Drummer Kenny Aronoff speaks on Van Halen. "Alex Was The Best" ! Sunset Sound Roundtable

Kenny Aronoff, the renowned drummer, expresses his admiration for Alex Van Halen's drumming skills and discusses how Van Halen had a tremendous impact on his music career and playing style.
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#vanhalen #eddievanhalen #drummers

[@Michael-hv3ts]

"They tracked all that stuff live because they could." That says it all. The greatest rock band of ALL TIME!!!!

[@NyeGuy-yv2dv]

Fuckin' A

[@kevinwilkins3248]

Straight up rock Gospel TRUTH

[@dickcnormis1444]

The best band ever.? Not even in the top 10

[@friguy4444]

So could the Beatles but they also invented while tracking.

[@kevinwilkins3248]

@@dickcnormis1444 LMAO, ok. Opinions are like assholes...

[@sweetwilliam5150]

Love it when Mike gets appropriate props.

[@tasteapiana]

I appreciate that Kenny mentions Michael Anthony's bass playing. Eddie would get tired, worn out, frustrated from doing all the writing, whatever, and diss on Mike's playing because of it not being the most intricate or his feeling like he was carrying all the water for Mike otherwise - BUT - it can not be denied that Mike is like a freaking machine, the most reliable bassist in history, he is that button you push when you want rock solid, in time, thumping groove and, more importantly, you never heard Alex say a bad word about Mike's playing or complain that he wasn't always locked in. If you can play bass one on one with Alex Van Halen on the drum kit for all those years and he never says a bad word about you - you are a $(^%ing bad ass, period. If he personally doesn't mind you being there - you're the sh t.

[@dosgos]

Michael was singing a lot. Plus the busy guitar work needed basic bass lines else the music would devolve into more cacophony. I suppose that relationship devolved due to some combination of personality conflicts and money, and we can guess who was NOT at fault.

[@MagnumMuscle1000]

Mike is a great bass player and Eddie was just being a shit when he talked bad about him.

[@padfolio]

@@MagnumMuscle1000 Billy Sheehan has said that Mike is an excellent bassist. That should be a good enough of an endorsement for anyone.

[@joebartlett3255]

Van Halen hits different, on 1 & 3 instead of 2 & 4. Plus Alex had a lot of off beat stuff. Mike was always in the pocket on it, and it amazed me. Mike could ride those double bass drums like a boss too. He was told to keep things more simple in the studio, but some of the live stuff he knocked it out.

[@shanewilson199]

@@dosgos id say his singing was an essential element to the sound. Think of all the backing vocals on some of those quintessential VH songs….

[@TVoltG]

Yes!! Alex's snare sound was badass!

[@Mike-vt6jj]

Seen Kenny many times in concert with Mellencamp and dude just straight up kicks ass! He was the backbone to John's band imo

[@bobtillman5769]

That must have been so awesome. Aronoff's a badass drummer.

[@Boldaslove71]

I think a drummer is a great judge of a bass player. What Kenny said about Michael speaks volumes about MA's talent as a bass player. I like Geddy Lee and I also like Michael Anthony.

[@flyingburritobro68]

Kenny never says anything negative about anybody. That’s why he plays with everyone. I’ve heard him call loads of people the best

[@goodquestion1105]

Kenny plays with MA, of course he's going to pump him up. Doesn't make him great A, A, A, A, A, A

[@ClassicRockMedia]

True!

[@stevelucero9047]

whenever I hear a piccolo snare... I think "Kenny Aronoff" ... love his playing

[@gsmith207]

I always try to do what Kenny would do in a song when I hit the cans! He’s the best!

[@HoosierDaddy_]

Kenny is amazing. His passion for the music is so enthusiastic!

[@anthonypowell6234]

The hi-hat is one way I always recognized a new VH song on the radio. Very bright. And how about all the jazz he and Eddie brought in?

[@JohnnyBeane]

Van Halen is the greatest rock band ever!! Man Kenny is one cool dude! I saw Kenny live with Chicken Foot in San Francisco back in 2012 i think. They were awesome!

[@watergrass2135]

Two great amazing drummers Alex and Kenny

[@matthewlevett968]

When I was learning drums as a teen in the 80s, my idol was Alex van Halen.

