Genesis Publications has officially opened pre-orders for an exclusive new book titled “Van Halen“, authored and signed by legendary drummer Alex Van Halen. Limited to just 1,500 signed and numbered copies globally, this official chronicle documents the extraordinary rise of Van Halen.
The narrative traces the story of the brothers from their 1962 relocation from Holland to California, through their early days playing backyard parties in Pasadena, all the way to the massive global success and world tour supporting their blockbuster album 1984. Opening the family’s private archives for the very first time, the book provides a personally guided tour of the group’s history. It is packed with a dynamic blend of unseen photography, correspondence, album artwork, stage equipment, and vintage press materials.
Visually, the collection highlights the band’s formative years grinding on the Sunset Strip, their inaugural 1978 Japanese tour, and monumental performances like the 1983 US Festival and 1984’s Monsters Of Rock. Accompanying the wealth of archival material is an original manuscript penned by Alex Van Halen, generated from a series of fresh interviews conducted specifically for the project. His detailed reflections are paired with archival texts from the late Eddie Van Halen, alongside special contributions from peers and artists heavily influenced by the band.
Fans and collectors have two different tiers to choose from. Copies numbered 1 through 350 are packaged as the Deluxe boxed set. Fully bound in black vegan leather with silver page edging, these copies feature a patch motif inspired by the band’s 1982 “Hide Your Sheep” tour. They are housed in a black clamshell box adorned with the Van Halen emblem and Alex‘s signature burning ring design. The Deluxe edition includes a hand-signed copy of the book, an 11″ × 8″ archival art print of the band in Manhattan from 1978, and exact replicas of vintage archive items: a silver logo pin, a 1979 production keychain, three of Eddie Van Halen‘s stage-used guitar picks, six art postcards, and a 7″ vinyl record with tracks to be announced later.
Copies numbered 351 to 1,500 make up the Collector boxed set. Also hand-signed by Alex Van Halen, these editions are quarter-bound in black vegan leather with silver page edges and feature a silver debossed logo from the group’s 1978 world tour. They arrive in the same black clamshell box and include all the replica bonus items featured in the Deluxe set, minus the silver pin and the archival art print.
Alex Van Halen formed Van Halen with his brother Eddie Van Halen in 1972. Together with frontman David Lee Roth and bassist Michael Anthony, they became one of the best-selling rock bands in history. Alex‘s massive drum kits and classical piano background provided the rhythmic backbone for a string of multi-platinum records, including Van Halen, Fair Warning, and 1984. These landmark albums spawned timeless rock anthems like “Runnin’ With The Devil“, “Panama“, and “Jump“. The group officially disbanded in 2020, leaving behind a legacy of over 75 million records sold worldwide and a 2007 induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
