Steve Lukather Alex Van Halen New Van Halen Record?

**CatchAsCatch** · 03.18.25, 06:02 AM

Originally Posted by Dave's Dreidel

I love the romanticism in your post, but I think history has proven that technology moves on. AI is the new Wrecking Crew, the new Toto.

Well when my friends and I were younger we had protools available to us but chose to go record at places that still recorded analog to tape. I’m just saying that stuff has a way of being rediscovered.

**Pacfanweb** · 03.18.25, 06:48 AM

Originally Posted by thechefs2003

So Luke is not going to play guitar but rather his role is to go thru the tapes and piece together songs out of them. I think that sounds like a good plan!

That's good, because as we all know the Van Halens were not "gets things done" kind of guys. They were the artistic talent, the 'artsy fartsy' guys, that needed someone who could crack the whip in the studio, and who could have a vision of what their final product should/could look like...that's something they could not do.

**Van Hampshire** · 03.18.25, 07:35 AM

Originally Posted by Pacfanweb

That's good, because as we all know the Van Halens were not "gets things done" kind of guys. They were the artistic talent, the 'artsy fartsy' guys, that needed someone who could crack the whip in the studio, and who could have a vision of what their final product should/could look like...that's something they could not do.

Hopefully Luke is looking at this material with a fans ear and just not a producers ear. I think Luke definitely knows what fans are going to want to hear and hopefully he has enough input to push Alex to release things that may otherwise be disregarded. I also think as a stellar musician, Luke will also be able to recognize the really cool stuff too. I'm excited to hear just about anything.

I know many likely don't care about this but I would love for them to release the WB demos in the highest quality in an official form so that it's on a streaming platform. Every now and then I will want to hear one of those and I usually have to cue up youtube to do it. I know I could just download them but I just haven't had time to make the files and put them on my phone. It's not like this would be tough for them. I'm also willing to bet that pretty much every VH show from about 1993 on is on film somewhere as they likely recorded every show from the jumbotrons. I wouldn't be upset to see some of those start showing up on youtube.

**nicholas_kudochop** · 03.18.25, 08:27 AM

Originally Posted by Van Hampshire

I'm also willing to bet that pretty much every VH show from about 1993 on is on film somewhere as they likely recorded every show from the jumbotrons. I wouldn't be upset to see some of those start showing up on youtube.

That's my guess as well. That's the main reason I don't find it that absurd of an idea to release that stuff... I remember seeing Metallica and other bands like Pearl Jam releasing the soundboard recordings for fans to later download (for $ of course - sometimes within days of the show). I downloaded the shows I went to. Sure, it wasn't a live album with the audience perfectly mixed in, but it was still cool to get a hold of having been at the shows. Releasing stuff like the soundboard recordings and the video for the screens during the shows would be "easy" - again, IF it was recorded. I'd download the VH shows I went to. There's 4 sales x $20 per. BAM, they just made $80 from one guy in a matter of minutes.

**Little Dreamer** · 03.18.25, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by Van Squalen

No live or A.I.

Just one record of finished outtake tracks from '80 to '95.

That's all that matters for any post-Ed Van Halen.

OK VS, but me and Coulda were supposed to go to 5150 the other night to retrieve the stuff, you were gonna drive the getaway car. You never showed up - we had to cancel! Brett was furious!

**Ashe** · 03.18.25, 09:33 AM

If Lukather is involved, and helping go through the material, there is hope. Sure, he's one of Eddie's best friends, but he's also a fan--just like us. And above all, from all the interviews I've seen of him, he seems to be a normal, rational person. Let's hope he injects some sanity into the Van Halen camp.

**ziggysmalls** · 03.18.25, 09:51 AM

For one not confident with this project at all. Luke has his own timeline and projects. Alex likely is looking at this like I do when I look at my guitar mags from 83 to a few years ago and want to catalog so I can sell them. Great idea but don't have the energy.

If it does happen I wouldn't expect anything more than just Eddie and Alex jam sessions. If Mike, Sammy or Dave are on it and it gets published, that means money has to be paid out.

**TJENZ** · 03.18.25, 09:55 AM

Originally Posted by nicholas_kudochop

That's my guess as well. That's the main reason I don't find it that absurd of an idea to release that stuff... I remember seeing Metallica and other bands like Pearl Jam releasing the soundboard recordings for fans to later download (for $ of course - sometimes within days of the show). I downloaded the shows I went to. Sure, it wasn't a live album with the audience perfectly mixed in, but it was still cool to get a hold of having been at the shows. Releasing stuff like the soundboard recordings and the video for the screens during the shows would be "easy" - again, IF it was recorded. I'd download the VH shows I went to. There's 4 sales x $20 per. BAM, they just made $80 from one guy in a matter of minutes.

