Alex Van Halen explains why his book doesn't mention the Sammy Hagar period

In a recent interview, Alex Van Halen spoke about why his book Brothers ends in 1984 and does not cover Van Halen's subsequent years.

A book about the original soul of Van Halen

Van Halen drummer Alex Van Halen recently clarified why his autobiographical book Brothers focuses exclusively on the band's early years, without addressing later periods with Sammy Hagar or Gary Cherone.

“The original band was the driving force,” Alex explains to Bringing It Back To The Beatles. “It was during this time that everything was built: our connection, our mistakes, our raw energy. After 1984, it was no longer the same. We continued to do our best, but the spirit of the group was different.”

Alex describes the early days as a time of “excitement and confusion,” where each day brought new experiences and the absence of pressure allowed them to freely explore their creativity. “When you play in clubs there are no expectations. You can change everything at any time, and it's very intimate. That’s the spirit I wanted to capture in the book.”

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A critical look at the post-1984 years

When it came to Sammy Hagar, who joined the group in 1985 after the departure of David Lee Roth, Alex took a reserved approach: “It wasn’t the same group. I’m not saying it was better or worse, but the magic was in the early years, with Dave, Eddie, Michael and me.”

In an interview with BillboardAlex also explained his choice not to participate in the tribute tour The Best Of All Worldsorganized in 2024 by Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony: “They don’t do the group justice. They can do whatever they want, but that’s none of my business.”