Editing Alex Van Halen

{{Short description|American drummer (born 1953)}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Fnh|Van Halen|Halen|lang=Dutch}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Alex Van Halen
| image             = Alex Van Halen - Van Halen Live.jpg
| landscape         = yes
| caption           = Van Halen performing in 2012
| birth_name        = Alexander Arthur van Halen
| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|1953|05|08}}
| birth_place       = [[Amsterdam]], Netherlands<ref name="NewNetherland">{{cite web |url=https://www.newnetherlandinstitute.org/history-and-heritage/dutch_americans/alexander-arthur-alex-van-halen/ |title=Alexander Arthur (Alex) Van Halen [1953] |website=[[New Netherland Institute]] |department=Dutch-Americans |access-date=May 27, 2022}}</ref>
| origin            = [[Pasadena, California]], U.S.
| occupation        = Musician
| instrument        = Drums<!--- If you think an instrument should be listed, a discussion to reach consensus is needed first per: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Infobox_musical_artist#instrument--->
| genre             = {{flatlist|
* [[Hard rock]]
* [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]]
* [[glam metal]]
}}
| years_active      = 1962–present
| past_member_of    = [[Van Halen]]
| website           = {{URL|van-halen.com}}
| module            = {{Infobox person
| embed = yes
| father = Jan Van Halen
| mother = Eugenia van Beers
| relatives = [[Eddie Van Halen]] (brother)
}}
}}

'''Alexander Arthur Van Halen''' ({{IPAc-en|v|æ|n|_|ˈ|h|eɪ|l|ə|n}} {{respell|van|_|HAY|len}}, {{IPA|nl|aːlɛkˈsɑndər vɑn ˈɦaːlə(n)|lang}}; born May 8, 1953) is an American<!-- please see [[MOS:ETHNICITY]] and archived talk page discussions for why "Dutch-American" or "Dutch-born American" is not used here --> musician who was the drummer and a co-founder of the rock band [[Van Halen]], which was formed in 1972 by Van Halen and his younger brother [[Eddie Van Halen|Eddie]] under the name "Mammoth" before adding [[Michael Anthony (musician)|Michael Anthony]] and [[David Lee Roth]] in 1974 and changing their name to Van Halen.

[[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]] signed the band in 1977, and the band's debut album was released a year later. Prior to their disbandment in 2020, following Eddie's death,<ref name="RS2020">{{cite magazine |last1=Hiatt |first1=Brian |title=Van Halen Considered Reunion Tour With Both David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/eddie-van-halen-vault-wolfgang-interview-1090873/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=November 16, 2020 |date=November 16, 2020}}</ref> Van Halen released 12 studio albums, and the brothers were the only two constant members of the band. Noted for his technical prowess, speed, and power, Alex Van Halen is widely regarded as one of the greatest drummers of all time.

== Early life ==
Van Halen was born in [[Amsterdam]].<ref name="NewNetherland"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vhnd.com/alex-van-halen/ |title=Happy Birthday, Alex Van Halen! |date=June 17, 2013 |website=Vhnd.com |access-date=August 10, 2018}}</ref> The family name in Dutch is ''[[van (Dutch)|van]] Halen'' (with lower-case 'v') and is pronounced in Dutch as {{IPA|nl|vɑn ˈɦaːlə(n)|}}. His Dutch father, Jan van Halen (1920–1986), was an accomplished [[jazz]] saxophonist and clarinetist. His mother, Eugenia van Beers (1914–2005), was an [[Indo people|Indo]] ([[Eurasia|Eurasian]]) from [[Rangkasbitung]], [[Dutch East Indies]] (now Indonesia).<ref name="NewNetherland"/> Alex spent his early years in [[Nijmegen]] in the east of the Netherlands.<ref name="drummerworld">{{cite web |url=http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Alex_Van_Halen.html |title=Drummerworld: Alex van Halen |website=Drummerworld.com |access-date=December 1, 2008}}</ref> The family moved to [[Pasadena, California]], in 1962.<ref name="NewNetherland"/> The [[Dutch name | Dutch]] prefix "van" was capitalized by Alex's parents during the family's immigration<ref>Their [[surname]] did not, then, consist of just "Halen". See {{Cite journal |last1=Meszaros |first1=Rosemary |last2=Pennavaria |first2=Katherine |date=2018 |title=GovDocs to the Rescue! Debunking an Immigration Myth |issue=1 |pages=7–12 |url=https://journals.ala.org/index.php/dttp/article/view/6655/8939 |journal=DTTP: Documents to the People |volume=46 |doi=10.5860/dttp.v46i1.6655 |access-date=October 18, 2024 |language=en-US|doi-access=free }}</ref> to the US. Alex and his brother Eddie became naturalized U.S. citizens.<ref>{{cite news |last=Christopher |first=Michael |date=February 6, 2015 |title=Rock Music Menu: Eddie Van Halen set for Smithsonian talk |url=http://www.delcotimes.com/article/DC/20150206/NEWS/150209755 |newspaper=Delaware County Daily Times |location=Upper Darby Township, PA |access-date=February 13, 2016 }}</ref>