[@myworstenemy680]

Van Halen was obviously uber talented, but they were a Fun band as well. I got to see them 3 times in the Roth era, and they kicked ass every time. Eddie was the reason I started playing guitar, and I'm not alone there lol. He's the only musician that absolutely fascinated me growing up. Every Album was a musical gift that filled me with anticipation, awe and wonder.

[@Swanlord05]

His playing was like Candy Sweet to the ear

[@lucabiolzi1767]

I like Kenny, a lot! And I love the fact that he has such an high respect and appreciation for Michael's talent! 🔝🥇🙏🏻💖 Finally, someone who pays justice to his skills, as one of the tightest and badassest bass player ever. 🤟🏻😎🙏🏻🔝

[@jamesmarino7364]

Exactly..... that's exactly what lead to the sunset of rock in the early 90s .... Kenny nails it...bands with more look than playing.

[@muuriciodegollada3870]

I agree .the snare on Alex kit probably best sounding snare ever in my opinion.

[@RandyFricke]

Kenny is always such a treat.

[@marcelomorem]

The Van Halen family's DNA is musically gifted. Jan was probably a better musician than we can imagine, as he was from a different time and he faced hard times. There's nothing more to say about Eddie that hasn't already been said, but what about Alex? What a brilliant drummer and musician. And now we have young Wolf. I'm not exactly a fan of his music, but the guy is very talented and also a multi-player, like his father and uncle. This family was made to live music.

[@erikkroll2154]

Alex and Ken are great drummers.

[@hookipaboy3412]

Great comments from Kenny on Van Halen! Went to a John Fogerty concert with Kenny on drums incredible show!Aloha from Hawaii🤙🏽

[@bonitawilcox2909]

Marcelo Morem in comments said it best...The VAN Halen family are just so talented. It's part of their DNA....but the drive to achieve it comes from the hard work it takes to drive the machine...Van Halen was my favorite that, I take to my grave, miss you guitar God❤🙏🎸

[@roberttaylor6374]

This is why kennys my favorite.....PASSION....

[@jacey714]

Absolute greatest of all time~ VH forever!!!

[@philipreedwallace]

You rock Kenny. I remember “ Hurts So Good” and countless others. I love the fact you are a Van Halen fan. This is great.

[@dragonfly8341]

Alex is still the best, his instantly recognisable tone & style 👌Alex never gets enough respect, it wasn't all about Eddie! So crazy Alex started on guitar & Ed on drums as kids, but had that moment when they switched that changed the future of music forever ❤️

[@flyingburritobro68]

Not even in the team photo come on!

[@marunikusbakufu]

I think that Donn Landee had a lot to do with getting Alex's drum sounds on the Ted Templeman produced records. Also, if you read Ted's book, Sunset (I think Studio 2?) had a great layout and echo chamber for big fat drum sounds. BTW - are Ted and Donn ever going to come in? I'm just dying to see and hear those two guys being interviewed as part of this series! Please get them in!

[@marunikusbakufu]

Also - if you ever get Ted in - ask him why he stopped using Sunset Sound in the mid-80's and the 90's. He seemed to gravitate towards One-on-One studio (which apparently also had an amazing drum sound). Sunset's drum sound is unique though. I wish that Ted would have continued working at Sunset throughout his career.

[@walterevans2118]

