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Brothers
In this intimate and open account—nothing like any rock-and-roll memoir you’ve ever read—Alex Van Halen shares his personal story of family, friendship, music and brotherly love in a remarkable tribute to his beloved brother and band mate.
Told with acclaimed New Yorker writer Ariel Levy Brothers is seventy-year-old drummer Alex Van Halen’s love letter to his younger brother, Edward, (Maybe “Ed,” but never “Eddie”), written while still mourning his untimely death.
In his rough yet sweet voice, Alex recounts the brothers’ childhood, first in the Netherlands and then in working class Pasadena, California, with an itinerant musician father and a very proper Indonesian-born mother—the kind of mom who admonished her boys to “always wear a suit” no matter how famous they became—a woman who was both proud and practical, nonchalant about taking a doggie bag from a star-studded dinner. He also shares tales of musical politics, infighting, and plenty of bad-boy behavior. But mostly his is a story of brotherhood, music, and enduring love.
"I was with him from day one,” Alex writes. “We shared the experience of coming to this country and figuring out how to fit in. We shared a record player, an 800 square foot house, a mom and dad, and a work ethic. Later, we shared the back of a tour bus, alcoholism, the experience of becoming famous, of becoming fathers and uncles, and of spending more hours in the studio than I’ve spent doing anything else in this life. We shared a depth of understanding that most people can only hope to achieve in a lifetime."
There has never been an accurate account of them or the band, and Alex wants to set the record straight on Edward’s life and death.
Brothers includes never-before-seen photos from the author’s private archives.
Told with acclaimed New Yorker writer Ariel Levy Brothers is seventy-year-old drummer Alex Van Halen’s love letter to his younger brother, Edward, (Maybe “Ed,” but never “Eddie”), written while still mourning his untimely death.
In his rough yet sweet voice, Alex recounts the brothers’ childhood, first in the Netherlands and then in working class Pasadena, California, with an itinerant musician father and a very proper Indonesian-born mother—the kind of mom who admonished her boys to “always wear a suit” no matter how famous they became—a woman who was both proud and practical, nonchalant about taking a doggie bag from a star-studded dinner. He also shares tales of musical politics, infighting, and plenty of bad-boy behavior. But mostly his is a story of brotherhood, music, and enduring love.
"I was with him from day one,” Alex writes. “We shared the experience of coming to this country and figuring out how to fit in. We shared a record player, an 800 square foot house, a mom and dad, and a work ethic. Later, we shared the back of a tour bus, alcoholism, the experience of becoming famous, of becoming fathers and uncles, and of spending more hours in the studio than I’ve spent doing anything else in this life. We shared a depth of understanding that most people can only hope to achieve in a lifetime."
There has never been an accurate account of them or the band, and Alex wants to set the record straight on Edward’s life and death.
Brothers includes never-before-seen photos from the author’s private archives.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 22, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,026 reviews
October 22, 2024
Tore through this in one sitting. I grew up at the right time and got to watch/listen the band grow (as I myself was growing up) and was big fan. You can't read this and not come away with how much Alex loves Ed. Part of me wishes there were more stories about the band and such, but that's not what this book was about. RIP Ed.
June 13, 2025
I bought this book back in November, for my kid brother’s birthday, but I wasn’t able to give it to him until he arrived here this spring.
Get it: BROTHERS? It seemed appropriate, especially for a guy who loves rock and roll.
Yes, my brother loves rock and roll, but, it doesn’t matter the genre. In general, I come from a music-obsessed family, and we’re all pretty damned protective of each other’s tastes. All that really matters is the music.
Turns out, that’s what this memoir is about: love of family, and music.
My brother read it in 3 or 4 nights and then handed it back to me and said, “He’s not Steinbeck, but it’s good. You should read it.”
I wasn’t sure. I mean, I came of age in the 1980s, so of course Van Halen’s music was often in the background, like a soundtrack. When I was young, people were always telling me I “looked like Valerie Bertinelli.” These were like my only real connections to the subject matter.
I started, reluctantly, but when I got to this paragraph on page 26, I became fully committed:
I’ve been sober for decades now, but if memory serves, part of the allure of wine is that you’re drinking something that’s both alive—the juice of a grape, fermenting—and on its way toward death: eventually the stuff will stop aging to perfection and just go off. So, in a sense, you’re drinking the life cycle. And that faint taste of decay can be kind of bewitching. Along those same lines, part of what made Ed so great wasn’t just the way he played a note and brought it to life. The magic was also in the way he’d get the sounds to dissipate, to die. Next time you’re listening to him, check it out: the sounds going are as interesting as the sounds coming. I know this sounds like a stretch, but I honestly think Ed was able to convey profound truths about the Universe through his music.
Alex Van Halen, the author of this memoir, was just 20 months older than his kid brother, Eddie Van Halen. The two boys emigrated here with their parents, from Holland, and I had no idea that their family was like mine, currently, biracial. Their mother was an Asian woman, originally Indonesian, and their father was Dutch. Their family was Dutch, and they were poor as dirt when they moved here.
