Alex Van Halen Doesn’t Think Unreleased Van Halen Album Is Worth It

The ghost of Van Halen’s A Different Kind of Truth continues to haunt the music landscape. Fans yearn for the chance to stream the 2012 reunion album, but it remains frustratingly absent from online platforms. The reason? It seems the answer isn’t as simple as initially thought. 

Wolfgang Van Halen, Eddie’s son and the album’s bassist, previously pointed the finger at former frontman David Lee Roth, citing his personal distaste for the music. However, a new twist emerges: Alex Van Halen, the band’s drummer and Eddie’s brother, also reportedly harbors reservations.

This isn’t a typical rockstar feud fueled by ego. The concerns surrounding A Different Kind of Truth stem from a deeper place, one laced with artistic integrity and respect for a band’s legacy. Alex reportedly questions the album’s overall quality, wondering if it truly represents Van Halen’s best work and merits public release.

Meanwhile, David Lee Roth adds another layer to the intrigue. His recent video, titled “Family Therapy…”, offered a mocking apology for “upsetting some people” while professing love for his “old rock band” and mourning the loss of Eddie. Was this a genuine olive branch or another jab in the ongoing conflict?

Diamond Dave mocked Wolfgang in a recent video

David’s recent video took a sharp turn towards mockery when he staged a comedic session between Wolfgang Van Halen and a therapist. This supposed therapy aimed to address Wolfgang’s alleged frustration over the lack of streaming availability for the said album.

However, instead of offering empathy, Roth served up a heaping helping of ridicule.

The mock therapist, through Roth’s voice, launched a verbal assault on the album, branding it “DOA (dead on arrival)”, “KTC (kicked to the curb)”, and a “complete FP (faceplant)”. Ouch.

But it didn’t stop there. The therapist added a final, stinging critique: “Son, commercially speaking, you got your ass handed to you.” This harsh judgment not only mocked Wolfgang’s perceived disappointment but also cast further doubt on the album’s quality and commercial viability.

This Wolfgang burn needed immediate medical attention though

Lee Roth also hinted at a deeper reason behind the album’s absence from streaming platforms: he and drummer Alex Van Halen simply don’t think it’s good enough.

Roth expressed reluctance to engage in costly legal battles with record labels and streaming services for an album he doesn’t hold in high regard. He questioned the value of paying lawyers to renegotiate its streaming presence, suggesting that it’s not worth the effort.

His words even took a rough turn, drawing an analogy to boxing legend Muhammad Ali’s later fights: “Do you remember Leon Spinks? How about Larry Holmes or Trevor Berbick? Nobody wants to remember them because they were no fun… And your albums with Van Halen are a lot like those last two fights.”

With each new statement, the future of A Different Kind of Truth remains shrouded in uncertainty. Roth’s comments add another layer to the already tense relationship between him and Wolfgang.

A Different Kind of Truth suddenly vanished from streaming platforms

Released in 2012 to notable commercial success, selling over 411,000 copies in the U.S. alone, A Different Kind of Truth mysteriously vanished from major streaming platforms like Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music in October 2022.

Wolfgang, offered a glimpse into the reason behind its absence during a SiriusXM interview last October 2023. His words hinted at a struggle beyond mere business negotiations: “The contract ran out on putting it up on streaming services,” he shared.

“So, we’ve been working on getting it back, but there are some people involved who do not like that record and are not making it easy to get it back up,” the bassist revealed.

This statement sparked speculation and debate. Who were these “people” opposed to the album’s return? The silence from other parties involved only fuels the intrigue. As the mystery surrounding “A Different Kind of Truth” persists, one thing remains clear: the story goes beyond a simple missing album.

David was the one behind all of this

The opposing “people”, obviously, was David Lee Roth. Wolfgang cast shade at the former frontman in the recent interview. The bassist expressed his frustration over the album’s absence from streaming platforms, hinting at Roth’s possible involvement in the decision.

“I hate to say it because people will think I’m making stuff up, but it’s, like, man, I’d love to have the record back up there, but [Roth] doesn’t like it, and he’s not working with us to get it back up there,” Wolfgang shared, adding a pointed laugh. His words reignited speculation about a rift between him and Roth, leaving fans wondering if personal conflicts are eclipsing business concerns.

While not explicitly stating the reason for Roth’s alleged disapproval, Wolfgang’s comments fuel suspicion of ongoing artistic disagreements. Some speculate that personal clashes between Wolfgang and Roth might be affecting the album’s fate, leaving fans caught in the crossfire.

Regardless of the reason, the album remains unavailable on streaming platforms, frustrating fans who yearn to hear this piece of Van Halen’s history. “So, I hope people who like it have a physical version of it,” Wolfgang could only hope.

Diamond Dave launched another verbal tirade against Wolfgang

Yet the drama surrounding Van Halen’s final chapter refuses to fade. Just as the mystery of their unreleased album simmers, another front opens, this time, again, with David Lee Roth launching another verbal tirade against Eddie’s son. In a video titled “This Crazy Kid…”, Roth blasted Wolfgang for an incident during their 2015 tour, accusing him of disrespecting guests and exhibiting financial impropriety.

Roth’s narrative centers around two women he invited to a New York performance. He claims Wolfgang, seemingly motivated by spite, orchestrated their removal through “a couple of monkeys”, using a derogatory term to describe Wolfgang’s associates.

This escalates further as Roth, in characteristically colorful language, accuses Wolfgang of not paying for the women’s tickets, claiming they worked for Wolfgang’s accounting firm. He draws an unflattering comparison to Eddie Van Halen and his brother Alex, suggesting a pattern of financial dishonesty within the family.

“In fact, you aren’t gonna believe this s—. This f**kin’ kid, what he doesn’t know is that these two dames work for the accounting firm that represents him, not me. But as usual, he, just like his uncle and his uncle’s brother, stiffed them for tickets,” Diamond Dave revealed.

If you want to listen to more of DLR’s outbursts, you can watch the video below: