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Featuring an exclusive, never-before-heard piece of music, the last written together by the legendary Van Halen 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 successful, 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.

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🎸 Today on Exclusively Van Halen 🎸: Alex Van Halen made a special appearance at Barnes & Noble, signing copies of his brand-new book, Brothers! 📖 In the book, Alex opens up about growing up alongside his brother, the legendary Edward Van Halen.

And here’s the kicker—an audiobook exclusive track called “Unfinished” has officially dropped! 🎶 The full version is now available on the Van Halen website, and we’ve got all the details.

Catch the full breakdown only on Exclusively Van Halen, the go-to Van Halen show on YouTube, right here on Johnny Beane TV! 📺 Don’t miss it!

#wearevanhalen #brothersbook #alexvanhalen #eddievanhalen #unfinished #johnnybeaneTV

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Alex Van Halen doesn’t ‘sugar coat’ complex relationship he had with Eddie in new book ‘Brothers.

If rock music history has taught musicians anything, it is this: Don’t start a band with your sibling. Just ask Oasis co-founders Liam and Noel Gallagher, whose well-documented mutual enmity makes their upcoming reunion tour as much a source of morbid curiosity as of excitement.

However, Van Halen was something different. The powerhouse hard rock band co-founded by Alex and his brother, Eddie, sold over 70 million albums during their nearly four-decade run. It was Alex and Eddie who started the band as teenagers in their Pasadena basement, who recruited locals David Lee Roth and Michael Anthony to join the lineup, and who guided Van Halen into the highest rung of rock stardom . When Eddie, a pathbreaking prodigy who changed the way the electric guitar was played, died of cancer at 65 in 2020, it was not only the end of the band, but also a tight bond that had lifted Van Halen up from playing suburban house parties to football stadiums.

With his book “Brothers,” Alex has written an elegy to Eddie, and their complex dynamic that was tested by drug abuse, power trips and all the other common traps that befall megastars who once shared the same bedroom. “This is a happy-sad moment for me,” says Alex about his book, which was written with writer Ariel Levy. “I’ve tried to take an objective view of things, and bring it all to light. But I didn’t want to be self-serving. I tried not to sugar coat the story.”

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Alex Van Halen gets candid about brother's health struggles, tension with David Lee Roth.

The world knew him as Eddie Van Halen, guitarist extraordinaire.

But to Alex Van Halen, he was Edward, maybe Ed, but never Eddie. He was also a best friend, the sensitive soul who “couldn’t filter out criticism” and a reluctant guitar hero with a boyish grin.

And he was a brother, born 20 months after Alex, with whom he would form one of the most influential rock bands in history.

In “Brothers” (out Oct. 22, Harper Collins, 226 pages, $32), Alex Van Halen unloads his love for his sibling and the consuming grief he still experiences since Ed died of cancer in October 2020.

Their story includes the two-week boat ride from their native Holland to America in 1962 – the Van Halen family would settle in Pasadena, California – the brothers shunning their piano lessons to play rock ‘n’ roll after hearing The Beatles and the Dave Clark Five and Alex’s migration to the drums and his idolization of Cream’s Ginger Baker.

As a band, Van Halen pioneered musical techniques (just listen to Eddie’s then-unheard-of finger tapping on “Eruption” or Alex’s engine-purring double bass drum opening on “Hot for Teacher”) while blitzing rock fans with “Jamie’s Cryin’,” “So This is Love?” “Beautiful Girls” and MTV staples “Jump” and “Panama.”

Alex, 71, doesn’t scrimp on entertaining anecdotes, such as how the roar that opens “Runnin’ with the Devil” entailed ripping the horns out of their cars, and when on tour with Ozzy Osbourne, the British rocker wandered into the wrong hotel and slept for two days.

Alex is also unvarnished when discussing frontman David Lee Roth, whom he thinks was “angry at Ed for being too talented” and expressing his own anger when Ed agreed to play an uncredited guitar solo on Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” (“Why would you burn up creativity on someone else’s record?”).

In an interview with USA TODAY, Alex Van Halen plunged deeper into some of the topics in the book, such as his own addiction issues and Ed’s health struggles, while also extending humor and thoughtfulness.

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Alex Van Halen's book Brothers delves into his life with his younger brother Eddie Van Halen, exploring their deep bond as both family and bandmates in Van Halen. Through personal stories, Alex reflects on their upbringing, musical partnership, and the emotional toll of Eddie's passing, with Alex admitting, “I’m not done dealing with this yet.”

For years, Alex has been writing Brothers to capture Eddie's spirit and process his grief, though he confesses he still struggles with it, often speaking to his late brother. In moments of the interview, Alex alternates between praising Eddie’s genius and expressing frustration over Eddie’s self-destructive tendencies, believing it contributed to his death. Alex reflects on advice from their father about hard work and appreciating life, lamenting that Eddie didn’t always live up to those ideals. He also confronts his brother’s spirit in the book, questioning Eddie’s inability to fully embrace his talent, suspecting that Eddie’s struggles with self-worth fueled his destructive behavior.