Both brothers were trained as [[classical pianist]]s during childhood.<ref name="drumsoloartist">{{cite web |url=http://www.drumsoloartist.com/Site/Drummers2/Alex_Van_Halen.html |title=Alex Van Halen |website=Drumsoloartist.com |access-date=January 13, 2008}}</ref> Although Alex is known as a professional drummer, he began his musical aspirations as a guitarist, with his brother Eddie taking up drums.<ref name="NewNetherland"/> While Eddie was delivering newspapers to pay for his drum kit, Alex would practice playing on them. After spending some time playing Eddie's drum kit, Alex became more skilled than Eddie was as a drummer.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Wurster |first1=Jon |title=Alex Van Halen: Of Sound and Vision|magazine=Modern Drummer |date=June 2012 |volume=36 |issue=6 |pages=52–53}}</ref> After Eddie heard Alex's mastery of [[The Surfaris]] drum solo in the song "[[Wipe Out (instrumental)|Wipe Out]]", he decided to learn to play the electric guitar.<ref name="drummerworld"/> Alex was influenced by [[Budgie (band)|Budgie]] drummer [[Ray Phillips (musician)|Ray Phillips]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/Blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=110106 |title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET - Founding BUDGIE Member RAY PHILLIPS Working On Solo Debut |website=Roadrunnerrecords.com |access-date=October 14, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206055645/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/Blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=110106 |archive-date=December 6, 2008 }}</ref>

Alex, Eddie and three other boys formed their first band, calling themselves "The Broken Combs", while attending [[Hamilton Elementary School]] in Pasadena, in which Alex played [[saxophone]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Tonya|last=Mosley|authorlink=Tonya Mosley|title=Undone by the loss of his brother Eddie, Alex Van Halen looks back in a new memoir|url=https://www.npr.org/2025/01/02/g-s1-40835/undone-by-the-loss-of-his-brother-eddie-alex-van-halen-looks-back-in-a-new-memoir|series=[[Fresh Air]]|publisher=[[NPR]]|date=January 2, 2025|orig-date=October 29, 2024|quote=And I think the first band we did put together was a band called The Broken Combs, which was – I played sax and Ed played piano.}}</ref> When Eddie was in the fourth grade,<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 26, 2012|title=Unearthed 1964 Photo: "The Broken Combs" Band, Featuring Eddie and Alex Van Halen|url=https://www.vhnd.com/2012/10/26/unearthed-1964-photo-the-broken-combs-band-featuring-eddie-and-alex-van-halen/|access-date=October 18, 2024|website=Van Halen News Desk|language=en-US}}</ref> they performed at lunchtime at the school.

