Anyone Could Have Written Alex Van Halen’s Book

I recently reviewed Alex Van Halen’s memoir Brothers for PopMatters. Read the whole review here.

In short, anyone with a decent amount of research could have written this book. Personal stories, insights, intimate memories ain’t present. The book quotes — over and over again — interviews with the late guitar legend Eddie Van Halen. If you’re a guitar geek, you’ve already heard these stories, seen these quotes.

It’s not plagiarism, because Alex and co-writer repeatedly say, “As Ed told Steve Rosen” and “As Ted Templeman writes” throughout the text. They give credit. So you should give those writers your cash. Go by their books instead.