Alex Van Halen to Collaborate on New Album with Toto’s Steve

Alex Van Halen has announced that he and Toto’s Steve Lukather are gearing up to collaborate on a new album. In a conversation with long-time Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain on the Metal Sticks podcast, Van Halen shared, “I’m getting ready to do this record with Lukather and a couple of other people. It should be exciting.”

With regards to the specifics of the upcoming album, Van Halen did not delve deeper, mentioning that Lukather, known for his guitar work with Toto and various studio sessions, has not committed to a particular role in the project. However, there’s speculation that Van Halen might be alluding to his intention to finish unreleased music in collaboration with his late brother, Eddie Van Halen, who passed away in 2020.

The possibility of completing unheard music featuring the Van Halen brothers has been a topic of discussion between both Alex Van Halen and Steve Lukather in recent years. Van Halen disclosed in 2024 that there is a vast amount of undisclosed music in the Van Halen vault, estimating it to be equivalent to “three or four” albums. He emphasized that they would remain locked away until a suitable decision is made on how to handle them. Van Halen highlighted, “We’re not just gonna shovel it in. We have access to some of the greatest musicians on the planet, and a lot of ’em are more than willing to take a chance on some of the stuff.”

In early 2025, Van Halen disclosed to Dutch newspaper De Telegraf that he had enlisted the help of Lukather to finalize some of the unreleased music. Lukather, acknowledging the close friendship between Ed and Steve, expressed his commitment to assisting Alex in navigating through the unfinished recordings. He clarified that he would function more as a co-producer and stated categorically he would “not ever” play any guitar on a Van Halen song.

Van Halen echoed these sentiments during his recent Metal Sticks interview, highlighting the deep bond with Lukather and the collaborative spirit they share. They value the creative aspect of their work over contractual obligations, emphasizing the importance of mutual respect and appreciation in their collaboration.

In a separate development, Alex Van Halen shared a previously unreleased track titled “Unfinished,” composed by himself and Eddie Van Halen, in the audiobook version of Van Halen’s autobiography, “Brothers.” The release of this unheard song gave fans a glimpse into the musical legacy of the Van Halen brothers, hinting at more hidden treasures waiting to be unearthed.