The Van Halen brothers’ story is one of familial love, genius, and rock ‘n’ roll excess, but it’s also deeply shaped by their immigrant background. Their father, a Dutch jazz musician, married their Indonesian mother in Indonesia before the family immigrated to the U.S. Alex and Eddie, both young at the time, faced cultural and language barriers. Though they grew up in a diverse neighborhood where their biracial identity wasn’t a major issue, the brothers internalized different challenges, with Eddie being more sensitive to criticism and self-doubt.

Throughout Brothers, Alex honors their father's influence, crediting him with their work ethic and musical foundation, while also acknowledging the family’s struggles with alcohol that shaped the brothers' lives. The book provides a unique perspective on their complex relationship, the pressures of fame, and the dynamics that propelled Van Halen to legendary status.

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In this video, we're exploring the brand new Firefly FFST Relic Electric Guitar in the eye-catching Black and White Stripes finish! Join me as we take a closer look at its features, including the roasted mahogany body, maple fretboard with a 9.5"-14" compound radius, high-quality Korean bridges, stainless frets, and customized Alnico 5 pickups. We'll find out together what this guitar has to offer in terms of sound and playability. Let’s see if this guitar lives up to the hype!

Thank you "Bay Area Rich" for gifting me the guitar!

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On Saturday (October 19), Ozzy Osbourne was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist, marking his second recognition by the institution, following his 2006 induction with BLACK SABBATH.

Actor and TENACIOUS D frontman Jack Black inducted Ozzy, calling him "the greatest frontman in the history of rock 'n' roll." Black recalled seeing the cover of Ozzy's debut solo album, Blizzard Of Ozz, saying, "It was the most metal thing I had ever seen, and I didn’t even know what metal was. Then I went back to Ozzy's BLACK SABBATH albums, and I thought, 'Unholy shit, this guy invented heavy metal—the darkest, heaviest stuff the world had ever heard.'"

Seated on a throne, Osbourne humbly accepted the award, saying: "Well, here we are. I can’t believe it myself. Let me get the thank-yous out of the way. I’d like to thank everyone who voted me into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for my solo work. A great thank you from the bottom of my heart. My fans have been so loyal over the years, and I cannot thank them enough. I’ve been lucky to play with some of the world’s greatest musicians, and many of them are here tonight. But I have to especially mention Randy Rhoads. If I hadn’t met Randy, I don’t think I’d be sitting here now. And, more than anyone, I have to thank my wife Sharon, who saved my life, and my grandbabies and babies. I love them all."

With his brief speech concluded, Ozzy handed the mic back to Jack Black, and an all-star performance followed. The backing band featured RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS drummer Chad Smith, METALLICA bassist (and former Ozzy band member) Robert Trujillo, producer Andrew Watt, and keyboardist Adam Wakeman. They were joined by TOOL’s Maynard James Keenan and Wolfgang Van Halen for a powerful rendition of “Crazy Train.” Zakk Wylde and country star Jelly Roll then took the stage for "Mama, I’m Coming Home," and Billy Idol closed the set with "No More Tears," accompanied by his longtime guitarist Steve Stevens.

Sammy Hagar and Slash Light Up the Stage with “Hot Blooded” at the 2024 Rock Hall Induction for Foreigner

The 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony became a night to remember when rock icons Sammy Hagar and Slash joined forces to pay tribute to the legendary band Foreigner. As the hall reverberated with excitement, the duo tore into a blistering performance of Foreigner’s timeless classic, “Hot Blooded,” sending shockwaves through the audience.

With Sammy Hagar's unmistakable voice soaring through the iconic chorus and Slash's signature Les Paul riffs electrifying the crowd, it was a performance that honored Foreigner's legacy while bringing their music into a new era. The chemistry between these two rock veterans was undeniable, as they traded licks and vocal lines, breathing fresh life into the 1978 hit.

Hagar, no stranger to the Rock Hall after his own induction with Van Halen, shared his admiration for Foreigner during the ceremony. "These guys paved the way for so many of us," Hagar remarked, "and it’s an honor to be here, rocking out to a song that still gets the blood pumping after all these years." Slash echoed the sentiment, acknowledging the influence Foreigner had on the next generation of rock musicians. "Their songwriting, their energy, it’s all a part of the DNA of rock 'n' roll."

Foreigner’s induction has been a long time coming, and this powerhouse collaboration made sure it was celebrated in style. As the final notes of “Hot Blooded” rang out, the crowd was on their feet, a testament to Foreigner’s enduring impact on rock history, and the incredible performance delivered by two of the genre’s most enduring stars.