The brothers were inseparable, just two years apart in school, and bound together, forever, by music. Their father was an excellent musician, but not well connected in the community; the boys were broke, music obsessed, and determined to be famous.
When Eddie Van Halen died in 2020, something in Alex broke:
I still wake up most mornings and think, Ed! Where the fuck are you: I’ll never get over it. I’ll never say goodbye.
Thus begins a most surprising love letter to a younger brother, who is sorely missed. Those who knew the brothers described them as “twins.”
Alex took me on a journey of his and Eddie’s early years, and their rise to fame. Through his perspective, I have newfound respect for three Van Halen songs (for three different reasons) that had never been on my radar before: “Eruption,” “Outta Love Again,” and “Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now).”
He wrote this as a 70-year-old man, not a kid. His Voice comes across as honest and forthright, and you can tell this is a man who has learned introspection in the last couple of decades.
I found this memoir endearing, and one of the most surprising “byproducts” for me was the humor and tenderness Alex Van Halen had for David Lee Roth. For a man who once caused the band so much grief, I could see the maturity and generosity Van Halen had, toward a former “enemy.” I was truly awed by the way he represented Dave Roth as a human being, displaying both compassion and maturity. (Take note, all future memoirists!).
I’ll take a cue from Alex Van Halen and end this with a quote from David Roth:
“We’re only at our best when we’re ascending toward something. And when you’re ascending, you’re furious, you’re focused; you have to be or you’ll fall off.”
Side note to my kid brother: If you die before me, I will kick your ass!
Get it: BROTHERS? It seemed appropriate, especially for a guy who loves rock and roll.
Yes, my brother loves rock and roll, but, it doesn’t matter the genre. In general, I come from a music-obsessed family, and we’re all pretty damned protective of each other’s tastes. All that really matters is the music.
Turns out, that’s what this memoir is about: love of family, and music.
My brother read it in 3 or 4 nights and then handed it back to me and said, “He’s not Steinbeck, but it’s good. You should read it.”
I wasn’t sure. I mean, I came of age in the 1980s, so of course Van Halen’s music was often in the background, like a soundtrack. When I was young, people were always telling me I “looked like Valerie Bertinelli.” These were like my only real connections to the subject matter.
I started, reluctantly, but when I got to this paragraph on page 26, I became fully committed:
I’ve been sober for decades now, but if memory serves, part of the allure of wine is that you’re drinking something that’s both alive—the juice of a grape, fermenting—and on its way toward death: eventually the stuff will stop aging to perfection and just go off. So, in a sense, you’re drinking the life cycle. And that faint taste of decay can be kind of bewitching. Along those same lines, part of what made Ed so great wasn’t just the way he played a note and brought it to life. The magic was also in the way he’d get the sounds to dissipate, to die. Next time you’re listening to him, check it out: the sounds going are as interesting as the sounds coming. I know this sounds like a stretch, but I honestly think Ed was able to convey profound truths about the Universe through his music.
Alex Van Halen, the author of this memoir, was just 20 months older than his kid brother, Eddie Van Halen. The two boys emigrated here with their parents, from Holland, and I had no idea that their family was like mine, currently, biracial. Their mother was an Asian woman, originally Indonesian, and their father was Dutch. Their family was Dutch, and they were poor as dirt when they moved here.
The brothers were inseparable, just two years apart in school, and bound together, forever, by music. Their father was an excellent musician, but not well connected in the community; the boys were broke, music obsessed, and determined to be famous.
When Eddie Van Halen died in 2020, something in Alex broke:
I still wake up most mornings and think, Ed! Where the fuck are you: I’ll never get over it. I’ll never say goodbye.
Thus begins a most surprising love letter to a younger brother, who is sorely missed. Those who knew the brothers described them as “twins.”
Alex took me on a journey of his and Eddie’s early years, and their rise to fame. Through his perspective, I have newfound respect for three Van Halen songs (for three different reasons) that had never been on my radar before: “Eruption,” “Outta Love Again,” and “Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now).”
He wrote this as a 70-year-old man, not a kid. His Voice comes across as honest and forthright, and you can tell this is a man who has learned introspection in the last couple of decades.
I found this memoir endearing, and one of the most surprising “byproducts” for me was the humor and tenderness Alex Van Halen had for David Lee Roth. For a man who once caused the band so much grief, I could see the maturity and generosity Van Halen had, toward a former “enemy.” I was truly awed by the way he represented Dave Roth as a human being, displaying both compassion and maturity. (Take note, all future memoirists!).
I’ll take a cue from Alex Van Halen and end this with a quote from David Roth:
“We’re only at our best when we’re ascending toward something. And when you’re ascending, you’re furious, you’re focused; you have to be or you’ll fall off.”
Side note to my kid brother: If you die before me, I will kick your ass!
October 30, 2024
For the filial love alone. I’d have to be a far more blackhearted sonofabitch than I already am to rate this anything other than 5. Alex is disarmingly sweet in all matters concerning his baby brother and, refreshingly, more than generous and effusive of Diamond Dave Roth.
See you on the other side, Edward. It all mattered and, of course, none of it did at all.
See you on the other side, Edward. It all mattered and, of course, none of it did at all.
