Something about Van Halen made them different from their competitors. The undeniable chemistry among the original four members (brothers Alex and Eddie, bassist Michael Anthony, and frontman David Lee Roth) made them box-office material from the first notes of “Running with the Devil” on the self-titled album through the final bars of “House of Pain” on the hugely successful 1984 album.
When Lee Roth left, that chemistry changed. I can argue the band was better musically, and Lee Roth’s replacement, Sammy Hagar, was technically a better vocalist, but the band lost its magic. They still wrote hit records and produced some good albums, but they never really sounded as raw and as dangerous as they did on those early records.
That was their sweet spot. I don’t have to think about it much at all, and while the more polished version of Van Halen has its fans, those who were there from the beginning knew that Van Halen hadn’t necessarily sold out, but they had gotten a little safer.
Alex Van Halen seems to have known that, too.
His honest, raw and at times emotional book “Brothers” doesn’t have to say it in as many words. It screams it from the very beginning through the closing chapters, which skip from the success of 1984 to his brother Eddie’s dying days. The book details what mattered to Alex.
What mattered was his brother and his mates, their family and their struggles. He doesn’t sugarcoat his behaviour, nor does he attempt to sanctify his little brother. He tells it how he remembers it, and it’s a compelling read.
There is no doubt that both Eddie and Alex were virtuoso musicians. Musicianship alone is never enough. Their drive and unwavering determination set Van Halen on its successful path, even though it was perceived as unmarketable and unfashionable. They stuck to their guns, played hard and fast on and off stage and built a following that carried them over the top.
The book isn’t about success. It isn’t really about rock and roll either. It’s about love. One brother’s love for his younger sibling. Not only can you sense the devastation that Alex feels as he explores his relationship with Eddie, you can feel the yearning for those good old days when it was just four young wannabees swimming against the tide.
It’s a helluva read, and was particularly poignant for me, as I read it while still coming to terms with losing my own brother. Perhaps that makes my opinion somewhat biased, but I think it was a great book and highly recommend it.