David Lee Roth and Alex Van Halen reunite at TEDxFargo

David Lee Roth and Alex Van Halen, founding members of the rock band Van Halen, have reunited on stage for the first time in over a decade. The appearance took place on July 30 during a TEDxFargo event in North Dakota.

Rather than a musical performance, the duo participated in a 15-minute moderated conversation titled ‘Beyond Boundaries: How Human Experience Informs Art And Music’ alongside artist Robert Vargas. The discussion marked their first public appearance together since the band’s final concert in October 2015.

The conversation covered various topics, including creative philosophies and personal experiences. Roth discussed the importance of life experiences in songwriting and shared anecdotes from his time living in Japan. Alex Van Halen spoke about the necessity of learning musical basics before breaking rules and the collaborative nature of the band’s creativity.

The reunion follows years of reported tension between the musicians, including a scrapped tribute tour in 2022. The full footage of the discussion has since been released online.