Well, due to my work schedule and social engagements it took me longer to get through Van Halen Rising than I had anticipated, but I finished it last night. What a great read. To many of us, we were basically aware of most of the stories and anecdotes about the early dates, the legendary backyard parties and the craziness of the burgeoning LA club scene prior to the blow out during the Hair Metal explosion in the ’80s. Those of us who have read every interview possible knew a lot of the old stories about Dave not making it past his audition in VH, the brothers being classically trained musicians and the various early bands (Trojan Rubber Company, Mammoth, Genesis, etc…), but this book brings all of these stories to life by presenting them from an outside point of view. Not from the band’s memory, but from the mouths of the people who lived it as teenagers and adolescents, as friends and as fellow musicians. Hearing the stories from their perspective breathes new life into those old tales. The addition of the rare photos of the band as teens and the early performance pictures really helped to create an image in your mind as well. Even if you think you know everything there is to know about the band’s early days, I’m pretty sure there will be several things in the book that you didn’t know. I don’t want to give anything away, but I’ll admit there were quite a few things that were brought out in the book that I wasn’t aware of and I found myself digging out the old club days boots and the ’77 shows and listening to them with a whole new take on the era and that time in the band’s career.

If you’re a fan (and if you’re reading this here, I know you are) and you weren’t sure if you would be getting a copy of the book, it’s totally worth getting the book!! You’ll love it! Awesome job, Greg!!! I might even read it again this weekend without any interruptions.

Thanks Scott! That means so much coming from you – because it was guys like you, fans who’d read every interview and heard every bootleg that I was trying to please here. I was sick of reading the same stories over and over, so I really wanted to flesh things out and get a new perspective on the band’s history.

And thanks for pointing out the importance of the other observers’ perspectives. I’ve said this before, but if I think back on things I did in high school, there is plenty of things I don’t recall. But if we asked 30 people I went to high school with, collectively they’d be able to fill in a ton of blanks. That was my goal.

I’ve read just about every book and magazine that has been released about the band and I really get irritated when I spend money on something that a) Is nothing but a bunch of quotes from other articles or interviews with the band to rehash the same stories we already know and b) the author is clearly not knowledgable on the band or it’s history and is just half-assing it to make a quick buck. A perfect example of this is a Van Halen special magazine I was flipping through not too long ago. The opening article was trying to give a 4-5 page summary of the band’s rise from clubs to the end of the Roth era. Over the course of just a few pages they referred to their bassist as “Mark Anthony”, they stated that Van Halen “kicked off their Diver Down tour at the US Festival in 1982″ and mentioned that the band toured South America on the 1984 tour and wrapped up the tour in ’85 before Dave left in ’86. Then proceeded to have photos from Roth’s ’86 tour marked (circa 1982) and pics of Eddie in ’81 marked as (circa 1984). It’s obvious they did no research, put minimal effort into their writing and then charged $8-$10 for the magazine. If I wanted to be misinformed I can get that online for free.

You did an outstanding job of researching the history and presenting the material in both an informative and entertaining fashion. Kudos to you, sir!

Can;t wait to read it myself. Ordering tonight! Surprised I haven’t already, been swamped. Going to treat myself to a great read, from a great author on the world’s greatest band. And if Voodoo says it’s great, it’s great!

awesome post….

I have been debating getting the book too and was just on vhstore the other day and almost clicked buy but hesitated and did not. After reading this I just might snag it for the weekend.

Rob

I’m halfway through the book now. I think it is absolutely brilliant. Easily the best book on Van Halen to date. I love how thorough the information is. Greg did a fantastic job gathering the research and presenting it in a very digestible way. The chapters flow very well into one another and the reader (at least myself) can feel the slow rise that will become the Mighty Van Halen. I also will be digging the club days out and giving them a listen with a new appreciation. I am starting with the Cherokee demos.
Kudos to you Greg for an outstanding job!

Check out Greg’s PodKISSt podcast interview appearance, especially if you’re a Kiss fan too. …Listening to it now and can’t wait to eventually read the book. I’m sure it’s gonna kick some ass.
Greg, you have officially been bestowed with an honorary PhD in Van Halenology! The best of luck to you, sir. You’ve done yourself and us proud!

-Mikey

http://podkisst.com/?p=2336

Yes 2 things in my mind changed 180 soon after I realized. I do love the main years 1978 forward when Van Halen became Van Halen. … but..,

1. The early years leading up to 1978 were shrouded in mystery mostly and the perfect subject/timeline for a missing VH book.
2. Not interviewing the band (except Mike) is a non-factor and better this way most likely. Greg got **many** of the key players and also tons of Pasadena friends and fans that still remember those wild party days in sunny Socal

thismusicsux: Yes 2 things in my mind changed 180 soon after I realized.I do love the main years 1978 forward when Van Halen became Van Halen. … but..,

1. The early years leading up to 1978 were shrouded in mystery mostly and the perfect subject/timeline for a missing VH book. 2. Not interviewing the band (except Mike) is a non-factor and better this way most likely.Greg got **many** of the key players and also tons of Pasadena friends and fans that still remember those wild party days in sunny Socal

Thanks TMS – I hope Ed and Al write their own book – but if so, it will be one written from their perspective. I tried to take a broader look at the whole time, place and band.

I’ve been sort of flipping through and reading sections in bits and pieces.. I haven’t had a solid block of time yet to really go thought it. From what I’m reading from others I can’t wait be able to roll through this!

Dang, Amazon can’t even give me a delivery estimate yet! No spoilers, please!

I got my copy, it was waiting at the post office when I got home yesterday. Other than checking out the autograph, I haven’t had a chance to even thumb through it yet. Am damn glad I ordered it from the VHS though! (thanks Jeff & Greg)

The book is worth the price just for the pictures. Great top to bottom!

ron: I got my copy, it was waiting at the post office when I got home yesterday.Other than checking out the autograph, I haven’t had a chance to even thumb through it yet.Am damn glad I ordered it from the VHS though!(thanks Jeff & Greg)

Can you confirm the authenticity of the signature ?

mrmojohalen: Can you confirm the authenticity of the signature ?

Nope, and it didn’t come with a COA either.