The idea of a new Van Halen record is already surreal, now add Fred Durst to the mix.
Van Halen drummer Alex Van Halen has confirmed he’s working to complete an album built from unreleased material recorded with his late brother, Eddie Van Halen. The project pulls from sessions that were intended to become the band’s next record before Eddie’s passing in 2020, Steve Lukather has stepped in to help shape the material into something worthy of the name.
Speaking with Kazagastão, Alex explained the approach:
“Ed and I had a lot of stuff that we made, that we made musically that we never let go. Many people have asked, what about releasing unreleased stuff? Well, we’re not gonna release it in its embryonic form because it wouldn’t make any sense. But I’ve been fortunate enough to have Steve Lukather, who was a good friend of Ed‘s, and we’re working on putting a record together, but it has to be of the quality and the level of where we left it. Not just to say, ‘Hey, here’s some music that we made. If you like it, that’s great.’ No. It has to be the quality that we expect.”
Per Blabbermouth, he added:
“…These are recordings that were going to be the next [Van Halen] record, and that were stopped because [Ed] didn’t live that long… The drums are already recorded. The drums, the guitar and the bass are already in there. What we didn’t have is a vocalist, and obviously the subtleties and the glue — we call it the glue or the spackle.”
Wolfgang Van Halen handled most of the bass parts, the mic however, remains open, Paul Rodgers was a serious contender, but bowed out.
“We originally had plans to — I think I can probably say without talking outta school, one of the singers who we really, really, really wanted to use for the new stuff was Paul Rodgers… but [Paul] can’t do it anymore… I respect that. I’m saddened and disappointed, but you know, that’s life…”
As Alex put it: “Luke and I are looking for somebody right now.”
Enter Fred Durst
Responding to coverage of the search, the Limp Bizkit frontman posted, “let’s go!! I’m ready”.
It’s a wild suggestion, especially given the pair’s history, according to the 2020 book Eruption In The Canyon: 212 Days and Nights with the Genius of Eddie Van Halen, tensions flared in 2001 after a jam session at Durst’s Beverly Hills home.
Author Andrew Bennett claimed Eddie retrieved his gear in dramatic fashion, alleging:
“Eddie once bought an assault vehicle from a military auction… And he had a gun in his hand.”
He later quoted Eddie recalling, “That asshole answered the door. I put my gun to that stupid fucking red hat of his, and I said, ‘Where’s my shit, motherfucker?’…”
Whether that chapter is legend or literal truth, the thought of Durst fronting Van Halen feels like the kind of plot twist you’d dismiss in a biopic. Still, the hunt continues.
Follow me on Facebook:
RELATED
MORE IN Music
