Alex Van Halen Still Furious That Brother Eddie Worked With Michael Jackson
Four decades after Eddie Van Halen worked with Michael Jackson, brother Alex Van Halen is still disappointed. “Why would you lend your talents to Michael Jackson? I just don’t f-ing get it,” Alex, 71, told Rolling Stone in an interview published on Tuesday, October 15. “And the funny part was that Ed fibbed his way out of it by saying, ‘Oh, who knows that kid anyway?’ You made the mistake! Fess up. Don’t add insult to injury by acting stupid.”
Eddie agreed to perform a guitar solo on Jackson’s “Beat It” in 1982, which Alex claimed led to their band’s demise. At the time, Alex said he told Eddie not to pursue the opportunity and would have preferred Jackson make a guest appearance on a Van Halen album. Eddie ignored his brother’s wishes and went forward with the collaboration. Flash forward two years later and Jackson’s Thriller topped the charts – and beat out Van Halen’s 1984.
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