Watch: DAVID LEE ROTH And ALEX VAN HALEN Reunite At TEDxFargo Event

More than a decade after VAN HALEN's last concert and six years after the death of guitarist Eddie Van Halen, VAN HALEN singer David Lee Roth and drummer Alex Van Halen reunited for a TED talk this past July 30. The 15-minute talk, dubbed "Beyond Boundaries: How Human Experience Informs Art And Music", was part of TEDxFargo and was moderated by painter Robert Vargas at Fargo, North Dakota's Brewhalla. It marked Roth's and Van Halen's first public appearance together since VAN HALEN's final concert at the Hollywood Bowl on October 4, 2015.

The entire conversation has now been uploaded to YouTube and can be seen below.

Alex Van Halen helped redefine the sound and spirit of rock and roll. Born in Amsterdam in 1953, he moved with his family to Pasadena, California, in 1962, where he and his younger brother, Eddie, began their lifelong creative partnership. Originally trained in classical piano and guitar, Alex found his voice behind the drums. In 1972, the brothers co-founded VAN HALEN, launching a band that would become one of rock's most influential acts. With his thunderous playing, signature double-bass technique, and massive custom drum kits, Alex powered iconic songs including "Hot For Teacher", "Jump" and "Runnin' With The Devil". Alongside Eddie, he was the only constant member throughout the band's four-decade run. In 2024, he published "Brothers", a deeply personal memoir celebrating family, music, loss, and the extraordinary partnership he shared with Eddie.

David Lee Roth solidified his legacy as one of rock's most influential frontmen by channeling pure, sharp-witted charisma and an athletic stage presence. While attending Pasadena City College in Southern California, he met brothers Alex and Eddie Van Halen and became the lead vocalist of VAN HALEN in 1974. Roth's trademark acrobatic high kicks and electrifying energy helped propel the band to international superstardom, a run that peaked with their landmark album "1984". Driven by the chart-topping smash hit "Jump", the RIAA-diamond-certified masterpiece became a cultural phenomenon. Roth then launched a highly successful solo career in 1985, scoring major hits with iconic covers of "California Girls" and "Just A Gigolo". A 2007 VAN HALEN reunion sparked massive worldwide arena tours — a triumphant return that culminated in the band's induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame — permanently cementing David Lee Roth's legendary status.

Robert Vargas has transformed walls around the world into larger-than-life works of art. Born and raised in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, Vargas is an internationally renowned contemporary artist and muralist. Educated at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts and Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, he is known for creating massive public murals entirely freehand, without grids, projections, or stencils. His high-profile works include Angelus, a 14-story mural in Downtown Los Angeles and LA Rising, a 150-foot portrait of Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. In 2021, Vargas created Long Live The King, a 17-foot mural honoring Eddie Van Halen on the exterior of Guitar Center's flagship Hollywood store on the Sunset Strip, connecting his artistry to one of rock's most legendary figures.