.
What was supposed to be a celebration turned into a hot mess real quick. Alex wanted to pay tribute to his late brother during the shows, thinking it would be fitting to honor Eddie’s legacy, much like how Queen honors Freddie Mercury.
But then lead singer David Lee Roth had a major meltdown at the very idea. As Alex shared his experience, it became clear that the emotional impact of Eddie’s death had created rifts that proved too deep to bridge.
The Van Halen Reunion That Never Was
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Alex Van Halen revealed that after Eddie Van Halen passed away in October 2020, he and David Lee Roth had plans to hit the road together. They even started rehearsing, trying to recapture that classic Van Halen sound. However, when Alex suggested they pay tribute to Eddie, Lee Roth’s reaction was intense.
He found the idea completely unacceptable and expressed his anger vehemently. Alex explained how he had chatted with Brian May from Queen about how to honor Eddie during their shows. But Lee Roth didn’t go for it at all. He found the idea “offensive.”
He was just trying to keep Eddie’s memory alive! But Lee Roth wasn’t having it. The tension skyrocketed, leaving the drummer feeling like he didn’t even know his old bandmate anymore. As he said:
I’m from the street. You talk to me like that, motherf*cker, I’m gonna beat your f*cking brains out. You got it?’ And I mean that. And that’s how it ended… It’s just, my God. It’s like I didn’t know him anymore. I have nothing but the utmost respect for his work ethic and all that. But, Dave, you gotta work as a community, motherf*cker. It’s not you alone anymore.
Lee Roth and Eddie’s hatred toward each other goes way back. The two didn’t get along and had different ideas about the band’s music, so the singer left the group in the mid-’80s. Even Lee Roth himself stated this on the WTF podcast with Marc Maron in 2019 (via The Washington Post):
We were crosstown adversaries, and we hated each other with a vengeance.
As Eddie told PEOPLE that a lot of the tension came down to their personalities. He was focused on making music, while Lee Roth was more interested in the idea of being in a band.
Fast forward to today, the band members were meant to be collaborating, but the discussion turned into a heated argument. This ultimately led to the decision to cancel the tour.
Alex Van Halen Reflected on Loss and Reunion Fallout
After all that chaos, Alex Van Halen took a moment to reflect. He shared that he’s been dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) since his brother’s passing. Alex mentioned he wouldn’t have been able to tour anyway because of a serious back injury he had in 2022.
When discussing the canceled tour, the 71-year-old has come to terms with it. Despite the disappointment of the canceled tour, Alex expressed a sense of acceptance. He said, “Playing the old songs is not really paying tribute to anybody.”
It’s like going to a jukebox—where’s the soul in that? Finding someone to replace Eddie? Impossible. Although the tour may have fallen apart, Alex still feels his brother’s presence. It’s a bittersweet ending to an incredible rock story, but he knows they made their mark. Wherever our guitarist is, he’s still rocking out.
