In a recent interview with Eddie Trunk, Joe Satriani discussed his role in honoring Eddie Van Halen’s legacy while avoiding the internal drama of the Van Halen camp.
Joe Satriani on His Role and Avoiding Drama
Satriani expressed gratitude for being distanced from the ongoing family issues between Alex Van Halen and David Lee Roth. He mentioned that his interactions with Roth and Alex Van Halen have been minimal, especially as he has been busy with shows and press:
“I haven’t spoken to Dave for quite a while until I guess it was just about that week. I have spoken to Alex a few times but not recently, not since the tour really got up and running. We’ve just been inundated with doing the shows, doing all the press that comes with it and everything.”
Satriani emphasized his focus on celebrating Eddie Van Halen’s legacy rather than engaging in any internal conflicts:
“The bittersweet part of this whole thing was that I was not ever in the band Van Halen, I was never part of the family, I was never friends with anyone other than Mike and Sam. There are some issues that they have in that camp. I’ve got nothing to do with it and I really don’t wanna get involved in it whatever it might be. I’m here just like the fans. I just wanna sell this music, I just wanna do it right, I’m gonna give it a 100% every night I walk on stage and all the rest of that stuff’s got nothing to do with me. I am here to celebrate and respect Eddie’s legacy as best I can.”
David Lee Roth on Van Halen Drama
David Lee Roth recently addressed the ongoing drama between him and the Van Halen brothers. He described the tensions as long-standing, dating back to the 80s, and illustrated the nature of their disagreements:
“It’s early in the morning. Not for me, I haven’t been to sleep since the late 80s, which is a very Dutch thing to say. Okay, that kind of sense of humor is Jan Van Halen, Mr. Van Halen. The brothers and I never got along.”
Roth recounted the explosive nature of their conflicts:
“The sparks from that collision, [imitates an explosion]. That kind of thing, that’s running with the devil. ‘No you, you man, how could you? You should have… [explosion].’ ‘I Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love’ [explosion]. ‘Look at her, she’s f*cking crying again.’ But Jamie’s always cried [explosion]. ‘You’re late.’ ‘I’m not late. I’m early!’ ‘But you [explosion].’ That’s Van Halen.”
This glimpse into the band’s dynamics highlights the complex and often tumultuous relationships that have characterized their history.
