Navigating stardom together, Eddie and Alex Van Halen embraced rock and roll with the iconic band Van Halen. Adding stars like David Lee Roth and Michael Anthony, the group released numerous hit albums and gained international fame. But sadly, Eddie battled through several health issues throughout the years. And in October 2020, he passed away from complications with throat cancer. Having built a career alongside his brother, Alex eventually retired from the stage. And with such a rich legacy in rock and roll, it seems a new audiobook with feature the last song worked on by the brothers.
Titled Brothers, the audiobook will hit shelves on October 22nd and features the voice of the drummer. It also comes with a song named “Unfinished.” Discussing the audiobook and what fans should expect, HaperCollins said it is “nothing like any rock ’n’ roll memoir you’ve ever read.” The publisher added it is the “personal story of family, friendship, music and brotherly love… [It’s his] love letter to his younger brother Edward (maybe ‘Ed’ but never ‘Eddie’), written while still mourning his untimely death.”
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[RELATED: The Reason John Bonham Once “Took a Swing” at Alex Van Halen—According to Bonham’s Son]
Sammy Hagar Tried To Reach Out To Alex Van Halen
Sharing his own thoughts on the audiobook, Alex said, “This is my tribute to my brother; my way of saying goodbye. Ed, I love you and miss you. When I see you again, I’m gonna kick your ass!”
For Alex’s former bandmates, Sammy Hagar opened up about trying to get him to take part in the Best of All Worlds tour. A tribute to the band’s history, the rockstar revealed they never made contact. “We reached out to him a dozen times… in every way. Email, text message, phone call, message on the machine… No response. I mean, we made every offer to get together or to just talk or to have breakfast, lunch or dinner. Go to the studio and play. Come to my house or I’ll come to your house. Go ride horses, go sit on the beach. What do you want to do? Let’s just do something. Let’s get together. And nothing.”
Hagar also expressed his sadness surrounding Alex auctioning off his famous drum set and equipment. While their relationship remains in limbo, Alex continues to honor his late brother.
(Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns)
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