Well, I have.I read the book, that is...
(to see the cover and a preview, open this email in your browser by clicking the link on the upper right hand corner)
This book was by far one of the best I've read about the history of Van Halen.
Check out my review: Book Review – Runnin’ with the Devil by Noel Monk
Noel Monk was Van Halen’s manager until 1984, and this book tells all, from his perspective, that happened in the band, during that time frame that he managed them.
I found it very intriguing to learn about what happens behind the scenes, not only with the band, but with the inner workings of management, marketing, politics; all of it is very enlightening. From reading Noel’s story, one can learn to appreciate all that is or isn’t within the band’s control. Reading about the outrageous pranks and hanky-panky that went on was at times funny, disturbing and sad. I can’t imagine what it must be like to be on the road that often and for the stretches of time that they were away from their families and friends, and so young, too. Noel gives a personal glimpse of what it was like to encounter the band and their ups and downs, and I paid special attention to the dynamics between him and Eddie. Noel’s experience with the Van Halen brothers was very special, and at times intense. He oftentimes played referee with the boys, and his role didn’t always focus on the brothers, either. Watching them rise and fall must have been difficult, and the reader picks up on the anger and tension that is still evident from Noel’s abrupt departure from the band. Learning that, like many fish in the sea, Noel was just another number, must have been a bitter pill to swallow. You can feel it in some of his words. He cuts to the quick, as I’m sure the brothers did to him, too. It was a fun read, definitely, but with an eye-opening edge. If you think that band members have superhuman powers, read this book. They are just as human as the next guy. They went into stardom blindly, and almost overnight, and when you throw in manipulation, money, substance abuse, adultery, politics, and family, you get a mess of both highs and lows…you get Van Halen. Overall, a great read. I would read it again and recommend it to anyone who has a love for biographies, with a small caveat: if you love Eddie, like I do, you might want to keep in mind that he’s gone now, so appreciate Noel’s story for what it is and for what it was. And remember that we never will get Eddie’s point of view on many of the matters discussed in this book. So, take it with a grain of salt. Click here to view the book on Amazon.
In case you aren't aware, Runnin' with the Devil was Van Halen's first release.
Here is the official video for 'Runnin' with the Devil'.
This book gave me a really good picture of what it's like to be in a band as part of ongoing research for my a rock star romance series, and it gave me a taste for more.
For fun, here's a video from their 1984 album. The song is called 'House of Pain'. This video is actually made from leftover footage from creating other videos, and it's a great display of some of the fun that the band had, that is outlined in the book. Happy Reading!
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After losing Eddie Van Halen on October 6, 2020...
I found myself fully immersed in his life, his loves, his bandmates and stories of him.
It wasn't enough to just read articles on Google or cruise through Facebook and Instagram, so I started diving into the ocean of books about him and others around him. One book that I thoroughly enjoyed, and I'll get into others later, is Red by Sammy Hagar, one of Eddie's bandmates, during the 'Van Hagar' era. Note: to view the cover and preview links for this book, please open this email in your browser by clicking the link in the upper right hand corner at the top of the page, or click here to view the book on Amazon.
It's a fantastic story, told in Sammy's voice, that I found very enthralling. It is an addictive book in the way that it's told. Here is my review of Red:
First off, I’ll admit that I could not put this book down, and not just because of the content. The reader can feel Sammy’s personality throughout the pages. After watching so many videos and reading so many articles, even listening to radio broadcast recordings, I have to say that I like him a lot. He’s got a great positive attitude and a hilarious sense of humor, plus a fantastically witty imagination. He’s the type of guy that I think anyone would be able to hang out with and have fun.
Sammy is also extremely charismatic and loaded with wisdom. He’s had quite a life to support that, and this book tells a lot of it. The man has worked practically since he was old enough to walk, and he’s been involved in so many interesting business ventures, and it seems that being in bands were just part of that. From building bikes to selling tequila, this man has done it all. What I garnered from his experience working with Van Halen, was that it was exceptionally rewarding in the beginning. The man actually bought a house two doors down from Eddie, they felt so close to one another, and had so much fun recording together. They trusted each other like brothers, and you could feel that in his writing. He loved Eddie, and it was apparent. The telling of the less enjoyable parts of his Van Halen experience was done with a fair amount of taste. Truthfully, some parts you could tell that he still felt pain, but he told it like it was, and in his own words, and I respect that. With explanations that were meant to sound like it was a brotherhood and treated like a family affair, I got that, and it was clearly and fairly done. It was painful to read about how he could see Eddie going down and why. And it was hurtful to read about Eddie’s mistakes along the way, and to me, as much as I’d already read about his substance abuse, infidelity and betrayal, in articles, it’s almost like hearing it from Sammy confirmed it. Overall, Red is a really great read, and I’d highly recommend it to any Van Halen fan, or even if you’re just looking for a well written biography, this is brilliant. Five stars.
Below is a YouTube video of Sammy with the Van Halen gang, as they perform three of my favorite songs, 'Amsterdam', 'Aftershock', and 'Can't Stop Lovin' You' live in 1995 at the Jon Stewart Show, as well as a cute but short interview.
More reviews of great rock star books to come, so stay tuned!Happy Reading!
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Please note that I am a member of the affiliate program on Amazon Associates. Any purchases you make from links in the material I send you can possibly earn me a small commission, which helps to pay for my writing and advertising expenses.
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