AVH Autobiography 'Brothers' Due In October

[Silexxx]

https://blabbermouth.net/news/alex-van-halens-autobiography-brothers-due-in-october

HarperCollins Publishers has set an October 22, 2024 release date for "Brothers", a new book from legendary VAN HALEN drummer Alex Van Halen. The 384-page book is categorized under "Biography & Autobiography" and currently has a list price of $32.00.

[DLR Bridge]

Earlier today, I read in the comments section of a Final Resonance YouTube interview with Tom Broderick, someone mentioning Al working on a book to be out later in the year. I nearly fell out of my chair.

I strongly recommend the videos posted on the channel. The guy has done many interviews with people Greg Renoff had interviewed for VHR.

[Terry]

As I'm less inclined to bother with rock bios of any sort the farther down the line I get, my initial reaction to this is sort of ambivalent.

I will say I did enjoy the Templeman bio and the Noel Monk book on Van Halen, along with Van Halen Rising.

I dunno. Honestly, I'd be inclined to let some of you guys read the book and tell the rest of us if it is worth it...since at least with you guys on this site I know after all this time that everything Van Halen-related that is officially released isn't automatically given a thumbs-up, that just because it is Van Halen-related doesn't mean by default you guys say "man, you gotta get it...it's Van Halen!"

If Alex puts out a book that is as compelling a read as the three books I mentioned above, I'd be up for checking it out. My general feeling is that the book isn't going to be critical in the least regarding Eddie. While this is understandable to a degree, I don't need to shell out a single nickel for an EVH hagiography. I wouldn't want a hatchet job, either, but I'd be very surprised if this upcoming book is going to provide something approaching a non-puff piece approach.

Who the fuck knows, though.

[twonabomber]

Al does not seem the type to write an autobiography.

[Nitro Express]

Al is going to lay low. He knows it’s over.

[Warham]

Al does not seem the type to write an autobiography.

No, he probably dictated the pertinent to his info to his ghostwriter who will make it readable.

[Seshmeister]

The annoying thing about this is that whatever he puts in this book will be quoted as cast iron fact by many people especially music journalists forever more.

This despite the fact that human memories are completely terrible, he's going to to be trying to remember stuff from 40+ years ago and by all accounts he was drinking spectacular amounts during the main period of the band's success.

I'm not saying that as a preemptive defense of Roth, I'm pretty sure at least some of CFTH wasn't super accurate and 99% of autobiographies are self serving to a degree.

There may be a few half true new stories in this book but the main thing anyone will learn is just how AVH feels about it now not what happened or even what he thought at the time. Unless I'm completely wrong and he kept a detailed journal back in the day, told the truth in it and also is brave enough to not edit it now. How many people drink 20 or 30 beers a day while on tour but still keep an accurate daily journal? Now filter that even more with the fact he is a drummer.

[Warham]

This book would serve Alex well if it was just about his life prior to 1978.

[DLR Bridge]

He’s had a booze free brain for about 36 years. I’m inclined to believe he’s going to have a good account of things. I’m fairly confident this won’t be like No Regrets by Ace Frehley. Now that book was written like he had to be reminded about or told of the experiences in his life, because I’m pretty sure he was.

[Nitro Express]

Al’s book should read like this: After Noel Monk’s wife refused to have sex with me I went to the hotel room to jerk off. While laying on the bed giant penises grew out of the walls.

[Nitro Express]

History is His Story. Unless you were there, who knows what the truth really is.

[Seshmeister]

He’s had a booze free brain for about 36 years. I’m inclined to believe he’s going to have a good account of things. I’m fairly confident this won’t be like No Regrets by Ace Frehley. Now that book was written like he had to be reminded about or told of the experiences in his life, because I’m pretty sure he was.

There was an interview with Ozzy a few years ago where they showed him videos of singles from The Ultimate Sin and he swore he had never seen them before and had no memory of making them.

[ZahZoo]

Al does not seem the type to write an autobiography.

True... but on the other hand, extreme introverts can be quite interesting people who amass tons of finite details with really interesting insights because they actually pay attention, process what's going on around them... rather than running their damn mouths without any awareness of what's happening.

Introverts also need plenty of time to process their thoughts before they are comfortable sharing... Alex has had 4-5 fucking decades to sort shit out. This book could be quite interesting...

[Catfish]

Al does not seem the type to write an autobiography.

He's like Hagar where I don't think they've ever even read a book that wasn't assigned to them.

[Rikk]

The one AWESOME thing about this book would be if Alex actually spends a lot of time trashing Sammy in it.

THAT would bother the sheep no end. They would be SO upset if this occurred.