AVH Autobiography 'Brothers' Due In October

[DLR Bridge]

Almost feel like this could get taken down, as it comes off like a total spoiler for the book, but needless to say, pretty fascinating to hear a pretty crisp interview from 39 years ago. It’s too bad Rosen never got to speak with the parents. Ed had shut down the book he was working on before it ever happened.

[DLR Bridge]

Part II

[silverfish]

Eddie and Alex Van Halen's Last Song to Debut in Alex's Audiobook

Alex Van Halen will release the last-ever song he worked on with Eddie Van Halen in the
audiobook version of his upcoming memoir.

Brothers is set to arrive on Oct. 22, with the spoken-word edition voiced by the drummer
himself. The track, titled simply “Unfinished,” will feature within his narrative.

Publishers HarperCollins confirmed that “Unfinished” is “the last piece of music they wrote
together” before Eddie’s death at age 65 in 2020.

Full story at:
ultimateclassicrock.com/eddie-alex-van-halen-unfinished-song/

[twonabomber]

Snippet of song in article

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/eddie-alex-van-halen-unfinished-snippet/

[MasonL]

Sounds like more of the same self-indulgent sustainer nonsense Ed has been dicking around with since the 90’s. Yawn.

[Vinnie Velvet]

Sounds like more of the same self-indulgent sustainer nonsense Ed has been dicking around with since the 90’s. Yawn.

Very doubtful thats the last thing they worked on together. Sounds like mid 90s Ed and Al.

[Terry]

Seemed like including 'Ed and Al's last song' or whatever would be a semi-clever marketing hook to induce people to buy the book.

But people in general are savvy enough to realize the music will be put up online for free by somebody in short order, thus those who weren't going to buy the book still won't, and those who were going to buy the book anyway are going to buy the book anyway.

[Terry]

Sounds like more of the same self-indulgent sustainer nonsense Ed has been dicking around with since the 90’s. Yawn.

Makes one wonder how much of that 'vault' stuff is mostly Ed diddling around.

[ZahZoo]

Makes one wonder how much of that 'vault' stuff is mostly Ed diddling around.

I'm sure there's a lot of just noodling and goofing around recorded... but there's also a lot of rough tracks of full arrangements that never made it to a released song. Ed and whoever he recorded with probably felt none of it was release worthy... but in my opinion Ed's killing floor trash is far better music than 98% of other musicians life's work!

[Silexxx]

"Brothers Book Tour

Alex will be embarking on a three-city book signing tour with appearances in New York, New Jersey and California. Tickets are required to attend each event and ticket purchase includes a copy of Brothers!

October 21 @ 12PM
Barnes & Noble Fifth Ave
New York, NY

October 22 @ 6PM
Books & Greetings
Northvale, NJ

October 24 @ 8PM
Live Talks LA @ The Frost Auditorium
Culver City, CA "

http://van-halen.com/

[twonabomber]

Watch Sammy show up at one of those. "Hey, Al! I just wanna be friends! TALK TO ME!"

[silverfish]

RS Interview with Al at:

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/alex-van-halen-eddie-van-halen-brothers-book-interview-1235129960/

Talking about the Tribute Tour, Al says:

THERE WAS A MOMENT WHEN it seemed like Van Halen, the band, might survive the death of
its guitarist. Rumors of a planned post-Eddie tour, with Alex back on drums behind frontman
David Lee Roth, were true. Shortly before the shooting-range incident, Alex and Roth began
early rehearsals for that tour, with two musicians from the singer’s solo band serving as “seat
fillers.” The idea was to eventually bring in Joe Satriani on guitar, and maybe even original
bassist Michael Anthony, who hadn’t played with Van Halen since 2004, after which Alex and
Eddie replaced him with Eddie’s then-teenage son, Wolfgang Van Halen. But in those early
rehearsals, Alex started feeling numbness, peripheral neuropathy, especially in his feet. He
wondered if it was an “omen from above,” a warning not to do the tour.

