Alex Van Halen has just released his autobiography, Brothers , a memoir about the band and his family. He recently gave an interview to The New York Times discussing his decision to write about his life. The book is described as "an intimate and open account – unlike any rock and roll memoir you've ever read." In it, he explores the importance of the band he formed with his brother Eddie Van Halen, who died of cancer in 2020.
After his brother's death, Alex became reclusive for a period, and now explains why he wrote the book: “To add a little more depth to the understanding of who Ed was. When you're in the spotlight, people tend to speak for you. I wanted to remind people that Ed wasn't a commodity. He was a complex human being.”
Alex Van Halen and his brother Eddie
During the interview, Alex points out that in the book he wrote about both good and bad moments, since he saw his brother as a complex human being. And unlike many artists who only want to recount the glories, he noted: "If you're going to tell the story, you have to give equal space to the good and the bad, because the good doesn't make sense without the bad."
Regarding his brother's struggle: "I know this sounds like philosophical nonsense." He added: "But I really wanted to emphasize the fact that Ed was brave until the very last minute. In the end, he has nothing to be ashamed of. And I wish he were here so I could say, 'Ed, let's try one more time.' Because I know he had it inside him."
The 240-page book Brothers will be released in three formats: standard hardcover, deluxe autographed hardcover, and an audiobook narrated by Alex Van Halen. The latter features an unreleased song composed by Eddie and Alex entitled "Unfinished," the last song the duo wrote together.
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