Exclusively Van Halen: NEWS Alex Van Halen Billboard Interview 10/18/24

https://www.youtube.com/live/ijwFzTTHMSQ?si=30pjq7OUSIGmAOLd In an interview with Billboard, Alex Van Halen explains why his new book, Brothers, co-written with Ariel Levy, isn’t a tell-all. "If I start throwing dirt, it'll never end," Alex says. He acknowledges the appeal of sensationalism but stresses his aim is to honor the spiritual and creative side of his late brother, Eddie Van Halen. He believes much of what’s been said about Eddie was inaccurate, often from third-party sources. “Before I die, I would like to at least partially set the record straight," he adds. Brothers, which releases on Oct. 22, centers on the Van Halen brothers' relationship, both personally and musically, rather than delving into band drama. Alex says the process of writing was emotional, reflecting on their 65 years together, but it also allowed him to explore his own motivations. The book details their family dynamics, including the influence of their father, Jan, a jazz musician, and their Dutch East Indies-born mother, Eugenia. Alex hopes to give a more sophisticated view of Eddie’s talents, describing Eddie’s ability to make the guitar "sing" and expressing frustration that people focus only on his playing, missing who Eddie was as a person. “Maybe people don’t care, but I care. He’s my brother." While the book covers the early days of Van Halen, it notably stops after David Lee Roth’s departure in 1985. Alex acknowledges the band was “dysfunctional” but that their performances kept them together until the split. Roth’s exit, he says, was “the most disappointing thing I’d experienced in my life, the thing that seemed the most wasteful and unjust. Until I lost my brother.” Despite years of tension with Roth, Alex says he's not angry, respecting Roth's work ethic. After Eddie's passing, Alex even called Roth first to inform him. Alex explains his decision not to cover the Sammy Hagar and Gary Cherone years, stating, “What happened after Dave left is not the same band." He also confirmed he's uninterested in the Best of All Worlds tour with Hagar and Michael Anthony, feeling they’re not doing the band justice. Alex also clarifies his recent drum equipment auction wasn’t a sign of retirement: "I’ll die with sticks in my hand." Despite battling spinal issues, he plans to continue playing, with advancements in modern technology offering hope for recovery in the coming years. Regarding Eddie’s health and the band’s inactivity before his passing, Alex says, “Ed had been dealing with cancer for quite a number of years... He was fighting cancer. It’s as simple as that.” Fans can look forward to a new instrumental track, “Unfinished,” included in the audiobook version of Brothers, part of a trove of unreleased material the brothers recorded at 5150 Studios. While Alex says more will be released when it feels right, he stresses the need for high standards and the right team to handle it. He’s even approached OpenAI to help turn some of the material into songs. Looking ahead, Alex expresses interest in turning Brothers into a movie but notes the complexities of the process. In the meantime, he's focused on three book events in New York, New Jersey, and California, where he’ll sign copies and answer fan questions—though he reserves the right to pass on certain topics. Reflecting on Eddie's passing, Alex says, “He’s not gone for me." He believes in the connection between them, rooted in both quantum physics and their mother's spiritual upbringing. “You cannot destroy energy, it just takes different shapes... That’s kind of how it is for me with Ed.” Though the pain of losing Eddie remains, Alex finds solace in the idea that their bond continues. In a poignant closing note, he recalls writing in the book, “When I see you again, I’m gonna kick yo’ ass…”