Journalist and author Greg Prato recently shed light on the ongoing tensions between Alex Van Halen and David Lee Roth, that continue to prevent a Van Halen reunion. He shared his insights on Booked on Rock.
The author of “The World’s State-Of-The-Art Speed Metal Band: The Megadeth Story 1983-2002” discussed the complex relationship between the surviving Van Halen members and the challenges they face.
Prato addressed concerns about the band members’ current capabilities, and noted their advancing age as a factor.
“I would love to see one day Dave [Lee Roth], Mike [Anthony], and Alex [Van Halen] just get together,” Prato said. “Whether it be on stage or not, it’d be just cool to see those three guys at least bury the hatchet.”
Prato then highlighted the contradictory nature of Alex Van Halen’s recent statements about his relationship with Roth. First saying Dave was the one he reached out to after Eddie’s death, suggesting good terms, but later revealing Roth refused to honor Eddie during a planned tribute tour, nearly leading to a fight. Prato concluded the two will likely never get along.
“The problem now, like we saw at the Ozzy show [Back to the Beginning], is they’re getting kind of old,” he continued.
“So, Roth can still cut it, Michael Anthony is still out there [playing and singing], but from what I can see, it seems like Alex Van Halen…he’s not going to be as powerful as he once was.”
The question of a Van Halen reunion has lingered ever since Eddie Van Halen’s death in 2020, and Greg Prato’s comments echo the frustration many fans feel. Despite repeated rumors of tribute shows or a one-off tour, nothing has ever materialized, largely because of the fractured relationships between the surviving members.
Alex Van Halen, who has kept almost entirely out of the spotlight since his brother’s passing, has sent mixed signals about his willingness to share the stage with Roth. On one hand, he has described Dave as the person he leaned on after Eddie’s death, suggesting mutual respect. On the other, reports of heated disagreements over how to properly honor Eddie — including Roth allegedly refusing to participate in a tribute tour — have only reinforced the idea that the two can’t see eye to eye.
Meanwhile, bassist Michael Anthony, who was pushed out of the band years ago in favor of Eddie’s son Wolfgang, has consistently been open about returning. Anthony has stated multiple times that he would gladly reunite with Alex and Dave for the right cause, particularly to celebrate Eddie’s music. Former frontman Sammy Hagar has also hinted that he would step up for a tribute if invited, adding another wrinkle to the saga.
For now, the dream of seeing Alex, Dave, and Mike share a stage remains just that — a dream. With advancing age and the deep history of personal clashes, the window of opportunity is shrinking. Yet the continued passion of the fanbase proves that Van Halen’s legacy still burns bright, and any hint of reconciliation will continue to generate headlines.
