Thu Oct 17 14:10:00 UTC 2024: ## Van Halen Drummer Reveals Eddie’s Final Days Marked by Addiction and Experimental Cancer Treatments
**Los Angeles, CA** – In a heartbreaking interview with Rolling Stone, Alex Van Halen, drummer for the legendary rock band Van Halen, has opened up about his brother Eddie’s final years, revealing a battle with addiction and experimental cancer treatments.
Eddie Van Halen, considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time, passed away in October 2020 after a battle with throat cancer. While he fought the illness, Alex revealed that Eddie, known for his struggles with addiction throughout his life, began abusing steroid pills prescribed to him following brain tumor surgery.
“If two’s good, 20’s better, that was our mantra,” Alex shared, explaining that Eddie would consume entire bottles of pills, believing they made him feel like “Superman.”
The drummer further detailed the experimental cancer treatments Eddie sought in Switzerland, revealing that his brother continued to make music even amidst the pain and struggle. “There was something, an itch that he couldn’t scratch, something he needed to do,” Alex explained.
While Alex acknowledges the music made during this time wasn’t of the same quality as his brother’s previous work, he emphasized that creating music was Eddie’s “purpose” to the very end.
Alex also revealed the profound impact Eddie’s death had on him, leading to a PTSD diagnosis. “I shut down,” he said, describing the overwhelming grief as “oceanic.”
The interview sheds light on the complex relationship between the two brothers, with Alex admitting their father’s alcoholism deeply impacted their lives. He reveals that his father gave him his first drink at age six, leading to his own struggles with substance abuse before ultimately finding sobriety.
In the article, Alex also reflects on Eddie’s immense talent, suggesting it was ultimately his downfall. “Ed was an incredible player, but in the end, he paid for it with his health, paid for it with his life,” he said.
Alex’s candid account paints a poignant picture of Eddie Van Halen’s final days, highlighting the battles he fought both against illness and his own demons. It also offers a glimpse into the profound impact Eddie’s loss had on his brother and the lasting legacy he leaves behind.
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