Eddie Van Halen Biography Coming [Archive] - The Diamond David Lee Roth Army

Seshmeister

10-07-2013, 04:28 PM

Eddie Van Halen Biography Coming

http://wpcontent.answcdn.com/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Eddie_Van_Halen_at_the_New_Haven_Coliseum_2.jpg/220px-Eddie_Van_Halen_at_the_New_Haven_Coliseum_2.jpg

Faber & Faber have announced today that they have acquired a biography of Eddie Van Halen, Eruption, by Paul Brannigan.

http://www.independent.co.uk/migration_catalog/article5090419.ece/ALTERNATES/w460/paul_brannigan.jpeg

Paul Brannigan previously wrote the Sunday Times bestselling biography of Dave Grohl, This is a Call, and is the co-author of the forthcoming two-volume biography of Metallica, Birth School Metallica Death. He is also the current editor of Kerrang!

Scheduled for publication in 2015, the book promises to explore how it was the incendiary playing of the young guitarist which launched the band Van Halen into the consciousness of America in early 1978, and transformed the musical landscape. Offering the first real examination of a true musical icon, it will also turn up the volume on a life lived in popular music's fast lane.

There was previously a biography of Eddie released in 2011 by Kevin Dodds.

Faber and Faber will publish in the UK + Commonwealth rights, plus Canada. Eruption will be published by Da Capo in the U.S.

ELVIS

10-07-2013, 04:39 PM

There ya go...

Put that on the mantle next to Dave's four hits and call it a day...

:biggrin:

fraroc

10-07-2013, 05:28 PM

Why the hell can't Eddie write his own book? I personally believe that it could be a good idea for him to tell his own side of the story in the Van Halen saga and finally clear up some discrepancies.

78/84 guy

10-07-2013, 05:33 PM

Oh boy!

ThrillsNSpills

10-07-2013, 05:41 PM

I think Eddie would tell you his biography is told by his music.
In his old interviews he would say all he has to really say is in notes.

ThrillsNSpills

10-07-2013, 05:42 PM

Wait a minute..

do you think Paul Branigan is related to Laura?

Seshmeister

10-07-2013, 05:47 PM

No he's British.

vandeleur

10-07-2013, 08:17 PM

Why the hell can't Eddie write his own book? I personally believe that it could be a good idea for him to tell his own side of the story in the Van Halen saga and finally clear up some discrepancies.

Probably can't remember most of it and probably wants to forget the other bits ....
Waking up after the Hagar years must have been like the hangover from hell :D

DLR Bridge

10-07-2013, 08:45 PM

VAiN

10-07-2013, 08:50 PM

I don't think there will be anything in there that we don't already know.. Unless Ed sits with someone it's going to be the same shit. Hell, even Ed's interviews are the same shit - do you know Ed started on drums?

Terry

10-07-2013, 09:11 PM

The rock journalist who often interviewed Ed, Steven Rosen, was working with him in the late 80's, early 90's on his auto biography. I even remember reading that it was to be called Edward Van Halen - The First Ten Years. Not sure if those two had a falling out or why the project was scrapped, but I do believe Mr. Rosen was involved in the production of the documentary, Van Halen The Early Years.

The Kevin Dodds book is just pieces of magazine articles and Val's book taped together with his own personal story (lord knows why) woven throughout. This Branigan guy will hopefully not produce something equally as lame.

It wouldn't be surprising to see the Branigan book following a similar source format as the Dodds book. Even if this turns out to be the case, hopefully it won't be so goddamned awful as the Everybody Wants Some Van Halen book that came out in 2007, which was a mish-mash of old print article and interview excerpts that weren't even chronological in terms of the original interview/article dates and the time period in the book they were misapplied to.

Yeah, without any new interviews from Ed given specifically to the author, I dunno how much value this book will be in terms of new information. Plus, what does a Brit in what appears to be his twenties have to say about Eddie Van Halen that I don't know already?