November 25, 2024
I really enjoyed this meditation on music, brotherhood, and what it means to be an immigrant in the United States… Killing me, Smalls.
November 2, 2024
Oh, where to start. I feel like Alex Van Halen didn’t have a clear direction with this book. It’s titled “Brothers” so you kinda expect it to be this nice look into Alex and Eddie’s relationship and it does…minimally. It mostly focuses on the early days of the band with David Lee Roth from the formation up until the album “1984”. He doesn’t offer too many new details into those early years except maybe in the very beginning. Otherwise, it’s a retelling of the Van Halen story. Speaking of retelling, Alex dips into a lot, and I mean A LOT of quotes and excerpts from other books/articles for this book. I can understand using some quotes from his brother who has passed but doesn’t he have his own perspective/stories?
Next, he is mad about a lot of things and this leads to him leaving out almost anything about Michael Anthony and not including any of the Sammy Hagar years.
The most interesting part of the book is the family dynamic in which he and Eddie grew up in. I wish this had been the primary focus of the book including the health/intoxicant struggles Eddie had late in his life and how the brothers dealt with that.
It’s really a disappointing book on many levels. Also I think the title should have been “Brothers and David Lee Roth” because that is really the focus.
Next, he is mad about a lot of things and this leads to him leaving out almost anything about Michael Anthony and not including any of the Sammy Hagar years.
The most interesting part of the book is the family dynamic in which he and Eddie grew up in. I wish this had been the primary focus of the book including the health/intoxicant struggles Eddie had late in his life and how the brothers dealt with that.
It’s really a disappointing book on many levels. Also I think the title should have been “Brothers and David Lee Roth” because that is really the focus.
October 27, 2024
Not enough Michael Anthony - hope that guy writes a memoir some day…
October 29, 2024
Brothers by Alex Van Halen is a heartfelt rock bio that honors the life and legacy of Eddie Van Halen, his younger brother and legendary rock guitarist, who passed away in October 2020. Through Alex’s words, we experience the depth of his grief and the bond they shared. From their humble beginnings in the Netherlands to their immigration to Pasadena, California, Alex opens up about the shared journey that shaped them as both siblings and bandmates. He recounts how music became their shared language, with Eddie as the sensitive, introverted guitar prodigy and himself on drums—a powerful duo from the start.
The memoir takes us back to their early days, playing at Gazzari’s on the Sunset Strip, and meeting future bandmates David Lee Roth and Michael Anthony, setting the stage for their eventual rise to rock-and-roll fame. There’s a beautiful honesty in how Alex describes Eddie’s ambition, his electrifying live performances, and the undeniable force he brought to music, which was, as Alex puts it, Eddie’s “heart and soul.”
While this book captures the emotional essence of their bond, it occasionally feels like Alex held back, as though he could’ve added more. I would’ve liked to see more personal stories— it may have added a richer dimension to this touching tribute. Nonetheless, the memoir stands as a genuine “see you on the other side” deeply felt homage to a life lived at full volume. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Alex himself and loved how he chuckles to some humorous parts of his story.
The memoir takes us back to their early days, playing at Gazzari’s on the Sunset Strip, and meeting future bandmates David Lee Roth and Michael Anthony, setting the stage for their eventual rise to rock-and-roll fame. There’s a beautiful honesty in how Alex describes Eddie’s ambition, his electrifying live performances, and the undeniable force he brought to music, which was, as Alex puts it, Eddie’s “heart and soul.”
While this book captures the emotional essence of their bond, it occasionally feels like Alex held back, as though he could’ve added more. I would’ve liked to see more personal stories— it may have added a richer dimension to this touching tribute. Nonetheless, the memoir stands as a genuine “see you on the other side” deeply felt homage to a life lived at full volume. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Alex himself and loved how he chuckles to some humorous parts of his story.
January 19, 2025
Short and well written. Thankful that David Lee Roth was unable to change the Band's dynamics.
November 28, 2024
"In terms of my brother, it's taken me about a year to write this book; it's been almost four years now since he died. I still wake up most mornings and think, Ed! Where the fuck are you? I'll never get over it. I'll never say goodbye."
Van Halen has been one of my favorite bands since I was old enough to listen to music and dance, which is to say, from a young age. The guitar sound was unlike anything I had ever heard before, which made the band stand out from all the others at that time. They truly changed music with their unique sound.
Alex and Edward shared an inseparable bond from birth, and it was evident every time they took the stage together. This book explores the lives of these two brothers, who traveled by ocean to get to America and did everything they could to pursue their passion for music.
This memoir about the Van Halen brothers is fantastic. Alex provides an in-depth look into their lives and the formation of Van Halen. He shares the good, the bad, the outrageous, and the jealousy of their lives. It’s a touching and eye-opening account, making it one of my favorite reads of the year.
Van Halen has been one of my favorite bands since I was old enough to listen to music and dance, which is to say, from a young age. The guitar sound was unlike anything I had ever heard before, which made the band stand out from all the others at that time. They truly changed music with their unique sound.