Alex was the best....On one of the gaps of silence between tracks on the Balance album one of the room mics picks up Ed's voice asking -'Hey Al. do ya wanna click on this one' ?...& Alex you can hear saying -'I DONT NEED NO STINKING CLICK'....lol...The reason ?....ALEX was a HUMAN TIME MACHINE...Instantly recognisable sound & snare tone as Kenny knows.........With Ed & Alex I have never heard or seen two musicians interact to tightly & creatively especially LIVE when improvising....Like an instrument question & answer trip.Listen to them jam 'Im so glad' feeding each other & setting off ideas in each other...Or sometimes Alex would give Ed a 'landscape canvas ' to play over....Sometimes he would build the rhythmic intensity of a solo section live as Ed was building the momentum of his solo (Like on the live version of 5150 on Live Without a Net)....The one that REALLY FREAKED me out was HANG EM HIGH on Diver Down ...Alex's drumming on that in 1982 blew my mind. Just go listen to that with both Alex's isolated drum track, then Ed's isolated guitar track...BOTH of them throw in EVERYTHING idea wise bar the kitchen sink...lol...Its as if Alex threw down the guantlet saying to Ed -'I'm going like a rocket on this one bruv , I'm gonna be doing a lot of stuff...Keep up if you can'....& ED rose to it & did crazy guitar stunts in every nook & cranny without missing a beat just as Alex's variations are astonishing on his isolated drum track...When in 2012 they thought 'Shall we try this' ? on tour Ed was like -'Urrr, oh I dunno'..lol...But Alex & Wolf & Dave were like - 'Yeah , fall down the stairs & land on our feet...GO FOR IT..'....lol... they dived headlong into it & it worked brilliant again just like the old days...You could see Ed & Alex really laughing together enjoying themselves playing it in 2012....Wolf too..On the first two albums at Sunset I think they capture ED'S live sound more quickly than they did Alex's drum sound because Ed's sound had such an impact on Ted.....When I went to see VH in London in 1979 I thought that Live Alex's drum sound was TEN TIMES the power of what it sounded like in the studio. In those days during solos the others would climb on Alex kit & all join in.....When Alex wasn't TORCHING IT..lol...Fire extinguishers,,,gas masks on it...Looked like WW2...For me the first time I realized what an incredible rhythm weapon Alex is occurred when hearing LOSS of CONTROL on the WACF album....OMg ....Also listen to the dragster engine sound he gets off the insane full throttle percussion of Hot For Teacher,,, Source of Infection,,,,& the Colossal unstoppable Juggernaut of PLEASURE DOME. (Andy Johns got a superb drum sound on that one) The quirky Doin' Time on Balance...The Jammy killing machine improv momentum on his live solo alongside a horn band punctuated version of OUTTA LOVE AGAIN.... Alex in interviews would say that in his improvised drum solos he would not even remember what he had played...He even remarked - 'In the footage I LOOK LIKE a FISH....Whats all this business' ?......lol...Alex remembered one excellent piece of advice which his FATHER JAN always said to both him and ED - 'PLAY EACH NIGHT AS IF IT WERE YOUR LAST'.....Alex also one gave a beautiful piece of advice to his younger brother which I have never forgot & still really moves me to recall ....Alex said to Ed - ' When you're onstage Ed don't worry about all the jumping around & showmanship....Just PLAY ok.....The crowd always make the biggest sound when you just STAND AND PLAY ....THATS what gets the biggest reaction' ! ...& Alex was RIGHT....Just listen to the crowd go NUTS when in his live solo Ed goes into familiar parts of ERUPTION. The way they would RISE to it the way the audience would cheer & rise to Pavarotti singing the finale of Nessum Dorma. Alex knew, God love him.

[@cornfilledscreamer614]

You can't help but love Kenny. Dude has such passion for music!

[@FFLL2112]

Great interview! Kenny is awesome and the epitome of what hard work and determination will do.. earn you lots of respect and take you to the top. Great interviewer too. Thanks for posting 💯

[@sunsetsoundrecorders]

🙏🙏🤘🤘

[@tdz69]

Wish you guys could get Alex and/or Mike in for a sit down. I think Mike would accept the invite without question. Just seems like the type of guy to say hell yeah and show up.

[@dosgos]

Alex crushed "Jump", especially during the solo.

[@katiamontal7474]

An old friend that grew up 1 street over from Eddie said it best [Van Halen/Big explosive party rock] unmatched its was perfected in the so cal back yard party then taken to the world VH 1 Album blew minds worldwide

[@kevinkiley6503]

Thing about Alex is he also had a jazz and Latin music influence. Alex is one of the greats of all time on drums.

[@99percentirish64]

Love Kenny! Great interview clip!

[@davidteller7681]

I remember Kenny with Mellencamp, he was one of the best parts of a live show! What a great, hot drummer.

[@demonicsweaters]

what a fun dude

[@jeffvandyk70]

Kenny is such a cool guy. Great post.

[@stringbender11672]

Awesome episode!! That dude is cool as hell!!!

[@kayokk-]

We always knew that about Alex and Sammy. Thanks for confirming the same 👍🏼

[@letmeadow4729]

LOVE THIS CHANNEL! WHERES THE FULL INTERVIEW?

