Alex Van Halen shares portion of final song he recorded with Eddie Van Halen - listen
The instrumental track 'Unfinished'
Last updated 4th Sep 2024
Alex Van Halen has shared a snippet of the final song he wrote with his late-great brother and band mate Eddie Van Halen, a track he has dubbed ‘Unfinished.’
Last month it was announced that the audiobook version of Alex Van Halen’s upcoming memoir ‘Brothers’ will contain an unreleased track described as the last piece of music penned by Alex and Eddie.
The song can be heard during the audiobook as Alex narrates his story.
Drumming titan Alex took to social media on Tuesday (3rd September) to share a portion of ‘Unfinished’ alongside images of himself with Eddie when they were young and a photo of their parents.
From what we can hear, the song sees Alex and Eddie entering ambient sonic realms with layered acoustic and rhythm guitars and a plaintive drum beat.
‘Brothers’ will be published by Harper Collins on 22nd October and will be available in three formats: Standard Hardcover, Deluxe Autographed Hardcover, and an audiobook narrated by Alex himself.
Harper Collins says: “In this intimate and open account—nothing like any rock-and-roll memoir you’ve ever read— Alex Van Halen shares his personal story of family, friendship, music and brotherly love in a remarkable tribute to his beloved brother and band mate.
“Told with acclaimed New Yorker writer Ariel Levy, Brothers is seventy-year-old drummer Alex Van Halen’s love letter to his younger brother, Edward, (Maybe “Ed,” but never “Eddie”), written while still mourning his untimely death.”
“I was with him from day one,” Alex writes.
“We shared the experience of coming to this country 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 famous, 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.”
Surprise rock star relations:
Ronnie Wood is the father-in-law of Fearne Cotton
Rolling Stones and Faces guitarist Ronnie Wood is the father-in-law of television and radio presenter Fearne Cotton. Ronnie's oldest son Jesse Wood began dating Fearne Cotton in 2011 and they married three years later. They have two children together.
Nita Strauss is a descendant of Johan Strauss
Guitar shredder Nita Strauss, perhaps best-known for being Alice Cooper's guitarist since 2014, is a descendant of 19th century Austrian composer Johann Strauss II. Explaining she's related to Johan on her father's side, Nita told Ultimate Guitar: "We have a lot of musicians, like, everyone on my dad's side of the family is all musicians, all the way back to the Viennese Strausses." Asked if she would consider performing Johan's music, Nita said: "You know, the waltz doesn't really sound good on the guitar. Like, I've sort of experimented a bit. I have to explore it more, because I would like to. And actually, we talked even about using 'The Blue Danube' as intro music for the tour or something, but it's so on the nose. It's sort of, like, so obvious, but I still want to explore it when I have a little more time."
Meat Loaf was the father-in-law of Scott Ian
Anthrax axeman Scott Ian married the late-great Meat Loaf's daughter Pearl Aday, who is also a rock musician, in 2011, and they have a 10-year-old son together called Revel. When Meat Loaf passed away in January 2022, the thrash musician paid poignant tribute, writing: "There are so many stories to tell, and I know they will all be told over time. For now, what I know is that Meat's legacy will live on through his family - Pearl, Amanda and Revel. Their forever love for their father/grandfather (Papa Meat) outweighs the heaviness of their hearts. Thank you to everyone for the outpouring of love, we feel it. I love you Meat."
Suzi Quatro is the aunt of Sherilyn Fenn
Detroit rock icon Suzi Quatro is the auntie of actor and author Sherilyn Fenn, who is best known for playing Audrey Horne in David Lynch's cult TV series Twin Peaks. Fenn's mum is keyboardist Arlene Quatro who was a member of the rock band The Pleasure Seekers with her younger sister Suzi in the 1960s.
Joe Walsh and Ringo Starr's wives are sisters
Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh became Ringo Star's relative in 2008 when he married Marjorie Bach, who is the sister of Ringo's wife Barbara Bach. Already good friends before becoming relatives, Joe was previously a member of Ringo's All-Starr Band from 1989 and into the early 90s, and Ringo appeared on Joe's 1991 solo album 'Ordinary Average Guy.'
Ian Anderson is the father-in-law of Andrew Lincoln
Jethro Tull vocalist, flautist, multi-instrumentalist, founder and sole constant member, Ian Anderson, is the father-in-law of Walking Dead and Teachers actor Andrew Lincoln. Ian's daughter, Gael, married Andrew Lincoln in 2006 and the couple have two children together.
