Van Halen fans get ready to turn up the volume but maybe pump the brakes on those expectations just a tad. Rumors have been flying around about a brand new Van Halen album in the works featuring unheard recordings of the legendary Eddie Van Halen . Sounds amazing right? Well guitar icon Steve Lukather from Toto is here to clear things up and give us the real story.
The Buzz: Alex Van Halen and Steve Lukather Team Up for New VH Music?
The whole thing started when Alex Van Halen mentioned he was working on some unreleased Van Halen recordings. The Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf even reported that Alex had enlisted Steve Lukather to help him finish a new album. Alex was quoted saying that Eddie and Luke were close buds and Luke was the perfect guy to help with this project. Excitement went through the roof! Could we really get more music from the guitar god himself?
Lukather Steps In: "Huge Misunderstanding" About My Role in Van Halen Project
But before everyone starts pre-ordering this phantom album Steve Lukather himself took to Instagram to pump the brakes a bit. He said there was a "Huge Misunderstanding". Turns out Alex did ask Luke to help but not in the way everyone thought.
Lukather explained that Alex actually asked him to go through a ton of unfinished recordings by both Alex and Eddie. These are recordings that never saw the light of day. Luke is helping Alex sort through this massive archive of music. He made it super clear though he is NOT playing guitar on any of this.
Luke said "The fact that ANYONE would think for even a second that I would play anything on this is ridiculous. I have too much love and respect for that and ... I play nothing like Ed.. more as a co-producer or something." Basically he is there to assist Alex not to try and fill Eddie's shoes which no one ever could.
Inside the Vault: What Kind of Unheard Van Halen Music is Out There?
So what exactly is in this Van Halen vault that Alex and Luke are digging through? Well former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony spilled a little tea saying the band used to record "everything we had". That means there could be a treasure trove of unreleased riffs jams and song ideas.
Alex himself hinted that there might be enough material for "three or four records"! He even released a track last year called "Unfinished" that he and Eddie worked on back in 2002. It was included with his memoir. But Alex also admitted that a lot of these recordings are just "little pieces" and "a bunch of licks don’t make a song."
AI and Guest Singers? Alex's Vision for Bringing Unfinished Tracks to Life
To actually turn these snippets into finished songs Alex has some interesting ideas. He mentioned possibly using AI technology maybe even ChatGPT to create new solos. He also threw out the idea of getting Robert Plant from Led Zeppelin to sing! Talk about ambitious! Alex knows it sounds a bit out there but he believes "when conditions are right things will manifest."
Lukather and Van Halen: A Friendship Spanning Decades
It actually makes total sense that Alex would turn to Steve Lukather for help with this project. Luke was really close with both Van Halen brothers for over 40 years. He even worked with Eddie on Michael Jackson's "Beat It" solo which is legendary. Eddie played bass on Luke's solo album and guested on his Christmas record too. They were more than just music buddies they were real friends.
After Eddie's passing in 2020 Luke was understandably heartbroken. He said it left a "hole in my heart that won't go away" and that he misses his friend "more than anything." Helping Alex with this archive project seems like a way for Luke to honor Eddie's legacy and support his brother.
What to Expect (and Not Expect) from This Van Halen Project
So to sum it all up here's what we know and what to keep in mind:
- New Van Halen music is a possibility: Alex Van Halen is working on something with unreleased recordings.
- Steve Lukather is involved but not playing guitar: He's helping Alex as a co-producer to sort through archives.
- It's unfinished material: Recordings are mostly "snippets" and "ideas" not complete songs yet.
- AI and guest singers are potential ideas: Alex is considering creative ways to complete tracks.
- Don't expect a typical "new album": This is more about unearthing and potentially finishing Eddie's musical ideas.
- Lukather is honoring Eddie's legacy: His involvement is about respect and friendship not replacing EVH.
Keep Hope Alive (But Realistic): The Future of Van Halen's Unheard Music
While Steve Lukather has clarified he won't be shredding any solos on this project the idea of unreleased Eddie Van Halen music still out there is pretty exciting. It sounds like Alex is approaching this with a lot of care and respect for his brother's work. Whether it becomes a full album or just a collection of unearthed gems we will have to wait and see. But for Van Halen fans the possibility of hearing anything new from Eddie even in unfinished form is definitely something to look forward to. Just remember to keep those expectations realistic and appreciate it for what it is: a glimpse into the genius of Eddie Van Halen.