Alex Van Halen has written a new memoir about forming the rock band Van Halen with his brother Eddie. It takes readers from their childhood to the wild ride of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Eddie Van Halen died in 2020. Alex talks with Tonya Mosley about his grief and reflects on their relationship. Also, artist Titus Kaphar talks about his new movie, Exhibiting Forgiveness, based on his life. It's about a celebrated painter whose world unravels when his estranged father suddenly resurfaces. Carolina Miranda reviews the new Netflix film Pedro Paramo Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Chapter 1: What inspired Alex Van Halen to write his memoir?
From WHYY in Philadelphia, I'm Tanya Mosley with Fresh Air Weekend. Today, Alex Van Halen. He's written a new memoir about forming the rock band Van Halen with his brother Eddie, who died of cancer in 2020.
It takes readers from their childhood, discovering music through their jazz musician father, to the wild ride of sex, drugs, and rock and roll, including some close calls on stage during their performance antics, like setting Alex's drum sets on fire.
We kind of gotten it down to a science. And as we're doing it during the performance, the lighter fluid starts to come down my arm. And then I look over and I notice my arm's on fire.
Also, artist Titus Kaffar joins me to discuss his new movie based on his life. It's about a celebrated painter whose world unravels when his estranged father, a recovering addict, suddenly reappears. And Carolina Miranda reviews the new Netflix film Pedro Paramo. That's coming up on Fresh Air Weekend. This is Fresh Air Weekend. I'm Tanya Mosley.
And my first guest today is Alex Van Halen of the iconic band Van Halen. Van Halen. Jump was Van Halen's biggest hit, and it became an anthem when it came out in 1983, even though a record executive once said it sounded like the kind of music you'd hear between baseball innings.
Alex Van Halen shares this story in his new memoir, Brothers, which he wrote after the loss of his younger brother, Eddie, who died of cancer in 2020. Known for their extravagant, high-energy performances, Van Halen is credited with being one of the most influential rock bands of all time.
The book covers the first three decades of Eddie and Alex's music career, which started from their arrival as kids to the United States from the Netherlands, the influence of their father, who was a Dutch jazz musician, and the formation of the rock band in 1974 after meeting vocalist David Lee Roth and bassist Michael Anthony.
But most importantly, Brothers is a love letter to the music they created, and Eddie, who has been called for decades one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Van Halen disbanded after Eddie died in 2020, but throughout their run, Van Halen produced 12 studio albums, two live records, and 56 singles. They were included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.
Alex Van Halen, welcome to Fresh Air.
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Chapter 2: How did the Van Halen brothers start their musical journey?
Wait, did he? Do you have burns? What's going on? What?
Yeah. Did you have burns?
Yeah.
Yeah, but it was very low-dig. We just used lighter fluid, and you put a match to it, and poof, there it goes. It's very uncontrollable. You're taking a risk every night. But, you know, we were young, so it's okay. We're all right.
Did you end up having to get new drum sets every time? I mean, how did that work?
No, actually, it wasn't until the end of the tour. I got slapped with, like, I don't know how much. All the microphones and the chords were fried, and nobody told me that when we were doing it. The drum set itself was made out of stainless steel. Ludwig was very accommodating. They made a stainless steel drum kit for me. It wasn't the only one, but they gave it to me.
But it really goes to show you how, at that age, the stuff doesn't really register in your brain. It turns out that the average male brain does not completely mature... Until the age of 27. I'm still waiting.
You watch Spinal Tap, right? Oh, yeah, yeah.
That wasn't funny at all.
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