ALEX VAN HALEN has confirmed that he is preparing to begin work on a new recording project alongside TOTO guitarist STEVE LUKATHER, a revelation that has reignited discussion around unreleased VAN HALEN material. The announcement emerged during a recent podcast appearance and has since drawn attention from fans eager to understand what this collaboration actually involves.
While speaking with IRON MAIDEN drummer NICKO McBRAIN on the Metal Sticks podcast, ALEX VAN HALEN openly shared that new creative work is officially approaching. Although details remain limited, his words were enough to spark widespread speculation.
Transcribed by Metal Sticks Podcast:
“I’m getting ready to do this record with Lukather and a couple of other people,” the VAN HALEN drummer said.
“It should be exciting.”
Although the comment immediately led many fans to assume a brand-new VAN HALEN album was in the works, STEVE LUKATHER has since clarified that his involvement is being widely misunderstood.
Confusion surrounding STEVE LUKATHER’s role
Notably, this is not the first time rumors have surfaced regarding STEVE LUKATHER and a potential VAN HALEN release. Last March, LUKATHER publicly shut down reports suggesting that he would perform guitar parts on any new VAN HALEN recordings.
Nevertheless, speculation intensified after De Telegraaf, the largest Dutch daily morning newspaper, reported that ALEX VAN HALEN was revisiting a collection of unfinished and unreleased VAN HALEN recordings. According to the report, LUKATHER was assisting with the process of completing or organizing the material.
In a paywalled article cited by Guitar World, ALEX VAN HALEN explained why STEVE LUKATHER was uniquely suited to help with such a sensitive project.
“Ed and Steve Lukather were very good friends and they often worked together. There is no one who can do this process with me as well as he can.”
That statement added fuel to the growing belief that LUKATHER might be musically involved in shaping future VAN HALEN releases.
STEVE LUKATHER reacts to the reports
Interestingly, STEVE LUKATHER appeared genuinely surprised by how quickly the story gained traction. In the same De Telegraaf article, he was quoted responding to ALEX VAN HALEN’s remarks.
“Did Alex say that? Oh, in that case the news is true. Ed, Alex and I were very close for years. It is true that we worked on it together.”
However, as online speculation continued to grow, LUKATHER decided to address the situation directly and set clear boundaries around his role.
Instagram statement clears the air
On March 15, 2025, STEVE LUKATHER took to Instagram to clarify what his involvement does—and does not—include. In a detailed message, he stressed that there was a major misunderstanding regarding his participation in any VAN HALEN project.
“For the record: Ever since Alex Van Halen dropped some we were gonna work together I think there is a huge misunderstanding.”
He then made his position unmistakably clear.
“I will NOT EVER play a guitar note on a VH song ever!”
According to LUKATHER, his role is limited to reviewing archival material rather than contributing new musical performances.
“Al asked me to help him go thru a ton of unfinished recordings of Al and Ed writing and recording that never saw the light of day. As of now thats all I got.”
He also addressed the idea of stepping into EDDIE VAN HALEN’s musical space, something he firmly rejected.
“The fact that ANYONE would think for even a second that I would play anything on this is ridiculous. I have too much love and respect for that and … I play nothing like Ed.. more as a co-producer or something. I am honored Al would ask me though.”
He concluded the post with a cautious but open-ended note.
“Lets see …”
The VAN HALEN vault still holds surprises
Importantly, ALEX VAN HALEN has previously acknowledged that there is a significant amount of unreleased VAN HALEN material still stored in the band’s archives. In earlier interviews, he suggested there could be enough content for multiple future releases.
During an appearance on CHRIS JERICHO’s Talk Is Jericho podcast, EDDIE VAN HALEN’s brother spoke about the depth of the recordings left behind.
“I’ve talked about it loosely, and I am rather superstitious, but I can say a couple of things that I’ve mentioned before. We’re gonna go through the ‘vault’ and go through some of the musical ideas that were there.”
He explained that creative judgment can change with time and distance.
“There was some good stuff in there. And you have to remember, when in the thick of it, sometimes the really great stuff kind of passes you by.”
According to ALEX VAN HALEN, revisiting old material often leads to unexpected rediscoveries.
“And it’s not until you revisit it going, ‘Whoa, I forgot about that. This kicks a-s.’”
Taking the time to do it right
Despite the excitement surrounding unreleased material, ALEX VAN HALEN has repeatedly emphasized patience and care. From his perspective, honoring his brother’s legacy requires a deliberate and respectful approach.
“But that takes time. And you wanna do it right. I wanna do it right.”
That philosophy aligns closely with STEVE LUKATHER’s clarification, which underscores respect over reinvention. Rather than reshaping the music, the goal appears to be preservation and thoughtful presentation.
What fans should realistically expect
At this stage, no release date or final format has been confirmed. However, what is clear is that ALEX VAN HALEN is actively revisiting archival recordings and working with trusted collaborators to navigate the process carefully.
Although STEVE LUKATHER will not perform guitar parts on any VAN HALEN recordings, his behind-the-scenes involvement could play a meaningful role in organizing and contextualizing the material.
For fans, the possibility of hearing restored or previously unheard VAN HALEN recordings remains compelling. Still, expectations should remain grounded in the understanding that this process is being handled with caution, respect, and time.