I've got to say being able to buy a soundboard recording of a I show I've been to, is way better use of my $ than buying a t-shirt.

**noise next door** · 03.18.25, 10:05 AM

Just my guess/prediction:

I have a feeling there will be NO Dave or Sam involved here. Sam for the reason of their dramatic personal issues, but also no Roth as well after Alex revealed he blocked the Tribute show and they had a blow out. His recent little clue about wanting to bring in other singers may be what he really wants. He may want to take existing riffs/song parts... build them in Pro Tools and then add willing noteworthy guest vocalists.

I really think he wants nothing to do with Dave or Sam at this stage, and he also feels there is so little top quality product left over from the first 10 records, given they assembled song by song and hardly ever over-wrote within each recording cycle..

------
The other possible idea here is that this will be a massive box set with everything just to get it all done in one fell swoop... a triple or quad album length release.

**thechefs2003** · 03.18.25, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by noise next door

Just my guess/prediction:

I have a feeling there will be NO Dave or Sam involved here. Sam for the reason of their dramatic personal issues, but also no Roth as well after Alex revealed he blocked the Tribute show and they had a blow out. His recent little clue about wanting to bring in other singers may be what he really wants. He may want to take existing riffs/song parts... build them in Pro Tools and then add willing noteworthy guest vocalists.

I really think he wants nothing to do with Dave or Sam at this stage, and he also feels there is so little top quality product left over from the first 10 records, given they assembled song by song and hardly ever over-wrote within each recording cycle..

This is what I think ultimately will happen. Luke will cull through everything, put them together song wise and they'll get guest vocalists in for each song. If you remember the leak from the unreleased boxset, for example, there were multiple versions of "Red Zone" - I envision Luke piecing together parts from those versions and making one great take and recording a guest singer on top of. Ultimately, we'll end up with something like a Santana's Supernatural album. I'm fine with that. Just release something! Like Ziggy said earlier, let me be judge if I like it or not....

**TJENZ** · 03.18.25, 11:38 AM

For me, it isn’t a Van Halen album if the singers are people like Dave Grohl, Patty Smyth, Ann Wilson…

Hopefully Alex asks Dave to sing on these songs. Dave and Alex still talk. Bring in Mikey to add bass (if needed) and do background vox.
The only spanner in the works in Van Halen world, these days, has Bertinelli DNA.

**Van Squalen** · 03.18.25, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by Little Dreamer

OK VS, but me and Coulda were supposed to go to 5150 the other night to retrieve the stuff, you were gonna drive the getaway car. You never showed up - we had to cancel! Brett was furious!

Meh. Brett hasn't been to Coldwater Canyon in decades.

**Van Squalen** · 03.18.25, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by noise next door

Just my guess/prediction:

I have a feeling there will be NO Dave or Sam involved here. Sam for the reason of their dramatic personal issues, but also no Roth as well after Alex revealed he blocked the Tribute show and they had a blow out. His recent little clue about wanting to bring in other singers may be what he really wants. He may want to take existing riffs/song parts... build them in Pro Tools and then add willing noteworthy guest vocalists.

I really think he wants nothing to do with Dave or Sam at this stage, and he also feels there is so little top quality product left over from the first 10 records, given they assembled song by song and hardly ever over-wrote within each recording cycle..

------
The other possible idea here is that this will be a massive box set with everything just to get it all done in one fell swoop... a triple or quad album length release.

If he doesn't include either former singer in the mix, it will be nothing more than a blip online for a week, and then poof, gone forever, unheralded by society at large. Completely pointless for the effort required.

And there is enough finished quality product...with lyrics and recordings intact...for a new record.

**Little Dreamer** · 03.18.25, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by Van Squalen

Meh. Brett hasn't been to Coldwater Canyon in decades.

Exactly. That's why he sent the 3 of us to do the mission he had carefully planned. Brett's our Bosley.

*cue in Charlie's Angels theme song*

**Dave's Dreidel** · 03.18.25, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by CatchAsCatch

Well when my friends and I were younger we had protools available to us but chose to go record at places that still recorded analog to tape. I’m just saying that stuff has a way of being rediscovered.

Yeah, but I don't know of anyone who tapes analog anymore, I've been recording music for fifteen years, and I'v never once laid down to tape. I am sure some do, but it is an uber minority, I mean, not even a blip on the radar.