Watch: ALEX VAN HALEN Talks About Growing Up With Brother EDDIE, Early VAN HALEN Days At Culver City Event

Last night (Thursday, October 24),Alex Van Halen, in conversation with Ariel Levy, discussed his memoir, “Brothers”, his personal story of family, friendship, music and brotherly love, at Robert Frost Auditorium in Culver City, California. Photos and video from the event can be found below.Alex is the co-founder of the rock band VAN HALEN and its original drummer. Born in Amsterdam and trained as a classical pianist, he graduated from Pasadena High School.Levy was Alex Van Halen’s collaborator on “Brothers” and is the author of her own The New York Times best-selling memoir “The Rules Do Not Apply”. Levy has received a National Magazine Award for her work at The New Yorker, where she has been a staff writer since 2008. She is the host and co-creator of the podcast “The Just Enough Family”.Alex Van Halen wrote “Brothers”, a love letter to his younger brother, while still mourning Eddie Van Halen’s untimely death. He recounts their childhood in an 800-square foot house in Pasadena, with an itinerant musician father and proper Indonesian-born mother — how they arrived in the U.S. from the Netherlands and struggled to fit in. He also shares stories of musical politics, infighting and bad-boy behavior. The book includes never-before-seen photos from the author’s private archives, as he sets the record straight on his brother’s life and death in the first-ever accurate account of his family and the band.The audiobook version of “Brothers” contains a previously unreleased song composed by Alex and his brother. Titled “Unfinished”, it is the last piece of music they wrote together and can be heard as Alex narrates his story.Released on October 22 via HarperCollins Publishers, the 384-page “Brothers” book has a list price of $32.00.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 archive. It was also be made available as a 720-minute audiobook and an eBook.Alex and Eddie formed a band called MAMMOTH in Pasadena, California in 1972, then renamed it VAN HALEN when singer David Lee Roth joined the group and, later, bassist Michael Anthony.VAN HALEN was one of the biggest rock bands in the country in the 1980s, with hits like “Runnin’ With The Devil”, “Dance The Night Away”, “Hot For Teacher”, “Panama” and “Jump”. The group, which later featured Sammy Hagar on vocals, was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007.The Van Halen family moved to Pasadena after emigrating to the U.S. from the Netherlands in 1962.VAN HALEN was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007.According to Modern Drummer, Alex was instrumental to VAN HALEN’s electrifying, dramatic sound, leading the rhythm section on standout hits like “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love”, “Unchained” and “Panama”. His double-bass pedal work throughout “Hot For Teacher” was deeply influential, combining technical prowess with a restless, thoroughly original drum composition.Back in 2021, Hagar said that he had tried to reach out to Alex after Eddie’s death but that he was rebuffed.”Alex just seems to he just doesn’t want to communicate with anybody,” Sammy told Ultimate Classic Rock. “You know, Mike [Anthony, former VAN HALEN bassist] has reached out, and I reached out many times. I don’t know. I’m sure he’s still in pain from the whole thing, but I’m not dogging him. I’m just saying he just really doesn’t want to be friends or doesn’t want to communicate. I don’t know why, but we’ve still got the rest of our lives to work this out.”When Alex turned 68 in May 2021, he commemorated the occasion by sharing the following statement: “First birthday without you, Ed. The view from my drum set will never be the same. VH forever!”Eddie passed away in October 2020 at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, California. Alex was by his side, as was Eddie’s son, Wolfgang. The axeman died from complications due to cancer, his son confirmed.Eddie’s final Instagram post was a tribute to Alex. On May 8, 2020, the guitarist shared a black-and-white photo of him and his brother to his followers to wish the drummer a happy birthday.He captioned the picture: “Happy Birthday Al!! Love Ya!! #vanhalen #alexvanhalen #birthday #may #drummer #musician #musicians #family #rock #classicrock #rockband #love”.In early 2022, it was confirmed that Alex had been in talks with Roth and guitarist Joe Satriani to put on a special show in honor of Eddie. However, Wolfgang later said that it was “in such an early stage that it never even got off the ground.”[embedded content][embedded content]Cool evening with the one and only Alex Van Halen talking about his new book and life with brother Ed!😎Posted by Tim Sheridan on Thursday, October 24, 2024#Live Talk with Alex Van Halen!!Posted by Bill Genco on Thursday, October 24, 2024Last night (Thurs 10.24.24) I went to hear a 1 hour Q & A with Alex Van Halen. I made a point to do this as I couldn’t…Posted by Ray Seale on Friday, October 25, 2024What an honor to experience this. I could listen to Alex Van Halen tell stories about growing up with Eddie and playing…Posted by Heidi Weaver on Friday, October 25, 2024Tonight’s Live Talks event was a memorable experience, featuring Alex Van Halen as he shared stories from his new book, …Posted by Eduardo Roman on Thursday, October 24, 2024Alex Van Halen conversation / book signingPosted by Raj Ramnath on Thursday, October 24, 2024A real thrill tonight hearing one of the greatest rock’n’roll drummers of all time, Alex Van Halen discuss his new book ‘Brothers.’#vanhalen #BigAlPosted by Rob Garland on Thursday, October 24, 2024