Alex Van Halen
America, specifically Pasadena, California, received a Dutch/Indonesian, nine year old, future musical icon import on February 22, 1962-Alexander Arthur Van Halen. On May 8, 1953, he was born in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, but spent his childhood years in the eastern part of the county called Nijmegen. His dad, Jan, is Dutch and his mom, Eugenia, is Indonesian. His younger brother, Eddie, would make his own mark in the music industry as well.
Both brothers had classical piano training when they were young. But as they grew, Alex adopted the guitar as his instrument of choice, taking flamenco guitar lessons while in elementary school. Eddie took drum lessons and worked a paper route to pay for his drum kit. Something significant happened though, that would sculpt the future of not only the Van Halens themselves, but would forever influence the entire “rock” world. The appeal of the guitar waned for Alex, so while Eddie was out delivering papers, Alex took up the sticks and began developing an intense connection with the drums. He would come to favor the hi-hat cymbal in his drumming. When Eddie heard Alex playing the drum solo from the song “Wipe Out,” he was so impressed that he turned his back on the drums, introduced himself to the guitar, and the rest is history.
To get started in the business, they cut their teeth as members of these bands: The Broken Combs, Genesis, The Space Brothers, and The Trojan Rubber Company. In 1972, they hooked up with Mark Stone, a bass player, and established a new band “Mammoth” with Alex on drums and Eddie on guitar also doing lead vocals. Two years later, Michael Anthony stepped in as the new bass player and the band “Van Halen” was born. Eddie could now affix all his energies on the guitar when David Lee Roth joined the band and assumed the position of lead vocalist.
“Van Halen” drenched the clubs in Southern California with their cutting edge music, giving their best and biding their time for that one extraordinary, ordained moment that would catapult them to fame. In 1977, they signed with Warner Bros. Records, and in 1978, they released their first album titled “Van Halen,” skyrocketing rock and roll back into the limelight. Alex pretty much managed the band’s business and handled all the band’s bookings.
The song “Teacher” showcased Alex’s booming double-base technique and his never-miss-a-lick precision, which still impassions and motivates countless musicians to pursue the pathway he has blazed.
When the band is executing songs and rocking together, Alex doesn’t showboat to grab all the attention and jeopardize the integrity of a song. His focus is to play what is exactly right for each song. Through the years he has built a monstrous, drum assemblage. He gets to show off his breathtaking skills and even hams it up while all eyes are only on him when he exercises his drums so passionately and intensely that they appear to be an extension of his own body. Off stage, he is known for getting attention and kicks through his practical jokes.
There was only one time when Alex recorded apart from “Van Halen.” In 1996, the movie “Twister” hit a home run on movie screens and as the ending credits scroll off the screen, we’re entertained by the instrumental soundtrack, “Respect the Wind,” co-written by Alex and Eddie Van Halen, for which they received a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. Alex actually recorded the piano instrumentation in that song, drawing upon his classical piano training from his childhood.
All musicians have their own idols. So who does Alex admire? Ginger Baker of Cream, Buddy Rich, John Bonham, and Keith Moon of The Who are at the top of his list. Alex doesn’t consider himself a rock star. He considers himself a musician.
How did Alex handle all his success? He and Eddie told their father that from now on he could enjoy a laid-back lifestyle and would never have to work again. What an admirable way to “Honor thy father”!
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