Eddie Van Halen, a musical icon, left behind a trove of unreleased music. His brother Alex, in a new interview to promote his memoir “Brothers”, shed light on this hidden treasure. The audio version of the book features the final song they wrote together, “Unfinished”. Alex appeared on Chris Jericho's podcast “Talk Is Jericho” and discussed the possibility of releasing more of his late brother's work.

Insights on the Unreleased Music

During the chat, Alex was cautious yet hopeful. He mentioned, “We're gonna go through the so-called vault and explore the musical ideas within. There are these licks that are either too weak to make a song or incredibly powerful and a shame they ended up in the back. In our band, it's not a mechanical process. We play, listen, invite others, and evaluate. If something doesn't have that initial impact, we move on. But there were also bad ideas along the way. It's a risk, but if we don't take it, we risk losing our creativity. Now that Eddie's gone, we have these recordings in the vault, and we need to figure out how to handle them properly.” 2:Jericho's comment about the amount of unreleased material led Alex to confirm, “Oh, yeah. Probably three or four records, if not more. There was some truly great stuff that sometimes gets overlooked in the heat of the moment. But when you revisit it, you realize its potential. We have access to some of the best musicians, and they're willing to take a chance on this music. We want to do it right and ensure it lives up to Eddie's and our standards.”

The Recording Process

1:Eddie Van Halen's recording process was unique. It wasn't about simply walking into the studio and planning to make a record. They would go in, play, and see what happened. They listened to the results, invited others, and continued to evaluate. This organic approach led to a diverse range of musical ideas. 2:However, not all ideas made the cut. There were bad ideas too, but that's part of the creative process. If they held onto every idea just because it existed, they risked becoming stagnant. The open marketplace also played a role. If they didn't perform well, people might suggest moving on. But with Eddie gone, the focus is now on these vault recordings and finding the right way to share them.

The Importance of Timing

1:Timing is crucial when it comes to releasing unreleased music. It's not just about having the music; it's about presenting it at the right time. These recordings need to be handled with care to maintain their integrity and the essence of Eddie Van Halen's music. 2:Waiting for the right moment allows for a more thoughtful approach. It gives fans the opportunity to fully appreciate the music and for the band to ensure it meets their high standards. The legacy of Eddie Van Halen is at stake, and they want to do justice to his work.