AceShowbiz - Eddie Van Halen, the legendary guitarist known for his virtuoso performances, struggled with addiction throughout his life. In a heartfelt and revealing interview, his brother Alex Van Halen opens up about Eddie's last days and his harrowing battle with prescription pills.

Eddie Van Halen, renowned for his astonishing guitar skills, succumbed to cancer on October 6, 2020. He was 65. Despite his legendary status, Eddie's life behind the scenes was fraught with struggles, as revealed by his brother Alex Van Halen in an exclusive interview with Rolling Stone.

Alex, the drummer co-founder of Van Halen, spoke extensively about Eddie's addiction to steroid pills prescribed after a surgery to remove a brain tumor. "I didn't see the bottle, but the bottle had, like, a thousand pills in it," Alex shared. "If two's good, 20's better. That was our mantra." The pills, which eased Eddie’s pain and swelling, also made him "feel like Superman."

This addictive behavior worsened his already precarious health. "If you knew what he had to go through to beat the cancer - he wouldn't do traditional treatment. Some of the off-the-wall s**t caused such a toxic mix in his body. And, yeah, you shouldn't drink with it, Ed!" Alex admonished.

Alex also revealed the emotional toll Eddie's death had on him, describing it as "oceanic grief." "I was yelling and screaming. I was beside myself," he said. "I just miss him. I miss the arguments. I live with it every day. And I can't bring him back. I can't make things right."

Despite his declining health, Eddie continued to make music up until his last days. He sought experimental treatments in Switzerland but remained committed to his art. "Up to the very end, he was making music. ... Quite frankly, it wasn't very good. But that wasn't the point. That's what he did," Alex noted.

Alex Van Halen's touching recollections come ahead of the release of his memoir "Brothers", set to be published on October 22. The book, which details their shared journey from childhood to the height of their rock careers, promises to offer more insights into their complex relationship. "We shared the experience of coming to this country and figuring out how to fit in... Later, we shared the back of a tour bus, alcoholism, the experience of becoming successful, of becoming fathers and uncles, and of spending more hours in the studio than I’ve spent doing anything else in this life." Alex's book captures the essence of their bond and the trials they faced together.

"The fact was that Ed was an incredible player, but in the end, he paid for it with his health, paid for it with his life," Alex remarked, emphasizing the price his brother paid for his extraordinary talent. As fans remember Eddie Van Halen for his music, Alex's revelations provide a poignant look into the personal battles waged by one of rock's greatest icons.