Whether you were there in person or watching from home, this performance will go down as one of the standout moments in the Rock Hall’s history—a true celebration of rock and roll’s past, present, and future.

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We had an epic show packed with surprises and music goodness! 🎸 A HUGE shoutout to Bay Area Rich, one of our awesome channel members, for gifting us a Firefly Van Halen-style guitar! I’ll be doing a full review of this beauty Sunday, so don’t miss it—be sure to tune in!

We also dove into the Firefly website to check out their other killer guitars. And guess what? JohnBL made a rare appearance in the chat, adding to the night’s energy! 🚀

We showed off some amazing viewer-submitted guitar photos, plus a few shots of people’s cats—because what’s a show without some feline flair? 🐈

The conversation got deep as we explored the influence of grunge music on the scene and paid tribute to the legend Dimebag Darrell. 🎶 Then, we took a look through exclusive photos from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony that went down today in Cleveland.

To top it off, we gave away an awesome Rockit Music Gear pink 3D-printed skull guitar pick holder! 🎁

All this and MORE went down tonight, so if you missed it, make sure to follow us and join the next one—because Straturday Night Live just keeps getting better!

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On this episode of "Exclusively Van Halen," we're diving into an exciting Guitar Player article that not only covers Alex Van Halen's recent comments about his new book Brothers, but also reveals some surprising stories. Alex hints at a potential collaboration with Ozzy Osbourne that was discussed over the years, but never fully came to light. Even more intriguing is the mention of a secret jam session Alex had with the late Chris Cornell. This rare behind-the-scenes moment between two rock legends has fueled speculation about what could have been, adding another layer to Alex's musical legacy.

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In an interview with Billboard, Alex Van Halen explains why his new book, Brothers, co-written with Ariel Levy, isn’t a tell-all. "If I start throwing dirt, it'll never end," Alex says. He acknowledges the appeal of sensationalism but stresses his aim is to honor the spiritual and creative side of his late brother, Eddie Van Halen. He believes much of what’s been said about Eddie was inaccurate, often from third-party sources. “Before I die, I would like to at least partially set the record straight," he adds.

Brothers, which releases on Oct. 22, centers on the Van Halen brothers' relationship, both personally and musically, rather than delving into band drama. Alex says the process of writing was emotional, reflecting on their 65 years together, but it also allowed him to explore his own motivations. The book details their family dynamics, including the influence of their father, Jan, a jazz musician, and their Dutch East Indies-born mother, Eugenia. Alex hopes to give a more sophisticated view of Eddie’s talents, describing Eddie’s ability to make the guitar "sing" and expressing frustration that people focus only on his playing, missing who Eddie was as a person. “Maybe people don’t care, but I care. He’s my brother."

While the book covers the early days of Van Halen, it notably stops after David Lee Roth’s departure in 1985. Alex acknowledges the band was “dysfunctional” but that their performances kept them together until the split. Roth’s exit, he says, was “the most disappointing thing I’d experienced in my life, the thing that seemed the most wasteful and unjust. Until I lost my brother.” Despite years of tension with Roth, Alex says he's not angry, respecting Roth's work ethic. After Eddie's passing, Alex even called Roth first to inform him.

Alex explains his decision not to cover the Sammy Hagar and Gary Cherone years, stating, “What happened after Dave left is not the same band." He also confirmed he's uninterested in the Best of All Worlds tour with Hagar and Michael Anthony, feeling they’re not doing the band justice.

Alex also clarifies his recent drum equipment auction wasn’t a sign of retirement: "I’ll die with sticks in my hand." Despite battling spinal issues, he plans to continue playing, with advancements in modern technology offering hope for recovery in the coming years. Regarding Eddie’s health and the band’s inactivity before his passing, Alex says, “Ed had been dealing with cancer for quite a number of years... He was fighting cancer. It’s as simple as that.”

Fans can look forward to a new instrumental track, “Unfinished,” included in the audiobook version of Brothers, part of a trove of unreleased material the brothers recorded at 5150 Studios. While Alex says more will be released when it feels right, he stresses the need for high standards and the right team to handle it. He’s even approached OpenAI to help turn some of the material into songs.

Looking ahead, Alex expresses interest in turning Brothers into a movie but notes the complexities of the process. In the meantime, he's focused on three book events in New York, New Jersey, and California, where he’ll sign copies and answer fan questions—though he reserves the right to pass on certain topics.

Reflecting on Eddie's passing, Alex says, “He’s not gone for me." He believes in the connection between them, rooted in both quantum physics and their mother's spiritual upbringing. “You cannot destroy energy, it just takes different shapes... That’s kind of how it is for me with Ed.” Though the pain of losing Eddie remains, Alex finds solace in the idea that their bond continues. In a poignant closing note, he recalls writing in the book, “When I see you again, I’m gonna kick yo’ ass…”