In 1971, Van Halen graduated from [[Pasadena High School (California)|Pasadena High School]].<ref name="drummerworld" /> He then took classes in [[music theory]], scoring, composition and arranging at [[Pasadena City College]] for a short while.<ref name="drummerworld" /> While there, Alex met Michael Anthony and David Lee Roth. They formed the band Mammoth, and Alex, along with the others, left Pasadena City College.<ref name="rockhall">{{cite web |url=http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/van-halen/ |title=Rock and Roll Hall of Fame |website=Rockhall.com |access-date=January 18, 2008 }}</ref>

== Career ==
Alex and Eddie Van Halen had several early bands before the formation of Van Halen. In addition to The Broken Combs, there were The Space Brothers, The Trojan Rubber Company, and Mammoth.<ref name="drummerworld" />

In 1972, the brothers formed Mammoth with Mark Stone on bass and Eddie on lead vocals. The band rented David Lee Roth's [[Public address system|PA system]] for their shows. Soon after, Eddie became tired of singing lead, and asked Roth to join the band. Later, in 1974, since the name Mammoth was already taken by another band, the name was changed to Van Halen, and Stone was replaced by Michael Anthony.<ref>{{cite web|last=McCully|first=Jerry|title=The Early Years of Van Halen: A Paper Route, a High School Essay, and a Couple of Lucky Breaks|url=http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/The%20Early%20Years%20of%20Van%20Halen_/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110324104906/http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/The%20Early%20Years%20of%20Van%20Halen_/|archive-date=March 24, 2011}}</ref> Roth has claimed that it was his idea to rename the band Van Halen, and that he actually named it after Alex. In addition to his musical duties at this time, Alex handled managerial duties, such as booking gigs, and the like for the band. Their 1978 self-titled debut album ''[[Van Halen (album)|Van Halen]]'' was released to much fanfare, influencing many musicians in [[hard rock]]. Van Halen had released eleven more studio albums since then, and officially disbanded a month after Eddie's death on October 6, 2020.<ref name="RS2020"/>

Although the term "brown sound" is generally associated with Eddie's guitar, it was actually coined by Alex to refer to the sound of his [[snare drum]].<ref name="classicvh">{{cite web |url=http://www.classicvanhalen.com/bios_avh.shtml |title=Alex Van Halen |website=ClassicVanHalen.com |access-date=March 22, 2008}}</ref>

Alex never recorded any music without his brother being involved, with Michael Anthony saying that "the only person that he plays with is Ed."<ref>[https://www.vhnd.com/2006/03/17/michael-anthony-breaks-his-silence/ Michael Anthony Breaks His Silence]</ref> The only recording Alex has made outside of the band is playing keyboards on the Eddie Van Halen instrumental "[[Respect the Wind]]", done for the ''[[Twister (1996 film)|Twister]]'' soundtrack and earning the Van Halen brothers a [[Grammy Award]] nomination for [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance|Best Rock Instrumental Performance]].<ref name=97grammys>{{cite web |url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1997/grammys.htm |title=Grammy Nominations from Rock on the Net|website=Rockonthenet.com|access-date=August 10, 2018}}</ref>

In June 2024, Alex auctioned off all of his drum gear he had in storage for decades. This led people to believe that he will no longer be involved in music without his brother Edward on stage with him.<ref>{{cite web | last=Novak | first=Lauren | title=Alex Van Halen Selling All His Gear & Quitting Music For One Heartbreaking Reason | website=Remind Magazine| date=June 10, 2024 | url=https://www.remindmagazine.com/article/15171/alex-van-halen-selling-gear-auction/ | access-date=June 26, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=M | first=Jason | title=Historic Auction of Alex Van Halen Memorabilia | website=Modern Drummer Magazine | date=May 30, 2024 | url=https://www.moderndrummer.com/2024/05/historic-auction-of-alex-van-halen-memorabilia/ | access-date=June 26, 2024}}</ref>

Alex released a book called ''Brothers'' on October 22, 2024 and commenced a 3 date promotional tour. <ref>{{cite web |title=Alex Van Halen's Autobiography 'Brothers' Due In October |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/alex-van-halens-autobiography-brothers-due-in-october |website=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=April 2, 2024 |language=en |date=February 18, 2024}}</ref>

==Equipment==
[[Image:Van halen drum.jpg|thumb|right|Van Halen's [[Ludwig-Musser|Ludwig]] drum kit that was used on Van Halen's [[Van Halen (album)|first album]] and its supporting tour.]]