[@smokingun397]

A huge part of Eddies guitar playing came from him being an amazing piano player as a kid. That surely helped with his musical knowledge

[@DRodMuzicman]

Kenny is awesome 👏🏻❤️

[@sethputnamsghost]

In this house we pray to the mighty Van Halen.🤘

[@ROCKNROLLFAN]

There are some nice guitar work on Van Halen 5150 album and I really like the rhythm guitar work on a couple of songs especially when love walks in and the best of both worlds.

[@philchigges2955]

Seen Kenny with John Fogarty in macon ga. He was fantastic as was the band that night.

[@wayne3340]

Kenny's awesome.

[@kravitz1999]

Kenny is a bad man, great player

[@Bamainjc]

Rock Candy was done here ? Love Kenny"s reaction.

[@gsmith207]

This is the greatest! Love me some Kenny! Best story teller. And I’m not saying this because I’m a drummer! Ha! Thanks for this! Subscribed a few months ago, so glad!

[@MagnumMuscle1000]

I get irked when people malign Alex. Alex Van Halen was/is an absolute beast of a drummer. His feel is very unique and deceptively hard to copy. He locked in with Eddie like no one else could.

[@brownsfan7753]

Love this!

[@LoveIsWhoWeAre]

Great video!

[@nickthinkpainting1978]

Just saw him with John Fogerty killer drummer killer show.

[@robertthorn8233]

What a kool Cat!..X

[@livenloud6697]

Love it🤘

[@paulthompson8642]

Dime bag had his own sound... never heard that anywhere else

[@ede6539]

Alex is a human time machine.. he had to be Eddy wouldn't settle for anything less !

[@thedadyouneverhadchannel3544]

I’ve never once said yeah that’s Kenny gimme a break there’s no comparison.

[@woodysdrums8083]

Kenny is cool

[@bakeone4406]

Just saw G3 last night and during the Satriani set, I'm thinking this has better feel and attitude than the first G3 set he did from 27 years ago...is that Bryan Beller on bass, nah...it IS! Is that Kenny Aronoff on drums, nah...it IS! up until then i didn't know i was a fan of his. I hate Sammy Hagar, but hat Satriani set was was some fun shit. Thank you Kenny!!

[@TheLastChapter2023]

Eddie several times said his playing wasn't Him . He just plugged in and God flowed through Him he said . Ed said all his riffs came from above.

[@demonicsweaters]

That pic was hilarious, there's so much trash on the floor, lol

[@slapnutz1]

Eddie never let technical proficiency get in the way of a kick ass groove.

[@flyingburritobro68]

If you like hearing weedily weedily wee over and over.

[@sipzter]

Kenny isn't into music or drumming is he? Love his enthusiasm!

[@Lyka-clock]

Feel and not overcomplicating things. The ability to get space in the dynamics for those insane little details. I think that's the key for VH and not taking Rock music too seriously. I don't think DLR gets enough credit for his lyrics either. It wasn't just bubble gum stuff, it had weight to it. A lot of bands became some kind of silly copy of VH missing all of the fine details.

[@luvbasses5487]

Alex’s snare drum tone/sound is as identifiable as a Stratocaster being played by Hendrix.

[@SwampEye1]

Alex and John Bonham are the most iconic drummers, oh and Keith Moon ...; ever ..

[@mikestevens5512]

Alex's Ludwig sound was incredible. His Snare sound was as good as Bonham's And his Ludwig Toms were way better! The best tom sounds ever recorded. Listen to I'll wait. Those Tom's sounds Are not roto to s or octobons those are Ludwig Toms. They are so open resonant Yet absolutely no overtones. Rediculous!!!

[@davidgriffin3477]

Alex was great too. Off topic here, You were a "Fishin' Musician"? "I just never liked the taste of fish" Candy was a soul brother.

[@bobboberson2024]

Well, this is the first Alex endorsement I've ever heard. Now, the sound was certainly his - making his own drums. But he's not in the conversation of greatest rock drummers. However, he's the best Van Halen drummer of all time.

[@dimelife7096]

Kenny! The man. But you are def on somethin

[@valerieking6760]

Fan of VH, fan of “the brothers”, ❤️Ed, fan of Alex, Ludwig not so much😬

[@jamestrowbridge29]

Eddie referred to the "brown" sound, as Alex

[@nickknight5543]

Alex and Stewart had the best snare sound.

