Alex Van Halen’s memoir, Brothers, his homage to his late brother and bandmate Edward, will be published on October 22. In advance if the book’s arrival, a four-and-a-half-minute audio clip of the Van Halen drummer reading a passage from Brothers has been posted on Spotify.
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The segment, which is titled “Overture,” features Alex lamenting the loss of his brother—who died of cancer in 2020 at age 65—and discussing their close bond. Also in the clip, Alex praises Eddie’s incomparable music talent, and reflects on their shared life experiences.
[RELATED: How You Can See Alex Van Halen in Person as He Promotes His Forthcoming Memoir, Brothers]
“Without my brother, I would not be,” the 71-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer says in the clip, according to Van Halen News Desk. “We fight, argue, we even argue about agreeing on things, but there is a bond and unconditional love, and very few people ever experience in a lifetime.”
He also shared, “I still have trouble believing you’re gone, and probably for me you never will be. Outliving my little brother? This just wasn’t the plan. As the older brother, I was supposed to die first. Same as always, Ed… butting in line.”
About the Brothers’ Mutual Passion for Music
Alex also talked about his and Eddie’s mutual passion for music, and other traits they shared.
“Music was our heart and soul,” he said. “That’s what we did. That’s what we loved. That’s what we enjoyed, and that’s what we were good at. It was also the thing that made us as close as two brothers can be.”
He continued, “We were connected in every way—genetically, artistically, financially, emotionally, and though neither of us stuck with Catholicism, I’m going to go ahead and say spiritually. It’s very difficult to unwind that.”
About Eddie’s Musical Talent
In the audio segment, Alex spoke at length about Eddie’s unique talent as a musician. He noted that his brother was always sensitive to both criticism and praise, and suggested that that sensitivity was a factor in what made him “a brilliant musician.”
Alex also revealed that his brother didn’t like it when people called him the world’s greatest guitarist.
“I can tell you this much, saying you’re the greatest implies there are many more like you,” Alex posed. “But there is only one, Edward Van Halen.”
Then, addressing his late sibling, Alex discussed some of things that stood about his guitar talent.
“You could play just a single note, and it sounded different, distinct,” he said. “Miles Davis said it’s not the notes, it’s the intent. It’s that intangible essence that makes the difference between one sound and another.”
Alex continued, “From the first time you picked up a guitar—my guitar, actually—the resonance and intonation were unique. Long before people were going crazy for your finger tapping, the talent was already there. Even when you just played a chord, you always said you didn’t know where it came from. … Music just came through you.”
Audiobook Version of Brothers Will Feature an Unreleased Song
Brothers, which can be pre-ordered now, is available as a hardcover book and as an audiobook narrated by Alex himself. The audio version will feature a previously unreleased song titled “Unfinished,” that was the last piece of music Alex and Eddie wrote together.
Three snippets of the track can be heard now at Van-Halen.com.
Alex Van Halen’s Brothers Book Tour
As previously reported, Alex has scheduled a three-city book-signing tour in October to promote Brothers.
The appearances are scheduled to take place on October 21 at Barnes & Noble’s Fifth Ave. location in New York City, October 22 at Books & Greetings in Northvale, New Jersey, and October 24 at Robert Frost Auditorium in Culver City, California.
The New Jersey signing falls on the actual release date of the book.
The California event will feature the drummer chatting about the book with his collaborator on the project, author Ariel Levy.
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