A reunion tour for legendary rock band Van Halen was halted because the group’s lead singer, David Lee Roth, refused to pay tribute to the late Eddie Van Halen, his brother, Alex Van Halen, revealed in an interview with Rolling Stone.

Alex Van Halen, who co-founded the band with his brother, opened the magazine for the first time since his brother’s death and shed light on the infighting within the band that led to the failure of the last planned tour.

Eddie Van Halen, the virtuoso and respected guitarist, died in October 2020 at the age of 65 after a battle with cancer.

Alex Van Halen confirmed to the magazine in a piece published Tuesday that rumors of a planned tour following Eddie Van Halen’s death were true and said there were even early rehearsals with himself playing drums with Roth, the band’s original singer . However, the plans fell through after an explosive row over paying tribute to the band’s late co-founder.

“What broke the camel’s back, and I can be honest about that now,” Alex Van Halen revealed, “was I said, ‘Dave, at some point we’re going to have to take a very public – not a bow – but an acknowledgment of Ed during the performance. If you look at how Queen does it, they show old footage.’ And the moment I said we had to acknowledge Ed, Dave blew a fuse. … The vitriol that came out was unbelievable.”

Alex Van Halen said he had several phone conversations with Queen’s Brian May about how the band is performing while still honoring the group’s late lead singer, Freddie Mercury. But he said Roth simply refused to pay tribute to his brother.

“It’s just, my God. It’s like I didn’t know him anymore. I have nothing but the utmost respect for his work ethic and everything. But Dave, you have to work as a community, mother. You are not alone anymore,” said Alex Van Halen. The magazine noted that Roth declined to comment.

Ultimately, he said he feels good about canceling the tour and is still in contact with Roth.

“On the one hand it’s a shame, but on the other hand it’s fine,” he said. “Because now, looking back, playing the old songs isn’t really a tribute to anyone. I think that’s like a jukebox. …To find a replacement for Ed? It’s just not the same.”

Alex Van Halen said his brother’s death left him in the grip of “oceanic grief” and he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. He will release a memoir on Oct. 22 titled “Brothers,” which traces his childhood with Eddie Van Halen through their original band lineup.

“I just miss him,” he said. “I miss the arguments. I live with it every day. And I can’t bring him back. I can’t make things right.”

He said he sometimes feels his brother’s spirit.

“Ed has been there a few times,” he told Rolling Stone. ‘He was there this morning.”

He said he believes he and his brother accomplished “what we came here to do.” Speaking of his brother, Alex Van Halen said, “Wherever he is, he’s doing great.”