Mick Jones is the stepfather of Mark Ronson
Foreigner guitarist, songwriter and only constant member Mick Jones is the stepfather of phenomenally successful musician and producer Mark Ronson. Mick Jones married Ann Dexter-Jones in the early 1980s and became stepfather to her three children Mark, Samantha and Charlotte Ronson. Mark Ronson has stated in interviews that he was surrounded by music throughout his childhood thanks to Mick, which led him to pursue a career in the music industry.
Mick Jones is the father of Annabelle Dexter-Jones
Succession actor Annabelle Dexter-Jones is the daughter of Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones and jewellery designer Ann Dexter-Jones. Through her mum, she is also the half-sister of Mark Ronson, Charlotte Ronson and Samantha Ronson.
Brody Dalle is the half-sister of Morgana Robinson
The Distillers' Brody Dalle (real name Bree Joanna Alice Robinson) is the older half-sister of Australian-born English impressionist, comedian, writer and actor, Morgana Robinson. Brody and Morgana have the same father, however they didn't have much contact until they met backstage at a Distillers show at London's Brixton Academy in 2004.
Axl Rose was briefly the son-in-law of Don Everly
Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose was very briefly the son-in-law of Don Everly of The Everly Brothers fame. Axl began dating Don's daughter Erin Everly in 1986 and wrote the lyrics for Guns N' Roses' enduring anthem 'Sweet Child O' Mine' about her before she appeared in the 1988 music video for the track. Axl and Erin got hitched in 1990 and split the following year.
Mat Osman is the brother of Richard Osman
Suede bassist and co-founding member Mat Osman is the older brother of TV presenter and novelist Richard Osman. Richard says one of his proudest moments was seeing his sibling on Top of the Pops for the first time 30 years ago in 1992: "I said to him: 'You're on Top of the Pops, mate.' I was so proud of him."
Bill Wyman was almost his own son’s son-in-law
In a truly mind-boggling scenario, ex Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman almost became his own son's son-in-law and his own step-grandfather. When Bill separated from his first wife Mandy Smith (pictured, who was 18 at the time of marriage), his 30-year-old son Stephen married Mandy's mother, Patsy. Had Bill's marriage remained intact, he would have become his son's son-in-law, because he was married to his son's stepdaughter. Mandy Smith would have become Stephen Wyman's mother because she would be his father's wife. Thanks to his marriage to Mandy's mother, Stephen Wyman would have become both Mandy's son and father. Similarly, Patsy Smith would have been Mandy's daughter as well as her mother.
Phil Collins is the father of Lily Collins
Genesis icon and solo musician Phil Collins is the father of esteemed British-American actor Lily Collins. Lily is the only child from Phil's second marriage to Jill Tavelman. Following Genesis' final show at London's The O2 in March 2022, Lily paid tribute to her dad and half-brother Nicolas, writing: "Thank you dad for being such an inspiration and thank you @nic_collins for making me the proudest sister there is."
Joel Madden is the son-in-law of Lionel Richie
Joel Madden, vocalist for pop-punk band Good Charlotte, became Lionel Richie's son-in-law in 2010 when he married Lionel's daughter Nicole Richie. On Lionel's 71st birthday in 2020, Joel Madden paid tribute on Instagram calling the 'Hello' singer a "legendary father, mentor and friend" and "a rock in my life."
Lenny Kravitz and Al Roker are second cousins
Rock icon Lenny Kravitz the second cousin of US weatherman and television personality, Al Roker. Lenny's actress mother Roxie Roker is Al's first cousin.
Robert Smith was the brother-in-law of his bandmate Porl Thompson
The Cure's Robert Smith was once related by marriage to his former band mate Porl Thompson (later Pearl Thompson). Guitarist Porl Thompson married Robert Smith's younger sister Janet in 1990 and they stayed together for a decade before divorcing shortly after the millennium.
Gavin Rossdale is the father of Daisy Lowe
Shortly after English fashion model Daisy Lowe was born in 1989, Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale was named her godfather. Lowe was believed to be the daughter of Pearl Lowe's former partner Bronner Handwerger. However, in 2004, Daisy Lowe discovered her godfather was in fact her biological father thanks to a paternity test.