“We’re not a rock band. We’re a rock ‘n’ roll band. Alex is the rock. I’m the roll.”
A surprisingly poignant and emotional read, "Brothers" explores the indelible bond between Alex and Eddie Van Halen, the founders of the seminal, eponymic rock band.
Alex writes about his family's emigration from Holland, the early days in America, and the constant toil to go from club band to one of the largest musical acts in the world.
“You remember how freeing it was to wake up in the back of that bus and find the sun rising over a new city? The slate is wiped clean and you’re reborn in every place – you’ve got a whole new shot at life! Sure, wherever you go, there you are, and so on, but for the audience it’s a whole new you. The gig in San Antonio wasn’t up to snuff? Nobody knows that in Albuquerque. It was like the day before had never happened.”
"Brothers" can get grandiose and relies heavily on other books and interviews. Somewhat disappointingly, the work also wraps quickly, essentially ending after David Lee Roth left the band and skipping over the final 35 years of Eddie's life.
“Marriage is easy compared to keeping four grown men together through year after year of nonstop traveling, performing, promoting, and recording. Especially when one of them is your younger brother and another is an egomaniac!”
Still, "Brothers" works best as an examination of the meaning of brotherhood, family ... and grief.
“Paul McCartney said something else I like: ‘The Beatles were brothers arguing. That’s what families do.’
“I’ll see you again, Ed.
“And when I do, I’m going to kick your ass.
Love,
Al”
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