Toto guitarist Steve Lukather recently talked about his upcoming collaboration with Alex Van Halen on a new Van Halen album. He addressed the project in an interview published on Guitar Player.
The conversation then turned to whether Wolfgang Van Halen, Eddie’s son, would be involved in the project, particularly on bass. When asked directly, “Is Wolfgang involved?”, Lukather shared his thoughts on the matter.
He said, “I’m hoping that Al is gonna ask Wolf to be involved on some level. I haven’t talked to Wolf in a long time. It’s sad, actually. I’d like to, you know? We sort of just got busy, and we haven’t. But I think what he’s doing is wonderful. I think he’s an incredible musician.”
Lukather then spoke highly of Wolfgang’s abilities while also clarifying the current state of the project.
He continued, “I think if anybody is gonna play anything that’s needed, he would be qualified to do so. But there really isn’t a need for other players to come in at this point.”
While questions about Wolfgang’s role remain open, Lukather has been careful to frame the broader project in precise terms. He has emphasized that this is not a reinvention of Van Halen, but a completion of work that Eddie and Alex had already begun together.
The recordings are genuine, largely finished Van Halen tracks, not new overdubs or loose demos. Lukather was direct on this point, stating, “These are finished tracks with Ed and Al,” and pushing back firmly on any suggestion that he is stepping in to create new Van Halen music himself.
Alex Van Halen also explained that the material was originally intended for the next Van Halen album before Eddie’s passing in October 2020. The drums, guitar, and bass parts were already recorded. The one missing element that has kept the project from completion is a vocalist, a gap that has proven difficult to fill. Paul Rodgers was reportedly approached about taking on the role but declined.
Lukather’s own role in the project is that of a collaborator and organizer rather than a replacement for Eddie. He has made clear that he is helping Alex bring these recordings to a finished state, not rewriting or re-recording the guitar parts that Eddie laid down. As for the album’s title and release timeline, Lukather has deferred entirely to Alex, saying those are “Alex Van Halen questions.”