Van Halen endorses [[Ludwig-Musser|Ludwig]] drums, pedals and hardware, [[Paiste]] cymbals, [[Remo]] drumheads and [[Regal Tip]] drumsticks. A Paiste endorser since March 1983, Van Halen, in co-operation with Paiste developed a signature [[ride cymbal]]—a 2002 24" Big ride—which Paiste introduced at the 2010 Winter [[NAMM Show]]. He also had two Ludwig signature snares. Alex has used [[Rototoms]] and [[octobans]] in the past as well as [[electronic drum]]s and is renowned for using extravagantly sized drum kits that feature an on-fire orchestral [[gong]] and four [[bass drum]]s, having originally used only two.

[[Regal Tip]] created the Alex Van Halen signature drumsticks when he became an endorser.

== Influences ==
Van Halen's main influences include [[Billy Cobham]], [[Ginger Baker]], [[Keith Moon]] and [[John Bonham]], and he has cited jazz drummer [[Buddy Rich]]'s work as having an early and lifelong impact.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.moderndrummer.com/site/2008/01/alex-van-halen/ |title=Alex Van Halen: Bashing and Crashing In the Here and Now |website=Moderndrummer.com |date=January 15, 2008 |access-date=July 16, 2014}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Van Halen married Valeri Kendall in June 1983, after a two-year engagement. The marriage ended in divorce two months later. In 1984 he married Kelly Carter. Their son Aric Van Halen, was born October 6, 1989. The couple divorced in August 1996. Carter was sued by Van Halen in 2013, over her commercial use of the 'Van Halen' surname. The case was settled in 2015. His son Aric is a passionate runner and competed in the Olympic trials for the [[Steeplechase at the Olympics|steeplechase]] in 2016.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 24, 2017 |title=For Aric Van Halen, a Steeplechaser, Jump Takes on a New Meaning |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/23/sports/aric-van-halen-steeplechase.html |access-date=October 15, 2019 |website=The New York Times}}</ref> He is also a talented photographer.

Van Halen married his current wife, Stine Schyberg, in 2000. She is the mother of his son Malcolm Van Halen. Malcolm shares the passion of fast cars and racing with his father and uncle. 

Van Halen is the uncle of [[Wolfgang Van Halen]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0887006/bio|title=Alex Van Halen|publisher=IMDb|access-date=August 10, 2018}}</ref>

Van Halen is an ordained minister. He presided at the second wedding of his brother Eddie in 2009 and his son Malcolm's wedding in 2024.

Due to years of playing loud music, Alex is said to have major hearing loss in both ears. "In 1995 Alex Van Halen complained to his stage engineer Jerry Harvey about it. He could no longer hear the band onstage and was putting his hearing in jeopardy. Harvey built a simple in-ear monitor using two speakers that were originally designed for a pacemaker. He tuned one for bass, the other for treble."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hood |first=Phil |date=September 19, 2017 |title=You Can Say Thanks To Alex Van Halen |url=https://drummagazine.com/you-can-say-thanks-to-alex-van-halen/ |access-date=October 23, 2023 |website=DRUM! Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Discography ==
{{See also|Van Halen discography}}

'''Solo discography'''
* "Respect the Wind" for ''[[Twister (1996 film)#Soundtracks|Twister]]'' (1996) <small>with [[Eddie Van Halen]]</small>

== Books ==
* {{Cite book |last=Van Halen |first=Alex |date=22 October 2024 |title=Brothers |url=https://www.harpercollins.com/products/brothers-alex-van-halen?variant=41488375742498 |location=New York |publisher=Harper |isbn=9780063265707 |oclc=1420338108}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{Commons category|Alex van Halen}}
* [http://www.van-halen.com Official Van Halen website]
* {{IMDb name|887006}}

{{Van Halen}}
{{2007 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Halen, Alex}}
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American drummers]]
[[Category:21st-century American drummers]]
[[Category:American heavy metal drummers]]
[[Category:American male drummers]]
[[Category:American people of Dutch-Indonesian descent]]
[[Category:American people of Javanese descent]]
[[Category:American rock drummers]]
[[Category:Drummers from California]]
[[Category:Dutch emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Dutch people of Javanese descent]]
[[Category:Indo people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Musicians from Amsterdam]]
[[Category:Musicians from Nijmegen]]
[[Category:Musicians from Pasadena, California]]
[[Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States]]
[[Category:Pasadena City College alumni]]
[[Category:Pasadena High School (California) alumni]]
[[Category:Van Halen members]]