Alex and Edward shared an inseparable bond from birth, and it was evident every time they took the stage together. This book explores the lives of these two brothers, who traveled by ocean to get to America and did everything they could to pursue their passion for music.
This memoir about the Van Halen brothers is fantastic. Alex provides an in-depth look into their lives and the formation of Van Halen. He shares the good, the bad, the outrageous, and the jealousy of their lives. It’s a touching and eye-opening account, making it one of my favorite reads of the year.
November 13, 2024
Sigh :( I so wanted to love this book but unfortunately - NOPE! First off, I get that I already knew a lot of the background information about the Van Halen brothers because I was such a huge fan growing up and they (and Kiss) were basically the reason I wanted to be in a rock n roll band. But here's my main problem with this book: He (Alex Van Halen) never mentions Sammy Hagars name in the book. It's like he didn't exist. I get that this book about him and his brother but, actually its misleading because it's basically about Alex, Edward and David Lee Roth. Alex is a smart guy so I'm guessing when he named it "Brothers" he also includes Dave as the 3rd brother. Either way, the silly squabbling that went on in the band with Micheal Anthony (who is only mentioned only a handful of times and given no respect) and Sammy Hagar is still a part of his life. Sad, because when you lose a loving family member, we should not only honor and remember his contributions to life but also all the friends and family that were in that person's life as well.
October 27, 2024
“I’ll see you again Ed, and when I do, I’m gonna kick your ass”
This book is literally titled “Brothers”. If you’re expecting a full Van Halen/Hagar history, you’re not gonna find it here. What you will find is an older brother’s fun memories now tainted with grief.
This book is literally titled “Brothers”. If you’re expecting a full Van Halen/Hagar history, you’re not gonna find it here. What you will find is an older brother’s fun memories now tainted with grief.
July 1, 2025
4.5*
Oof, the overture had me in tears! I love this band, and I have so many memories growing up listening to them. I don't know why, but Eddie's passing really struck me. I think it's because it marked the end of an era. I appreciated how the book is written in Alex' voice and isn't bogged down in detail. It's easy to read and very relatable. Sometimes, it was heartbreaking to read how much Alex misses his brother. I found it very interesting that he doesn't talk much about Michael Anthony or Sammy Hagar (if at all) and to be honest, unfortunate how he ends his memoir when David Lee Roth left the band. Alex just doesn't want to talk about Michael and Sammy. But, I guess he's not ready to tell that story. Overall, it's a really good memoir.
Oof, the overture had me in tears! I love this band, and I have so many memories growing up listening to them. I don't know why, but Eddie's passing really struck me. I think it's because it marked the end of an era. I appreciated how the book is written in Alex' voice and isn't bogged down in detail. It's easy to read and very relatable. Sometimes, it was heartbreaking to read how much Alex misses his brother. I found it very interesting that he doesn't talk much about Michael Anthony or Sammy Hagar (if at all) and to be honest, unfortunate how he ends his memoir when David Lee Roth left the band. Alex just doesn't want to talk about Michael and Sammy. But, I guess he's not ready to tell that story. Overall, it's a really good memoir.
October 22, 2024
Just listened to the whole thing on a six-hour car trip the day it was released. It made me laugh, feel sad, and think. Thank you, Alex, for writing it and reading it. We miss you, Ed. ❤️
October 27, 2024
Wish Al was my brother. Great read.
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November 16, 2024Brothers is not just a rock-n-roll memoir but also Alex Van Halen's love letter to his brother, the band and music.
I will start by saying that I am not very familiar with Van Halen or their music. Of course, I have listened to them. My father is a fan, after all. But that's all I ever really knew, a few songs here and there. And that's why I decided to read this. My father has listened me talking about my favourite bands more than anyone, so I thought it was just fitting for me to learn something about his favourite bands.
And I think with this book, it really works even if you go into it with knowing nothing like I did. When you start reading, you encounter two young boys and as the book goes on and they grow up, you learn to know them.
"I'll say it again: it's music. If it sounds good, it is good. That's what we were after: making something exellent.
I love music and I got my love for it from my father, just like the Van Halen brothers did. Though I never played an instrument, nor did my father. I did try, several. Piano, violin, guitar and bass, if anyone wants to know but I gave them all up rather quickly. I love music and this book made me almost sad that I will always love it as a listener. I don't have the patience for instruments.
But listening to music has quite literally saved my life and perhaps that is enough. I really loved this part;
"Forget the Grammys, forget the Billboard chart, forget the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. What a privilege to connect with a stranger through our music on that level. Isn't that the point of art? It makes life more bearable. Art is hope."
That last line actually goes so hard that I low-key want it tattooed on me. Art really is hope. It's nice to hear that an artist feels the same; that it matters more than any award ever could.
"Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, Edward Van Halen. They didn't all just happen to have bad judgement or weak willpower. They drank or snorted up whatever potion they'd chosen because they were trying to get out of reality, the realm of logic, the everyday. The road is littered with musicians who died pursuing what they thought they heard."
My favourite artist has also died, though not because of alcohol or drugs. That last line just made me think of him. He loved music more than anyone else I have ever known. I hope, and every single other artist, found what they were hearing somewhere else. Perhaps we can all enjoy it on the other side.
