Alex Van Halen recalls his “favourite memory” of when he caught fire on stage
For the golden era of rock ‘n’ roll, the stage proved to be a hotbed of ‘anything can happen’. Although his brother’s presence somewhat eclipsed his contributions and talents, there were plenty of moments when Alex Van Halen was given his time to shine, not just with the fire of his thunderous drumming but also as someone who always brought an element of unpredictability to the show.
An unlikely presence among greats like Ginger Baker, Van Halen’s uniqueness stemmed from his own intuition and visceral know-how. He also rarely pulled the same trick twice but executed his style with such grandeur that it even made Eddie’s ears prick up with intrigue. “I want my guitar to sound like Al’s snare…warm, big and majestic,” he once said, describing his brother’s playing as sounding like he’s always “beating on a log”.
As a result, Van Halen’s influences comprise all the names you might expect, like Baker, alongside Billy Cobham, Keith Moon, and John Bonham, who each taught him unique approaches regarding emotional charge, technicality, and the ability to push the boundaries of how a good drum part could enhance a track. Baker, in particular, taught him about nuance and that the instrument was about “more than just the hits; there’s dynamics, colours”.
However, being a protégé only got him so far, as when he was on stage, it all became about raw energy and shameless exhibition. The energy at a Van Halen show often came second to none, which was enabled in part by the drummer’s erraticism on stage, not just with his instrument but in his attitude towards the broader appeal of the show. One element that always garnered hype was the fire pyrotechnics.
For Van Halen, the fire wasn’t just an exciting spectacle; it represented the fleeting nature of existence and how magic can be missed in a beat if you’re not paying attention. In this way, the fire was also a representation of uniqueness and the miraculousness of life itself. As he put it in his memoir, Brothers: “For me, fire represents the temporariness — that only the moment counts. I mean, the flame is there and poof, it’s gone. So it’s life, right? So to me, that represented that.”
The only difference with Van Halen was that every night, they got on stage and used fire pyrotechnics without any prior knowledge or professionalism behind them. According to the drummer, however, this meant that section of the show came with an element of “danger”, which added to the excitement. That said, this also meant that things could go awry at any moment, and they did. For Van Halen, though, catching fire during one unfortunate set turned out to be one of his favourite memories.
“My favourite memory of all of that was — we kind of gotten it down to a science,” he recalled. “And as we’re doing it during the performance, the lighter fluid starts to come down my arm. And then I look over and I notice my arms on fire.”
He continued, “So I’m thinking, that can’t be good, right? So I look at [my tech] Greg, who, in theory, he’s there with a fire extinguisher. So I look at him and he’s looking at me and he gives me the thumbs up. ‘Looks great, man!’ I’ll never forget that as long as I live.”
Clearly, the notoriety didn’t ever get to his head, and he enjoyed the subtle threat that underscored most of their performances because it only served to enhance the adrenaline and make him play with more fervour. The drummer might have learnt from the best when it came to developing his own style, but the fearlessness in the face of real danger came from nowhere but within.
