Alex Van Halen is the Dutch-American drummer and co-founder of the legendary rock band Van Halen, and the older brother of the late guitar icon Eddie Van Halen. Still active in 2026 — from finishing unreleased Eddie Van Halen material to receiving a knighthood in the Netherlands — here is everything on his age, career, family, and the very latest news.
Alex Van Halen Personal Information
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Alexander Arthur Van Halen |
| Date of Birth | May 8, 1953 |
| Age | 73 (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Amsterdam/Nijmegen, Netherlands |
| Nationality | Dutch-American |
| Profession | Drummer, Co-founder of Van Halen |
| Years Active | 1972 – present |
| Known For | Van Halen, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee (2007) |
| @alexvanhalenofficial (~70K followers) | |
| Net Worth | Unverified – public estimates range from around $95 Million to $150 Million |
Who Is Alex Van Halen
Alex Van Halen co-founded Van Halen with his brother Eddie in 1972, and the band’s 1978 debut album redefined hard rock guitar and drumming alike. Known for his technically complex, hard-swinging style on tracks like “Hot for Teacher,” Alex was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the band in 2007 and into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 2023. In October 2024 he published the memoir Brothers, chronicling his lifelong relationship with Eddie, who passed away in October 2020. Since Eddie’s death, Alex has spoken warmly about his nephew Wolfgang Van Halen forging his own musical identity rather than living in his father’s shadow.
Alex Van Halen Latest News (2026)
- 🔴 New Archival Album: In February 2026, Alex confirmed he is working on a new album built from unreleased and unfinished Eddie Van Halen material, alongside guitarist Steve Lukather.
- Knighted in the Netherlands: On September 1, 2026, Alex was made a Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion, awarded by the Mayor of Nijmegen at Radboud University.
- TEDxFargo Reunion: In July 2026, Alex appeared alongside former bandmate David Lee Roth as a special guest at TEDxFargo — their first shared stage appearance since Eddie Van Halen’s death.
- Sammy Hagar Comments: In a September 2026 interview with Brazilian magazine Roadie Crew, Alex made pointed critical comments about former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar following Hagar’s memoir.
- January 2026: Shared a home video of a young Eddie Van Halen playing guitar to mark what would have been his brother’s 71st birthday.
FAQs
Alex Van Halen is the Dutch-American drummer and co-founder of the rock band Van Halen, and the older brother of the late Eddie Van Halen.
Born May 8, 1953, he is 73 years old as of 2026.
Yes, he confirmed in February 2026 that he is working on a new album built from unreleased Eddie Van Halen material with guitarist Steve Lukather.
There is no officially verified figure. Public estimates range widely, from around $95 million to $150 million.
His official Instagram is @alexvanhalenofficial.
