Alex Van Halen Opens Up About Quitting Music
via 3rdDayRocker / YouTube
The news hit hard for Van Halen fans everywhere. Legendary drummer Alex Van Halen announced a few weeks back that he was parting ways with his music career. This decision came alongside the surprising news that he’d be auctioning off all his drumming equipment and memorabilia.
Speculation swirled about the reasons behind his retirement. However, a recent social media post from Alex himself offered a ray of light. In it, he expressed his thanks to the fans who participated in the auction, with a portion of the proceeds going towards a therapeutic horsemanship charity.
“I am so happy to see my drums, gear, awards and collectibles go to new homes. Enjoy and use them like I did,” the drummer wrote. Could this be a hint at Alex’s future endeavors outside of music?
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Michael Anthony Was Also Clueless About Alex’s Reason
In a recent interview, Alex’s former Van Halen bandmate, bassist Michael Anthony, shed some light on Alex Van Halen’s decision to sell his drumming equipment. When asked if he knew why Alex was stepping away from music, Anthony admitted his surprise.
“I was pretty surprised when I heard about this auction that he’s going to be holding in the beginning of June,” Anthony revealed. “Somebody had sent me the link to it, and it appears like he’s selling everything right down to his last drumstick. So, I don’t know. I really couldn’t tell you.”
Anthony offered a possible explanation for Alex’s choice. The bassist thought that it might have become tough for Alex to play ever since the death of Van Halen’s core and Alex’s brother Eddie in October 2020.
Alex Van Halen’s Gear Auction
From June 1st to 9th, fans had the chance to own a piece of rock history in Alex Van Halen’s massive gear auction. Spanning eight days, the event offered a staggering 350 items for bidding.
Drum kits, snares, kicks, road cases – the collection encompassed Alex’s entire drumming world. Even his personal items, record awards, and autographed memorabilia were up for grabs. Each piece came with a special touch: a signed certificate of authenticity from Alex himself.
With nearly 100 million albums sold worldwide, Van Halen has left an undeniable mark on the music industry. The auction served as a chance for fans to not only own a piece of equipment used by a rock legend, but also to commemorate Van Halen’s 40-year journey.