"When a cloud dissipates, what happens to the water? It isn't gone. It's just changed form. The same thing goes for you, Ed, or any other human being on this planet. So I'll never say goodbye."
I have never thought it that way before, it really makes sense to me. When I started reading this book, I was not expecting it to help me with my own grief.
All in all, I think this book is just beautiful start to finish. It's honest, even about the perhaps uglier parts of life, but I think that makes it just more beautiful. There is a quote in the book from an interview where Ed said; "I don't know what's going to happen in the future, maybe somebody else in the band will get egoed out or something. But I'd love Van Halen to be forever..." And I think it is just that. Music is forever, in a way - as long as someone listens and remembers.
There is also a long quote that ends with these words; "But you were brave until the end, Ed." It brought me to tears over a man I never knew, whose lives work I had barely listened to. The way Alex writes is just simply beautiful and touching.
Highly recommend this one to anyone - even if you don't know who Van Halen are.
(No star rating as I am personally not comfortable giving one to memoirs/biographies which are someone else's life and to me, it feels wrong to rate that or the way it is written about!)
I will start by saying that I am not very familiar with Van Halen or their music. Of course, I have listened to them. My father is a fan, after all. But that's all I ever really knew, a few songs here and there. And that's why I decided to read this. My father has listened me talking about my favourite bands more than anyone, so I thought it was just fitting for me to learn something about his favourite bands.
And I think with this book, it really works even if you go into it with knowing nothing like I did. When you start reading, you encounter two young boys and as the book goes on and they grow up, you learn to know them.
"I'll say it again: it's music. If it sounds good, it is good. That's what we were after: making something exellent.
I love music and I got my love for it from my father, just like the Van Halen brothers did. Though I never played an instrument, nor did my father. I did try, several. Piano, violin, guitar and bass, if anyone wants to know but I gave them all up rather quickly. I love music and this book made me almost sad that I will always love it as a listener. I don't have the patience for instruments.
But listening to music has quite literally saved my life and perhaps that is enough. I really loved this part;
"Forget the Grammys, forget the Billboard chart, forget the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. What a privilege to connect with a stranger through our music on that level. Isn't that the point of art? It makes life more bearable. Art is hope."
That last line actually goes so hard that I low-key want it tattooed on me. Art really is hope. It's nice to hear that an artist feels the same; that it matters more than any award ever could.
"Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, Edward Van Halen. They didn't all just happen to have bad judgement or weak willpower. They drank or snorted up whatever potion they'd chosen because they were trying to get out of reality, the realm of logic, the everyday. The road is littered with musicians who died pursuing what they thought they heard."
My favourite artist has also died, though not because of alcohol or drugs. That last line just made me think of him. He loved music more than anyone else I have ever known. I hope, and every single other artist, found what they were hearing somewhere else. Perhaps we can all enjoy it on the other side.
"When a cloud dissipates, what happens to the water? It isn't gone. It's just changed form. The same thing goes for you, Ed, or any other human being on this planet. So I'll never say goodbye."
I have never thought it that way before, it really makes sense to me. When I started reading this book, I was not expecting it to help me with my own grief.
All in all, I think this book is just beautiful start to finish. It's honest, even about the perhaps uglier parts of life, but I think that makes it just more beautiful. There is a quote in the book from an interview where Ed said; "I don't know what's going to happen in the future, maybe somebody else in the band will get egoed out or something. But I'd love Van Halen to be forever..." And I think it is just that. Music is forever, in a way - as long as someone listens and remembers.
There is also a long quote that ends with these words; "But you were brave until the end, Ed." It brought me to tears over a man I never knew, whose lives work I had barely listened to. The way Alex writes is just simply beautiful and touching.
Highly recommend this one to anyone - even if you don't know who Van Halen are.
(No star rating as I am personally not comfortable giving one to memoirs/biographies which are someone else's life and to me, it feels wrong to rate that or the way it is written about!)
January 8, 2025
This band provided the soundtrack to my youth. The first time I heard “Eruption” I was hooked. The energy and musicality of their songs always uplifted my mood. This book was filled with Alex’s memories of the band enhanced by my own memories of the music these brothers created. At moments this was heartbreaking. A number of reviewers diss the book for not going in to details about the Sammy Hagar era. I have no issue with ending as it did. To me, the original line up of Van Halen was the best of their music. They always looked so happy to be up there together getting the party started. I missed that energy after Dave bailed.
November 4, 2024
No one was a bigger fan of Van Halen than me in my jr high and high school years. There wasn't a day I didn't listen to their cassettes or Cds including the Sammy Hagar solo ones, whose era brought me to the band. Once I heard 5150, I was a huge VH listener, in fact my very first concert in 91 was Van Halen.
I was so excited , at first, when I heard Alex was writing a book. He was a huge influence on me as a drummer. But when I heard closer to the release date that there was nothing about the Hagar years, I started to have doubts. I saw it at the bookstore and decided to get it at my local library.
