In a recent appearance on Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain’s “Metal Sticks” podcast, the legendary Alex Van Halen confirmed that he is officially gearing up to record a new album. The Van Halen co-founder revealed that the project is a collaborative effort featuring a close circle of musicians, most notably his longtime friend and Toto guitarist Steve Lukather.
Discussing the upcoming studio sessions, Alex expressed his enthusiasm for the project:
“I’m getting ready to do this record with Lukather and a couple of other people. It should be exciting.”
This development follows months of uncertainty regarding Alex Van Halen’s musical future and his specific partnership with Steve Lukather. The project’s status was previously clouded by a March report where the Toto guitarist denied he was recording guitar for a “new” Van Halen record, attempting to quiet rumors that he would be replacing the late Eddie Van Halen.
The speculation originally took off when the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf suggested that Alex Van Halen was sifting through the band’s vaults to finish incomplete tracks with Lukather’s help. Breaking his silence in a recent exclusive interview, Alex Van Halen clarified why the veteran guitarist is the only choice for this undertaking:
“Ed and Steve Lukather were very good friends and they often worked together. There is no one who can do this process with me as well as he can.”
Lukather responded in the same article by confirming what Alex said: “Did Alex say that? Oh, in that case the news is true. Ed, Alex and I were very close for years. It is true that we worked on it together.”
On March 15, 2025, Lukather used Instagram to set the record straight, addressing what he characterized as an escalating misconception regarding the specifics of his role in the project.
He wrote at the time:
“I will NOT EVER play a guitar note on a VH song ever!.”
“Al asked me to help him go thru a ton of unfinished recordings of Al and Ed writing and recording that never saw the light of day. As of now thats all I got.”
“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. I am honored Al would ask me though.”
“Lets see …”
Specific details remain limited, but Alex’s latest comments indicate the album is already taking shape. Rather than a traditional Van Halen release, the project appears focused on honoring Eddie Van Halen’s legacy, revisiting unreleased material with Lukather involved in a supportive, behind-the-scenes role.