The plans ended up collapsing anyway, even before his vertebrae did. After several phone
conversations with Queen’s Brian May about how that band carries on without Freddie Mercury,
Alex came away with ideas about how to proceed. “The thing that broke the camel’s back, and
I can be honest about this now,” Alex says, “was I said, ‘Dave, at some point, we have to have
a very overt — not a bowing — but an acknowledgment of Ed in the gig. If you look at how Queen
does it, they show old footage.’ And the moment I said we gotta acknowledge Ed, Dave fuckin’
popped a fuse.… The vitriol that came out was unbelievable.”

As Alex tells it, Roth simply refused to pay tribute to his brother, found the very idea offensive, for
reasons he can’t comprehend. Alex was … displeased. “I’m from the street,” he says. “‘You talk to
me like that, motherfucker, I’m gonna beat your fucking brains out. You got it?’ And I mean that.
And that’s how it ended.” Alex remains baffled. “It’s just, my God. It’s like I didn’t know him anymore.
I have nothing but the utmost respect for his work ethic and all that. But, Dave, you gotta work as
a community, motherfucker. It’s not you alone anymore.” (Roth declined to comment.)

[Vinnie Velvet]

RS Interview with Al at:

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/alex-van-halen-eddie-van-halen-brothers-book-interview-1235129960/

Talking about the Tribute Tour, Al says:

THERE WAS A MOMENT WHEN it seemed like Van Halen, the band, might survive the death of
its guitarist. Rumors of a planned post-Eddie tour, with Alex back on drums behind frontman
David Lee Roth, were true. Shortly before the shooting-range incident, Alex and Roth began
early rehearsals for that tour, with two musicians from the singer’s solo band serving as “seat
fillers.” The idea was to eventually bring in Joe Satriani on guitar, and maybe even original
bassist Michael Anthony, who hadn’t played with Van Halen since 2004, after which Alex and
Eddie replaced him with Eddie’s then-teenage son, Wolfgang Van Halen. But in those early
rehearsals, Alex started feeling numbness, peripheral neuropathy, especially in his feet. He
wondered if it was an “omen from above,” a warning not to do the tour.

The plans ended up collapsing anyway, even before his vertebrae did. After several phone
conversations with Queen’s Brian May about how that band carries on without Freddie Mercury,
Alex came away with ideas about how to proceed. “The thing that broke the camel’s back, and
I can be honest about this now,” Alex says, “was I said, ‘Dave, at some point, we have to have
a very overt — not a bowing — but an acknowledgment of Ed in the gig. If you look at how Queen
does it, they show old footage.’ And the moment I said we gotta acknowledge Ed, Dave fuckin’
popped a fuse.… The vitriol that came out was unbelievable.”

As Alex tells it, Roth simply refused to pay tribute to his brother, found the very idea offensive, for
reasons he can’t comprehend. Alex was … displeased. “I’m from the street,” he says. “‘You talk to
me like that, motherfucker, I’m gonna beat your fucking brains out. You got it?’ And I mean that.
And that’s how it ended.” Alex remains baffled. “It’s just, my God. It’s like I didn’t know him anymore.
I have nothing but the utmost respect for his work ethic and all that. But, Dave, you gotta work as
a community, motherfucker. It’s not you alone anymore.” (Roth declined to comment.)

But then goes on to say that it probably wouldn't have happened anyway because of his spinal issue. No biggie.

[twonabomber]

The part I like...

Alex won't even utter Hagar's name

[MasonL]

It’s clear that Al and Ed both figured out a while ago that the real VH was built with Dave, and it’s no secret. 99% of VH that comes on from your radio or in a stadium is Roth material, and Hagar’s stuff never sold half of the Dave stuff. The magic was made from 73-85 and Hagar did enough to sell some for the next few years but even the sales steadily dipped soon enough. That’s why Sam has relentlessly created his own press for himself for 25 years, it’s the only thing that keeps him relevant.

Most of the folks at these lame, offensive “tribute” shows only know him as “that 80’s Can’t Drive 55 guy.” It’s a gimmick. They don’t actually identify with his music.