Modern Drummer 2023 Hall Of Fame Readers Poll Winner

In the early 1970s when Alex Van Halen and Eddie Van Halen formed their early band Mammoth which became Van Halen, many might not have realized the impact that they would have. The impact that Eddie Van Halen had on the guitar and rock and roll is well documented, but Alex’s iconic drumming (and behind the scenes business acumen) supported everything. The brothers had a telepathic musical connection. Alex Van Halen absorbed the history of rock drumming and became monumentally important and highly influential to millions of drummers of the 70s, 80s, and 90s generations.

Alex’s blazing double bass drum work on “I’m the One” and “Hot For Teacher,” his ear bending drumming on “Jump,” the hard grooving shuffle of “So This Is Love?” the jungle rock of “Everybody Wants Some,” and the list goes on and on… ALL of Alex’s drum parts became essential and identifiable in rock drumming. His full bodied and piercing snare sound is as signature as anything in modern rock drumming. Alex’s right-hand work on many of Van Halen’s later tunes like “Drop Dead Legs,” “Right Now,” and “Feels So Good,” are simply stunning, and the funky grooves on “Amsterdam,” and “Cabo Wabo” are positively contagious. Simply put, Alex Van Halen created an original drumming voice within legendary songs and brought his unique sense of swing and audacity to rock drumming.