Remind Magazine revealed the earnings from some of the items sold in the recent Alex Van Halen auction.
The Van Halen drummer collaborated with Backstage Auctions, Inc. to auction off his personal gear and instrument collection. This included drum kits, cymbals, drumsticks, awards, setlists, and family encyclopedias. The event took place from June 1 to June 9, and all 350 items came with a signed certificate of authenticity from him.
How Much Did the Auction Bring In?
The drum kit Alex used during 111 shows starting in 1986 and on Van Halen’s 2015 North American tour fetched $125,000. The kit included kick drums, cymbals branded with the band’s logo, and other gear, all stored in road cases.
A drumhead, used during the 2015 tour and signed by Alex in 2023, sold for $3,312.79. The family encyclopedias went for just over $1,000.
Three handwritten copies of the Van Halen practice notes brought in $1,000. The lists included ‘Van Halen Trio Jam: (We Learn),’ ‘Van Halen Trio Jam: (We Know),’ and ‘Van Halen Practice!’ and were xeroxed to keep them in good condition.
Message From Alex Van Halen
The drummer announced his decision to end his music career and auction off his belongings in May 2024. He thanked everyone who joined the auction on Instagram a few days ago. His statement read:
“What a fantastic auction! I am so happy to see my drums, gear, awards, and collectibles go to new homes. Enjoy and use them like I did. And a huge ‘thank you’ for supporting the ride on therapeutic horsemanship. Van Halen fans are the best!”
This auction celebrated Van Halen’s 40-year journey, during which the band sold almost 100 million albums worldwide.