[@E.C.2]

Alex Van Halen is one of the best drummers 1970's-1990's,hands down! I used to get laughed at for saying this,good to a successful professional agree w me for once

[@friguy4444]

Yes MA was great but 50% of those BG vocals was Eddie!! Why do people always skip Ed's awesome singing? You can't do live four part harmonies with only three vocalist!

[@renorailfanning5465]

So true. I thought Mike's bass playing and Eddie's vocals were both under-rated.

[@waylonmccrae3546]

' I'm The One ,, Show Your Love ' Absolutely , the Harmony is Incredible !!

[@fromalongtimeago]

Because Eddie crapped all over Anthony and demeaned him by saying he was a shit bassist and his only attribute was the high vocals.

[@greyman334]

Kenny says the Mellencamp band who are a bunch of Indiana guys go to see VH like they were out of place but DLR himself is an Indiana guy. Lol

[@TheTheratfarmer]

play VH.

[@wvmountaineer69]

Why everybody talks about Hendrix being so good? I don't get it!

[@perfectfan2006]

Django Rinehart was long before any of them so was Ritchie Blackmore

[@SteveVLee]

I've always been a MUCH bigger fan of Kenny than of Alex.

[@bartobruintjes7056]

I"m not.

[@davidcalderon5291]

Never seen Paul Schaefer in leather!!!🤣

[@jasonzoellner7547]

Van Halen deserves a lot of credit. I just didn't like the arguments and drama...but it's rock n roll

[@TJ_775]

He had me until he said Sammy never sings off key..... He sings so many sour notes , that's one of things I don't like about Sam

[@Me-qp8vz]

69 in this video!

[@galeholford1190]

I won’t say AVH is underrated cuz that’s such a bastardized term. I think nowadays he is overlooked and to the lay music fan under appreciated

[@dirkworld]

Uh, I think he means Chad Smith

[@bgandjsco1]

And yet you will hear people say Alex wasn't that great.

[@steveec9704]

Alex needs too come out and not be such a recluse do a NAMM or clinic from time to time the guy is a rock legend

[@friguy4444]

"How many guitar players reinvented the guitar?" Jimmy Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen and LITERALLY LES PAUL. LOL. BOTH IN MATERIAL AND PLAYING. LOL. But he's a drummer so that's fine.

[@breathspray]

When Kenny replaced Chad for the Chickenfoot tour before Van Halen put out ADKOT.Kenny talked all kinds of smack on Van Halen about how they couldnt get it together in the studio and using old demos..Now he`s all kissing ass..

[@journeyquest1]

But a washed up has been since he sold all his drums.

[@thatsmrharley2u2]

Kenny's a great drummer, but "Hollywood" has really fucked him up since his days of playing back in western Massachusetts.

[@sunsetsoundrecorders]

How so?

[@RemoWilliams-jg4yb]

Agreed, his days of the quasi 80's grassroots guy left the building when he got the smashing pumpkins gig, started wearing scarves and oversized glasses. He went from an unassuming guy who seemed approachable to the tony robbins drummer. The BoDeans, Iggy Poop, Aldo Nova and the records of the like showed pure Kenny, now it is just about how hard he can hit. I get where you are coming from.

[@KyleJon]

I’m a bass player, but I play guitar at home for songwriting and fun purposes. (I made a Frankenstrat from scratch that’s AWESOME) So sometimes I put on Alex’s isolated drum tracks. OMG. It’s just SO easy to play with. The best pocket I’ve ever felt. He makes me sound adequate. Anyway, try it out! (The Frankie was made about 6 months before Ed’s passing…so I wasn’t jumping on the bandwagon btw)😄

[@imtheonevanhalen1557]

Eddie was a genius at guitar electronics?...LOL.....the guitar had only one knob because he couldn't figure out the circuitry to install the tone pot!!! Turns out it was all he needed. As far as Alex goes, Hot for Teacher was the ONLY contribution of note to any of the VH songs.

[@kevinwilkins3248]

An extremely ignorant thing to say about Alex.

[@bartobruintjes7056]

What???...........

[@kirwan1414]

You're clueless on Alex.

[@carlschreffler3213]

Alex snare sound just bad ass!

[@chebrneck]

Kenny is awesome