Jason Bonham Shares Eddie and Alex Van Halen’s Internal Rivalry
via The Howard Stern Show / Youtube
The Van Halen brothers, Eddie and Alex, were a force of nature in rock music. Their symbiotic relationship, marked by undeniable musical chemistry, has long been a subject of fascination. However, beneath the surface of their collaborative brilliance lay a complex dynamic. Now, a surprising new perspective has emerged.
Jason Bonham, the legendary drummer’s son, has offered a unique insight into the Van Halen brothers’ dynamic. In a recent interview, Bonham revealed that the brothers’ musical interplay was often laced with subtle tensions, as if they were engaged in a playful yet intense rivalry.
As Bonham described it, “Me and Joe [Satriani] were talking about this,” Bonham noted during a new appearance on SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation. “There’s the way they play certain parts as if they’re having a go at each other. It’s as if one of them is making it so awkward that the other one feels awkward doing it.”
A Rocky But Memorable First Meeting
Jason Bonham’s first encounter with Alex Van Halen was far from ideal. Recalling the meeting at Donington, Bonham shared, “It’s 40 years since I saw Mike play at Donington. My wife and I went to Donington – Monsters of Rock – AC/DC, Van Halen. And I got to meet Alex that day… Leonard [Haze] from Y&T introduced me. He came up – this is a classic – and I’m like, ‘Oh my God, it’s Alex Van Halen!’”
The unexpected response from the legendary drummer took Bonham aback. “He goes, ‘Hey Leonard!’ [Haze says:] ‘This is Jason Bonham.’ And he goes, ‘So what?’ He just went, ‘So what?’”
Despite this initial awkwardness, it seems there was a method to the Van Halen brothers’ musical madness. Bonham observed, “[So], there was definitely some weird stuff that goes on where I’m going, ‘That’s not natural … to push there.’ And Mike would say, ‘It’s Eddie screwing with Alex. … He’s making him play something that’s weird.'”
His Dad “Took a Swing” at Alex Van Halen
The Van Halen brothers’ rivalry extended beyond the studio. Bonham shared a humorous anecdote, “[Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony] goes, ‘We heard your dad was in the Rainbow and we were playing at Gazzarri’s next door we kind of ran around the Rainbow and kind of tried to say hi to him and Alex kind of jumped over the thing and put his hand out, your dad took a swing at him.’ [I go], ‘Oh maybe that’s why he was a little pit.’”
It seems the tension between the Van Halen brothers was a well-known secret within the music industry. Despite the challenges, their music has left an enduring legacy.
Jason Bonham is currently keeping the Van Halen spirit alive. He’s touring with Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, and Michael Anthony on the Best of All Worlds Tour, performing classic Van Halen hits for fans around the world.
