In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Alex Van Halen, for the first time since his brother Eddie Van Halen's passing, spoke publicly about the immense grief he's faced and his plans for the band's unreleased material. He revealed a bold idea that could reignite Van Halen's legacy — but it might also stir up some serious controversy.
Though Van Halen left behind a treasure trove of unreleased recordings, most of it remains incomplete. "They're all little pieces," Alex explained, adding that "a bunch of licks don't make a song." To tackle this challenge, Alex is considering turning to artificial intelligence. He's already contacted OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, in hopes of using AI to recreate Eddie's signature guitar work by analyzing the way he played.
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of Alex's plan is his vision for Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin to front the project — despite not having spoken to Plant in over three decades. "Ideally, it'd be Robert Plant," Alex noted, acknowledging that the idea might sound far-fetched. "You're gonna think I'm out of my fucking mind. But when conditions are right, things will manifest."
While Alex seems determined to explore new possibilities, not everyone in the Van Halen family is on board. Wolfgang Van Halen, Eddie's son, has voiced his reservations about releasing any previously unheard material. "In dad's own words, you know, he released what he thought was worthy. I really don't appreciate it when you see certain artists pass and you see their families go through and just kind of release everything. It's like, that's not right, to me."
Still, fans won't have to wait too long for something fresh from the Van Halen vault. A new track, fittingly titled "Unfinished," is set to be released soon as part of the audiobook version of Alex's forthcoming memoir, Brothers, which drops on October 22. This final composition, recorded by Eddie and Alex, is bound to become a poignant swan song to the enduring legacy of one of hard rock's most beloved acts.
