Alex Van Halen's 'deeply candid' book goes to HarperCollins

HarperCollins is publishing Alex Van Halen’s “deeply candid and insightful” book, Brothers.  

The deal for world English rights was negotiated by Jonathan Burnham, president and publisher, Harper, and Luke Janklow of Janklow & Nesbit Associates. S.v.p. and executive editor Sara Nelson is editing the book and HarperNonFiction publishing director Joel Simons is overseeing publication in the UK, publishing simultaneously. Publication in the US and Canada will be on 22nd October 2024; Harper UK, Australia and New Zealand will follow on 24th October and 30th October respectively.  

Brothers is "nothing like any rock-and-roll memoir you’ve ever read”, HarperCollins said. “Alex Van Halen shares his story of family, camaraderie, immigration, music, and loss and offers a remarkable tribute to his late little brother and bandmate, Edward, a once-in-a-generation talent who transformed our understanding of what it’s possible to do with a guitar.” 

"I was with him from day one,” Alex said. “We shared the experience of coming to America and figuring out how to fit in. We shared a record player, an 800-square-foot house, a mom and dad, and a work ethic. Later, we shared the back of a tour bus, alcoholism, the experience of becoming successful, of becoming fathers and uncles, and of spending more hours in the studio than I’ve spent doing anything else in this life. We shared a depth of understanding that most people can only hope to achieve in a lifetime." 

Simons said: “I’m so excited to be publishing Alex’s incredible book in the UK. Van Halen left an indelible imprint on British music, and I can’t wait to publish this extraordinary story about these utterly unique musicians in October.”