Brothers by Alex Van Halen

We were racing to catch a connecting flight from Frankfurt to Dubrovnik, and we literally had 10 minutes to spare. The fact that we made the flight was some kind of miracle, perhaps only thanks to the German efficiency of the Frankfurt airport terminal. As I buckled into my seat, I put my headphones on, and began listening to this book, "Brothers" by Alex Van Halen. Suddenly another man strolled onto the plane holding this same book. I said "That book, I just started it. How is it?" "Great," he said, and smiled. "But I just like bands." Van Halen, the iconic American Rock band, was the group that defined hard rock and heavy metal in the 1970s and 1980s. "Brothers" is the memoir written by drummer Alex about his relationship with his brother and fellow band mate, the lead guitarist Ed Van Halen. Alex always refers to his brother as "Ed" or "Edward," rarely "Eddie." The brothers grew up in the Netherlands with a Dutch dad and a mother from Indonesia. When the boys were young, the family moved to Pasadena, California. Encouraged by their father's own love of music, they formed a band while in high school. They would play at high school parties and graduations, and drew big crowds even then. The more they played, the more they were able to build a reputation for themselves for their music, and Ed's legendary guitar solos. As their fame grew, so did their circle of famous friends which would include Ed's wife, the actress Valerie Bertinelli, and their lead singer, David Lee Roth. Their concert contracts introduced a famous clause that stipulated "no brown M&Ms" in the green room. Despite the fame and fortune, Alex and Ed were brothers who not only respected and admired each other, but who also took care of each other. With Ed's passing in 2020 at 65 from tongue and mouth cancer, Alex's world was left with a heavy sadness. This is an attempt to celebrate and mourn his little brother. This is a beautifully written book, suitable for fans of bands or those who just like a peek into a very special bond between brothers. To buy this book on Amazon click here.