DLR Bridge

10-07-2013, 09:16 PM

The Van Halen Rising book is going to be the one for us. That guy is doing his homework alright.

Seshmeister

10-07-2013, 09:22 PM

The author is in his late 30s and I don't know if he has any agreement with Eddie or not.

I'm not sure how reliable he would be anyway...

sadaist

10-07-2013, 09:44 PM

The membership here could write the definitive, and most accurate, autobiography about Eddie Van Halen.

vandeleur

10-07-2013, 09:52 PM

Could we tho ... We spent the last 20 odd years slagging him for his bromance with spammy .
I am not sure any of us want to know much about ed post 85 til about 06.
The early years are the juice it's when the magic happened am Not sure i want to know how they made balance or the wino meth years .

Whoever helped Keith Richards with his should gave ed a shout , that balanced the music with the fun stuff in a pretty good even way .

Kristy

10-07-2013, 10:01 PM

Eddie's shitty book summary

"Hi, I'm Eddie 'god damn' Van Halen. I was born in Holland where the winters suck and good pussy is rare to find. So one day my father said 'fuck this' and we moved to sunny California where winter is unheard of and the pussy fairs much better. I never worked, did much or cared about shit so I learned to play guitar. We were piss-poor immigrants so I built a guitar from parts of other shitty guitars. It sounded like absolute fucking crap but I figured if Ted Nugent can play guitar like a cocksucker then so can I. Speaking of cocksuckers, I met David Lee Roth a German immigrant who was a homosexual which is cool, I'm gay myself. We formed a band with my idiot brother and some other douche who never really had a job.

Then the book goes on about how Eddie had a F A T fetish which is why hew married chubby thighed Valerie, had a F A T kid and met F A T Sammy who he took in as a stray.

Seshmeister

10-07-2013, 10:10 PM

I've been alive for a while now but I have to say that is the first time I've ever seen Dutch pussy criticized. :)

VHscraps

10-08-2013, 05:45 AM

VHscraps

10-08-2013, 06:03 AM

The author is in his late 30s and I don't know if he has any agreement with Eddie or not.

I'm not sure how reliable he would be anyway...

I think that's right - his memory might not be that reliable, and I think the same could be said for many others who survived the excesses of being young in a highly successful rock band. My guess is that Eddie probably won't be co-operating, because let's face it, a straight biography is going to have to go through all the personal stuff. It could still be a good book though if he can get reliable witnesses to co-operate, but he'd need to be getting in-depth interviews from people like Mike Anthony, and other people who were close to the band, close to Eddie. I'd imagine that would be difficult and the only ones who might speak are people who have since fallen out with Eddie, or have an axe to grind, etc.

But I will say that Faber & Faber are a top notch and highly respected publisher, and I don't think they would sign something up if they didn't think it would be more than a cut'n'paste job.

On the other hand, their music biographies can often be a bit bloated - I've read a few 600-page tomes that seem to run out of steam at about 300 pages, and it seems to me to be more of an editorial issue than an author issue (I work in publishing as an editor).

DLR Bridge

10-08-2013, 06:39 AM

Eddie nixed the project because Rosen acted as a consultant, or something similar, on that cheesy 'Van Halen Early Days' DVD.

That can't be the reason, though. That documentary came out more than ten years after the book being started.

Va Beach VH Fan

10-08-2013, 08:25 AM

Why the hell can't Eddie write his own book? I personally believe that it could be a good idea for him to tell his own side of the story in the Van Halen saga and finally clear up some discrepancies.

For the same reason that they haven't released any DVD Box Sets or anything else for the fans....

Edward Lodewijk Van Halen hates being a "rockstar". He has no sense of what the fans might want....

That's just the truth....

ELVIS

10-08-2013, 09:11 AM

Yes he does...

He gave us a killer album and he's still working with Dave...

Rock star books rank right up there with the old adage:

Shut up and sing!