Many music fans will praise the book, but for me a lot of it is book excerpts from other VH books (esp Ted Templeman's book, which I reviewed on my blog page) . The book stops at the 1984 album and then a small chapter about Eddie's death. Not only does he barely mention Sammy (and ignores the Gary Cherone stint), but even Michael Anthony is mentioned very sporadically and he was a member of the bane the whole way though (could it be due to his friendship with Hagar).
Alex writes a lot about David Lee Roth's love of the camera and himself throughout the book, and then at the end praises him for being such a great singer and person in the band.
I know the focus is on his relationship with his brother (hence the title), but this was disappointing to me from someone musically I have respect for, and was an influence on my playing.
I was so excited , at first, when I heard Alex was writing a book. He was a huge influence on me as a drummer. But when I heard closer to the release date that there was nothing about the Hagar years, I started to have doubts. I saw it at the bookstore and decided to get it at my local library.
Many music fans will praise the book, but for me a lot of it is book excerpts from other VH books (esp Ted Templeman's book, which I reviewed on my blog page) . The book stops at the 1984 album and then a small chapter about Eddie's death. Not only does he barely mention Sammy (and ignores the Gary Cherone stint), but even Michael Anthony is mentioned very sporadically and he was a member of the bane the whole way though (could it be due to his friendship with Hagar).
Alex writes a lot about David Lee Roth's love of the camera and himself throughout the book, and then at the end praises him for being such a great singer and person in the band.
I know the focus is on his relationship with his brother (hence the title), but this was disappointing to me from someone musically I have respect for, and was an influence on my playing.
November 11, 2024
I was looking forward to hearing from the reclusive Van Halen brother about his relationship with his baby brother. While there are a few great stories about the childhood of the Van Halen brothers, the majority of this book was merely quotes from other books I have already read.
The book was ultra short and didn't really tell the story of Alex Van Halen so much as rehash the stories told by others and give Alex's perspective on them. The other Hughe disappointment was Alex's reluctance to dive into the Van Hagar years or discuss the short lived Gary Cherone experiment and the reunion album.
It was almost as if he stopped living after Van Halen released 1984. 'Brothers' was supposed to be the ultra personal look into the lives of the Van Halen brothers. What it was, was a review of previously released stories that Alex wanted to discuss. This would have been a more entertaining interview than a book.
The book was ultra short and didn't really tell the story of Alex Van Halen so much as rehash the stories told by others and give Alex's perspective on them. The other Hughe disappointment was Alex's reluctance to dive into the Van Hagar years or discuss the short lived Gary Cherone experiment and the reunion album.
It was almost as if he stopped living after Van Halen released 1984. 'Brothers' was supposed to be the ultra personal look into the lives of the Van Halen brothers. What it was, was a review of previously released stories that Alex wanted to discuss. This would have been a more entertaining interview than a book.
April 19, 2025
going into this book, all i knew about van halen was the song jump
after reading it, however, the life of alex and ed and everyone involved is quite complex and intriguing
reading the memoir through alex’s perspective was beautiful and felt like such an intimate retelling at times
i annotated so many lines in this book and i highly highly recommend
the letters to ed at the beginning and end were so heartbreaking🥹💗
after reading it, however, the life of alex and ed and everyone involved is quite complex and intriguing
reading the memoir through alex’s perspective was beautiful and felt like such an intimate retelling at times
i annotated so many lines in this book and i highly highly recommend
the letters to ed at the beginning and end were so heartbreaking🥹💗
April 25, 2025
This audiobook was read by the author and the result was stellar. It was poignant as all hell.
January 18, 2025
Sorely disappointed. Felt that there was a lot more to cover. The ending was abrupt and not satisfying. Maybe a die hard Van Halen fan (not really me, I’m just fan) will appreciate the book but I certainly didn’t. ☹️
December 15, 2024
My only complaint was that it wasn’t longer.
January 24, 2025
Van Halen is one of my all time favorite bands, so I started this with a bit of trepidation, as I didn't want to end up hating the men behind it. Thankfully, I needn't have worried as Alex and Eddie were as I expected them to be: talented, flawed, funny (especially Alex),driven, hopeful, and so deeply loved by one another. I also gained quite a lot of insight about the music industry at the time.
Thanks for an enjoyable and educational read, Mr. Van Halen!
Thanks for an enjoyable and educational read, Mr. Van Halen!
November 21, 2024
the ending made me cry real tears in my workplace office. cannot stress to you enough how beautiful this book was; as a memoir, a tribute to a brother, and a summation of a life.
going into it, i knew nothing about van halen besides the song 'jump'. which is an absolute jam & anthem in its own right. van halen is one of my dad's favorite bands and he played them constantly growing up. i remember jumping and dancing around in my basement as a kid to the songs my dad put on, not knowing the music, but just feeling it and knowing it was good. to be honest, i originally picked up this book so i would finally be able to connect with my dad on a music level, but instead i was the one who found connection.
so how did this book convince me-- someone who doesn't already have a interest in music of the 70/80s, celebrities', or the rock 'n roll scene, to care as much as i did about these two brothers? truth is, i have no idea. but i've always been pulled in by the authentic. and i think i'll ride along with any author, throughout any story, about anyone as long as you're genuine. and that's exactly what alex and ed van halen are.
