During an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, Valerie Bertinelli, Eddie Van Halen’s ex-wife, revealed that she hasn’t yet read Alex Van Halen’s newly released memoir, Brothers. She explained that the emotional weight of the book has kept her from diving into its pages just yet.
“It’s going to be emotional,” Bertinelli said, explaining her hesitation. “It’s going to be very emotional because I love these two men. They are good men, and they are very complicated men. Congratulations, Al, it’s going to be a bestseller.”
Although she hasn’t read the book in full, Bertinelli praised Alex for the way he handled telling their shared story and honoring Eddie’s memory. “When I talked to Al last year — when he told me he was writing the book — I was super excited for him,” Bertinelli shared. “We had a long conversation about grief and what you go through. I know that Al, he has gone through a lot. He’s a very private man, and for him to do this is extraordinary. And to do it so beautifully, I’m so proud of you, Al. I’m so happy that you wrote your story.”
Bertinelli has spoken before about how difficult it is for her to reflect on her past with Eddie, especially as their son, Wolfgang Van Halen, has publicly discussed his father’s legacy. Brothers, released on October 22, details the bond between Alex and his late brother Eddie, from their childhood to their time performing together as Van Halen.
In support of the book, Alex also released a heartfelt four-and-a-half-minute audio clip titled Overture, in which he pays tribute to Eddie. “Since you’ve been gone, I catch myself talking to you, yelling at you, in my head or sometimes out loud,” Alex reads in the clip. “I still have trouble believing you’re gone, and probably for me, you never will be. Outliving my little brother, this just wasn’t the plan. As the older brother, I was supposed to die first. Same as always, Ed, butting in line.”
Throughout the clip, Alex expresses his admiration for Eddie’s musical genius while also revealing the pain and complexity of their relationship. He reflects on watching with “anger, grief, and pride” as the world mourned his brother’s passing, and as others attempted to tell Eddie’s story.
