Alex Van Halen and Van Halen’s David Lee Roth almost had a falling out before canceling the reunion tour

Alex Van Halen claimed that a feud between himself and David Lee Roth nearly turned into violence and ended plans for a Van Halen reunion tour following Eddie Van Halen’s death.

During a recent interview with Rolling Stone, the 71-year-old drummer, who was Eddie’s brother, recalled that he and the 70-year-old singer started rehearsing for a tour after Eddie passed away in October 2020 after a massive stroke following a battle with throat cancer.

After conversations with Queen’s Brian May about how the band honors their late frontman Freddie Mercury during their tours, Alex approached Roth about recognizing the late guitarist in their shows.

Eddie Van Halen took a thousand steroid pills before his death: ‘If two is good, twenty is better’: brother

“The thing that broke the camel’s back, and I can be honest about that now,” Alex said. “I said, ‘Dave, at some point we have to have a very public – not a bow – but an acknowledgment of Ed during the performance. If you watch how Queen do it, they show old footage.” And the moment I said we had to acknowledge Ed, Dave blew a fuse….”

Alex Van Halen claimed that a heated dispute between himself and David Lee Roth led to their canceled reunion tour. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

“The vitriol that came out was unbelievable,” he added.

EDDIE VAN HALEN REMEMBERED BY SON WOLFGANG AS HE PUT HIS FIRST NO. 1 SONG: ‘I WISH POP WAS HERE TO SEE IT’

The drummer claimed that Roth rejected the idea completely and reportedly found it “offensive.”

Roth’s rep did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Alex recalled reacting strongly to his disagreement with Roth.

“I come from the street,” he said. “‘If you talk to me like that, motherf—–, I’m going to blow your damn—— brains out. Do you understand?’ And I mean that. And that’s how it ended.”

“It’s just, my God. It’s like I didn’t know him anymore,” he told Rolling Stone. “I have nothing but the utmost respect for his work ethic and everything. But Dave, you have to work as a community, mother…. You are not alone anymore.’

Alex recalled that Roth rejected the idea of ​​honoring Eddie Van Halen during their tour performances. (Fin Costello/Redferns/Getty Images)

Before the fight, Alex said the two planned to bring in guitarist Joe Satriani and possibly original Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony for the reunion tour.

However, Alex told Rolling Stone that he would not be able to tour in any case because his mobility was limited due to a spinal cord injury he suffered in 2022.

Do you like what you read? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

“On the one hand it’s a shame, but on the other hand it’s fine,” Alex said. “Because now, in retrospect, playing the old songs isn’t really a tribute to anyone. That’s like a jukebox in my opinion…. Finding a replacement for Ed? It’s just not the same.”

“The vitriol that came out was unbelievable.”

—Alex Van Halen

“The heart and the soul and the creativity and the magic were Dave, Ed, Mike and I,” he added.

Van Halen last toured in 2015. (Steve Granitz/WireImage)

Van Halen’s last tour took place in 2015, with the band consisting of Alex, Eddie, Roth and Eddie’s son Wolfgang Van Halen, who replaced Anthony on bass in 2006 after his departure in 2004.

In 2021, Roth announced he was retiring from his music career, but has since teased a possible return.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER

During his interview with Rolling Stone, Alex said that he had always been the band member closest to Roth. He told the newspaper that he first called Roth after Eddie’s death and claimed the two “are still in touch.”

Alex said he and Roth are “still in touch.” (Fin Costello/Redferns)

During an episode of Roth’s podcast “The Roth Show” in January, the singer went on a tirade against Wolfgang, whom he repeatedly referred to as “this damn boy.”

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

While speaking to Rolling Stone, Alex took a light-hearted approach to Roth’s tirade against his cousin, explaining that it should be taken as a compliment.

“To me it’s a sign of respect,” Alex said. “That he actually thinks Wolfie is on the same level as old master Dave, right? The other thing is that Wolf can easily take care of himself. That’s no problem.”