the writing flows beautifully, which is a feat in itself for memoirs. he keeps the story moving at a conversational level, so it truly feels like you're sitting down in alex's living room for an evening and he's reminiscing on his career, life, and brotherhood.
the book covers all of van halen; creation, each album, each gig. you experience and feel everything with them, as you're guided by a wise sage, alex van halen, looking back in retrospect.
the love these brothers had for each other was so evident and it came across on every page. i was completely entranced with alex's writing and LOVED the multiple letters he included throughout the narrative that were structed as letters to ed. god, these got me.
it all feels warm, bittersweet. a cup of coffee shared with a friend (or brother).
okay maybe now i'm getting sappy, but i really love this book and wish i could give alex a hug. as someone born in a completely different generation (late, late 90s), you have made me care deeply about you. and that transcendence is the most beautiful thing.
love stays...
going into it, i knew nothing about van halen besides the song 'jump'. which is an absolute jam & anthem in its own right. van halen is one of my dad's favorite bands and he played them constantly growing up. i remember jumping and dancing around in my basement as a kid to the songs my dad put on, not knowing the music, but just feeling it and knowing it was good. to be honest, i originally picked up this book so i would finally be able to connect with my dad on a music level, but instead i was the one who found connection.
so how did this book convince me-- someone who doesn't already have a interest in music of the 70/80s, celebrities', or the rock 'n roll scene, to care as much as i did about these two brothers? truth is, i have no idea. but i've always been pulled in by the authentic. and i think i'll ride along with any author, throughout any story, about anyone as long as you're genuine. and that's exactly what alex and ed van halen are.
the writing flows beautifully, which is a feat in itself for memoirs. he keeps the story moving at a conversational level, so it truly feels like you're sitting down in alex's living room for an evening and he's reminiscing on his career, life, and brotherhood.
the book covers all of van halen; creation, each album, each gig. you experience and feel everything with them, as you're guided by a wise sage, alex van halen, looking back in retrospect.
the love these brothers had for each other was so evident and it came across on every page. i was completely entranced with alex's writing and LOVED the multiple letters he included throughout the narrative that were structed as letters to ed. god, these got me.
it all feels warm, bittersweet. a cup of coffee shared with a friend (or brother).
okay maybe now i'm getting sappy, but i really love this book and wish i could give alex a hug. as someone born in a completely different generation (late, late 90s), you have made me care deeply about you. and that transcendence is the most beautiful thing.
love stays...
October 24, 2024
This is hard to review. As a guitar player ANY information about Edward Van Halen is good. Much like in Geddy Lee's book, there is a lot of information about their parents so we get to understand where they came from and how hard it was for Al and Ed to come to America.
I was really surprised the Van Halen stories stop with Dave leaving the band (and not the reunion?). Maybe there will be a second book.
I also feel bad that Alex never even says the words, "Sammy Hagar." I get that he's probably mad because Sammy's book details how Edward's drinking helped to ruin things. Sammy gave details. Lots of details. Alex explains how he and Ed started drinking as children. He only says, "We had other singers."
I love that Alex talks to Eddie in the present tense in this book. It moved a little slowly, but now I see a lot of room for a second book.
There was a fair amount of this book where Alex quotes other books and documentaries. After a while, I found that slightly annoying. Many of us have read those books. I understand he didn't want to toot his own horn, but the world knows how great Van Halen is. I can read those books any time. I can only get information from the brain of Alex Van Halen this once, and you keep telling me what other people said.
Thank you, Alex, for your music and this book. You were the soundtrack to my life. Van Halen I is so good I don't listen to it. I save it for days that are just awful. That's when I play it; it always lifts me up and makes me smile.
I was really surprised the Van Halen stories stop with Dave leaving the band (and not the reunion?). Maybe there will be a second book.
I also feel bad that Alex never even says the words, "Sammy Hagar." I get that he's probably mad because Sammy's book details how Edward's drinking helped to ruin things. Sammy gave details. Lots of details. Alex explains how he and Ed started drinking as children. He only says, "We had other singers."
I love that Alex talks to Eddie in the present tense in this book. It moved a little slowly, but now I see a lot of room for a second book.
There was a fair amount of this book where Alex quotes other books and documentaries. After a while, I found that slightly annoying. Many of us have read those books. I understand he didn't want to toot his own horn, but the world knows how great Van Halen is. I can read those books any time. I can only get information from the brain of Alex Van Halen this once, and you keep telling me what other people said.
Thank you, Alex, for your music and this book. You were the soundtrack to my life. Van Halen I is so good I don't listen to it. I save it for days that are just awful. That's when I play it; it always lifts me up and makes me smile.
January 16, 2025
“We were brothers. We’re still brothers. Even death can’t change that. “
“I’ll see you again, Ed.
And when I do, I’m going to kick your ass.”
5 STARS! Starting off the year with an amazing read. Listening to their music while reading really brought you into the scene !! I highly recommend this book if you like Van Halen!!!! 🤍🎸
“I’ll see you again, Ed.
