Eddie Van Halen’s death in 2020 devastated fans but his brother and bandmate Alex recalled how the 70s rock star may have ‘hastened’ his death.
On October 6, 2020, Van Halen announced the death of their frontman a stroke aged 65 after secretly battling throat cancer, which had spread to his brain.
Alex, 71, has now revealed that weeks before the loss, Eddie had downed an ‘entire bottle’ of steroid pills in a bid to feel like ‘Superman’.
Doctors had performed surgery to remove a brain tumour and given the Jump singer steroid pills to help reduce any swelling.
‘If two’s good, twenty’s better. That was our mantra,’ Alex shared in a new interview with Rolling Stone.
Eddie had taken the bottle in hopes of chasing that ‘Superman’ feeling, rather than wanting to harm himself assured the drummer.
‘I didn’t see the bottle, but the bottle had, like, a thousand pills in it,’ Alex added, laughing that it was just his brother’s way even if it may have hastened his death.
Eddie was originally diagnosed in 2000 and resulted in the singer having a third of his tongue removed before being given the all-clear in 2002.
At the time, he said he believed the cancer was down to his metal guitar picks rather than being a heavy smoker.
His son Wolfgang confirmed the death via X, writing: ‘I can’t believe I’m having to write this, but my father, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, has lost his long and arduous battle with cancer this morning.
‘He was the best father I could ever ask for. Every moment I’ve shared with him on and off stage was a gift.
‘My heart is broken and I don’t think I’ll ever fully recover from this loss. I love you so much, Pop.’
Van Halen had been preparing for a reunion tour this year, with David Lee Roth returning after infamously being at odds with the late singer.
They scrapped their reunion tour in October after David allegedly upset his bandmates after he and Alex nearly came to blows over a possible tribute to Eddie.
This tribute was supposed to mirror the Freddie Mercury tribute during Queen’s performances, with a montage of Eddie pictures.
Alex confessed he still feels haunted by his brother at times, feeling his presence just that morning.
‘Wherever he is — he’s fine,’ the Hot For Teacher hitmaker concluded.
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