Alex Van Halen: the five best quotes I ever got from Van Halen’s drum legend

By Steve Newton

I haven’t interviewed that many drummers over the years, mainly because when I cover a band I shoot for the guitarist, since that’s the instrument I’m most drawn to.

“There was no connection between me and the [guitar]. To me it was just a piece of wood with metal strings. But when Ed picked it up, he just connected with it instantly; it was as if it was meant to be there all along.” (On why he decided to take up drums at an early age and leave the guitar playing to Eddie.)

“I think music is one of those things that’s in your blood… You kinda realize that music can be hypnotic, it can do all kinds of things to you–it can change your perspective on time and all that.” (On the early attraction to music that the Van Halen brothers experienced playing jazz with their father.)

“Record companies didn’t want anything to do with the kind of music that we were making, so we figured, ‘Well, we’ll just raise a stink our own way, and they can’t help but notice.’ ” (On how Van Halen first went about getting popular in the L.A. area.)

“I don’t dissect it into the Roth era and then the Sammy era, I really don’t, because the essence and the core and the heart of this band is still the same. Ed has always written the music, so it doesn’t really matter.” (On the never-ending debate between fans of the original lineup and the Van Hagar era.)

“Before we went in the studio to record our first record, the powers that be—the people behind the scenes—really wanted to have Sammy come in and sing with the band… So I’m givin’ ya a little dirt here.” (On how Sammy Hagar was nearly given a shot at becoming Van Halen’s singer on its first album.)

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