And when I do, I’m going to kick your ass.”
5 STARS! Starting off the year with an amazing read. Listening to their music while reading really brought you into the scene !! I highly recommend this book if you like Van Halen!!!! 🤍🎸
November 15, 2024
Brothers by Alex van Halen
Audio Version
Overall Grade: B
Information/Memoir: B-
Writing/Organization: B
Narration: B
Best Aspect: Engaging in parts.
Worst Aspect: Fell a little flat in parts and I drifted and didn’t follow well.
Recommend: Yes
Audio Version
Overall Grade: B
Information/Memoir: B-
Writing/Organization: B
Narration: B
Best Aspect: Engaging in parts.
Worst Aspect: Fell a little flat in parts and I drifted and didn’t follow well.
Recommend: Yes
August 25, 2025
I picked this book randomly on a whim for "research purposes."
I don't typically go for celebrity memoirs, because there inevitably comes a point in the narrative at which I'll ask myself, "would I genuinely like this person if I met them in real life?" And the answer to that is usually disappointing.
Also, I'm not particularly a Van Halen fan. I couldn't name a member or song off the top of my head at the time I picked this up, which says a lot, since the band is named after two of its members. After a bit of googling, I jogged my memory, which reminded me why hair bands from the 80s might have catchy songs, but ultimately didn't blow me away. I think if I focused less on their hair and outfits and lyrics, I probably could appreciate the music for music's sake.
HOWEVER! I am a sucker for a good story about brothers, and in this regard, this memoir was unexpectedly sweet. I found the first part of the book about their lives as immigrants kinda funny and kinda sad. Their early start as musicians was fascinating, especially the way they tended to take things apart and make them their own, out of genius or just to get by on a budget. The middle bit - once they became rock stars- was a bit gratuitous, once you realized they are the reason the cliche about musicians trashing hotel rooms and being a walking tale of caution about addiction exists.
After some cursory views of interviews with the band members, I quickly gathered that Van Halen came with a lot of drama within the band. It essentially was the Van Halens vs everyone else. So when Alex first introduced the other band members (that later quit or were kicked out, etc), Alex made it sound as if the Van Halens were allowing people like David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar into their band because they had no one else to pick from and they really needed that amp for their shows, they were so desperate. So I felt the bias pretty early on.
Alex briefly touched on the feuds, but it sounded like he was trying hard (and not really succeeding) at not crossing some legal defamation line in not addressing it. Pretty much most of the later years were cut.
The book was honestly less about Alex and more about Eddie. The way he writes about his younger brother, who he clearly considered to be a musical genius above himself, and whom he protected and considered his best friend was endearing to say the least.
I don't typically go for celebrity memoirs, because there inevitably comes a point in the narrative at which I'll ask myself, "would I genuinely like this person if I met them in real life?" And the answer to that is usually disappointing.
Also, I'm not particularly a Van Halen fan. I couldn't name a member or song off the top of my head at the time I picked this up, which says a lot, since the band is named after two of its members. After a bit of googling, I jogged my memory, which reminded me why hair bands from the 80s might have catchy songs, but ultimately didn't blow me away. I think if I focused less on their hair and outfits and lyrics, I probably could appreciate the music for music's sake.
HOWEVER! I am a sucker for a good story about brothers, and in this regard, this memoir was unexpectedly sweet. I found the first part of the book about their lives as immigrants kinda funny and kinda sad. Their early start as musicians was fascinating, especially the way they tended to take things apart and make them their own, out of genius or just to get by on a budget. The middle bit - once they became rock stars- was a bit gratuitous, once you realized they are the reason the cliche about musicians trashing hotel rooms and being a walking tale of caution about addiction exists.
After some cursory views of interviews with the band members, I quickly gathered that Van Halen came with a lot of drama within the band. It essentially was the Van Halens vs everyone else. So when Alex first introduced the other band members (that later quit or were kicked out, etc), Alex made it sound as if the Van Halens were allowing people like David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar into their band because they had no one else to pick from and they really needed that amp for their shows, they were so desperate. So I felt the bias pretty early on.
Alex briefly touched on the feuds, but it sounded like he was trying hard (and not really succeeding) at not crossing some legal defamation line in not addressing it. Pretty much most of the later years were cut.
The book was honestly less about Alex and more about Eddie. The way he writes about his younger brother, who he clearly considered to be a musical genius above himself, and whom he protected and considered his best friend was endearing to say the least.
October 24, 2024
Fun and enjoyable. I didn’t mind the book ending in 1984; as I agree with Alex when he says that Van Halen was never the same after David Lee Roth left. I find the book most compelling when Alex discusses his present-day feelings toward the loss of his brother and do wish that was touched on more. Found it odd that Michael Anthony is essentially a background character in the entire story. I guess if you have nothing nice to say about someone, don’t say anything at all. But Alex has plenty of not-so-nice things to say about Diamond Dave. Who knows. The politics of music autobiographies are always amusing. Solid read. Made me want to lists to a lot of Van Halen…and indeed I did.
August 19, 2025
As much as I loved this book, I can't review it. How does one review the lives and love of two brothers?
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