:elvis:

sadaist

10-08-2013, 11:09 AM

I figured if Ted Nugent can play guitar like a cocksucker then so can I.

:lmao: haha excellent!

... and some other douche who never really had a job.

.

lol, poor Michael. So true though.

and I thought it was Eddie "fucking" Van Halen? What was on that shirt they sold during either last Hagar or Cherone tour? I thought it was really stupid and just a huge cock stroke for Eddies ego.

sadaist

10-08-2013, 11:13 AM

He gave us a killer album and he's still working with Dave...

:elvis:

I think you might be being sarcastic here, but this is 100% true. I am happier with the current shape of Van Halen than I have been since 5150.

DrMaddVibe

10-08-2013, 11:28 AM

For the same reason that they haven't released any DVD Box Sets or anything else for the fans....

Edward Lodewijk Van Halen hates being a "rockstar". He has no sense of what the fans might want....

That's just the truth....

+1 on this. He'd rather sit around Howdy Doody Mountain noodling on a guitar doing porn soundtracks than actually playing in a band that pays off in big ways. He's NEVER really realized the potential that Van Halen has...and by his time management...never will.

Keeping the band together just massages a massive ego that wants to live off of what was instead of taking chances and going forward.

IDGAF about reading his bio and I don't care if he writes one. It's yet another time waster. The guy acts like he's immortal. Time's a wasting Eddie. Get with the program and serve us up another album.

DrMaddVibe

10-08-2013, 11:30 AM

I think you might be being sarcastic here, but this is 100% true. I am happier with the current shape of Van Halen than I have been since 5150.

I totally agree.

Just wish the production line was running at full capacity though...just sayin'!

Seeing Van Hagar at the Monsters of Rock was a laughable joke. It kept getting worse with each release...and the box office kept dwindling to the point they were giving away tickets so Spammy could peddle his booze!

ELVIS

10-08-2013, 11:51 AM

I was not being sarcastic...

ADKOT was better than I expected...

Tattoo still sucks though...

:elvis:

VHscraps

10-08-2013, 12:08 PM

That can't be the reason, though. That documentary came out more than ten years after the book being started.

I was sure I read that was the reason somewhere, in an interview with Rosen - I've been googling but can't find anything. I could be wrong, and it might be that after Eddie backed out of co-operating with the book Rosen LATER got involved in the DVD.

You're right, though, he had been working on the Eddie book as far back as the mid-80s, and had full access to family members and archives, etc.

VHscraps

10-08-2013, 12:18 PM

That can't be the reason, though. That documentary came out more than ten years after the book being started.

Yeah, you're right. I did just find this, DLRB, where Rosen talks about the fate of the EVH biography:

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/interviews/rock_chronicles/rock_chronicles_1980s_wayne_charvel.html

It's an interview with Wayne Charvel that Rosen did as part of his research for the book. He prefaces the interview with the story of the agreement he had with EVH to write the book, but says in the end that after years, and after speaking to a lot of people, Eddie just didn't want to sit down and talk. He thought that the time for a biography would be after he had quit playing / died, or similar ...

Seshmeister

10-08-2013, 12:21 PM

Surely the last Van Hagar tour counted as similar?

VHscraps

10-08-2013, 12:26 PM

Didn't you just say "Cherone" or am I seeing things ...!

DLR Bridge

10-08-2013, 12:33 PM

...and I thought it was Eddie "fucking" Van Halen? What was on that shirt they sold during either last Hagar or Cherone tour? I thought it was really stupid and just a huge cock stroke for Eddies ego.

True, it was, but it was also a spoof on this...http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/09/3udu6uja.jpg

Kristy

10-08-2013, 12:58 PM

I think you might be being sarcastic here, but this is 100% true. I am happier with the current shape of Van Halen than I have been since 5150.

