10 minutes on the phone with Alex Van Halen in 1995

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.

But after interviewing Alex Van Halen in advance of a Van Hagar show on the 1995 Balance Tour, I should probably chat with the skin-bashers more often.

He was one of the most interesting and enlightening interview subjects I’ve come across in over 40 years of rock writing.

Have a listen:

To hear the second half of my 21-minute interview with Alex Van Halen subscribe to my Patreon page, where you can eavesdrop on over 500 of my uncut, one-on-one conversations with rockers since 1982.