Whatever you say Mediocre Man

DLR Bridge

10-08-2013, 02:31 PM

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/interviews/rock_chronicles/rock_chronicles_1980s_wayne_charvel.html

It's an interview with Wayne Charvel that Rosen did as part of his research for the book. He prefaces the interview with the story of the agreement he had with EVH to write the book, but says in the end that after years, and after speaking to a lot of people, Eddie just didn't want to sit down and talk. He thought that the time for a biography would be after he had quit playing / died, or similar ...

That's a fantastic read. Interesting tales of young Ed, Mike and Dave, too! The Tommy Bolan story was great also. Thanks for that Scraps!

binnie

10-08-2013, 02:56 PM

The author is in his late 30s and I don't know if he has any agreement with Eddie or not.

I'm not sure how reliable he would be anyway...

He is a very, very good writer. This will be an excellent biography - his bio of Dave Grohl is excellent.

I'm really stoked about this, it could be very good.

jhale667

10-08-2013, 03:00 PM

That's a fantastic read. Interesting tales of young Ed, Mike and Dave, too! The Tommy Bolan story was great also. Thanks for that Scraps!

Interesting reading about the fallout between Wayne Charvel and Grover Jackson, too. I've never met Wayne, but Grover seems nice enough...

Zing!

10-08-2013, 03:23 PM

I'll probably read it, but I'll be damned if I'm reading the Ed/Al drums/guitar newspaper swap story again.

Va Beach VH Fan

10-08-2013, 03:42 PM

I'll probably read it, but I'll be damned if I'm reading the Ed/Al drums/guitar newspaper swap story again.

That's my concern as well. Without Ed's input, I fear it's just going to be just another rehashing of the same 'ol stories.....

DLR Bridge

10-08-2013, 04:46 PM

Who knows. Maybe the paper route story will be fleshed out to include long pondered details like, just what paper was it? How many customers were there? Did he deliver via bike or foot? Did the customers tip well? How about around the holidays?

sonrisa salvaje

10-08-2013, 05:21 PM

Until Ed wants to sit down and be honest with someone there really isn't a point.

Zing!

10-08-2013, 05:26 PM

Until Ed wants to sit down and be honest with someone there really isn't a point.

It took him 50+ years just to be honest with himself!

jacksmar

10-10-2013, 03:30 PM

Ed's bio better have at least one statement along the lines that every guitar player would sell his first piece of ass to be 1/4 as talented as Eddie Van Halen.

Eddie may not have been the reason anyone picked up the guitar but he's definitely the reason I wanted to play better.

I don't care about the side personal bullshit.

Eddie Van Halen on stage solo is as good as the guitar gets.

Nickdfresh

10-10-2013, 04:47 PM

I was not being sarcastic...

ADKOT was better than I expected...

Tattoo still sucks though...

:elvis:

But he's got you on his elbow...

DavidLeeNatra

10-10-2013, 05:12 PM

DLR Bridge

10-10-2013, 05:58 PM

Keef and Peter Criss wrote auto-biographies. This guy is doing an Ed bio, so it's most definitely going to be a lot of what we already know. Hopefully, he's able to dig up some unknown stuff.

DavidLeeNatra

10-10-2013, 06:32 PM

Keef and Peter Criss wrote auto-biographies. This guy is doing an Ed bio, so it's most definitely going to be a lot of what we already know. Hopefully, he's able to dig up some unknown stuff.

Ozzy's was supposed to be an auto-bio, too...it's all put together by some author who went through documentaries and interviews...there is literally NOTHING in the book that I haven't read or seen before. If that guy does the same...fuck it...take a bit here write around some shit there...that's what I expect

fraroc

10-10-2013, 07:41 PM

Ozzy's was supposed to be an auto-bio, too...it's all put together by some author who went through documentaries and interviews...there is literally NOTHING in the book that I haven't read or seen before. If that guy does the same...fuck it...take a bit here write around some shit there...that's what I expect

Ozzy has dyslexia so he wasn't able to commited to write it all by himself, so Chris Ayers basically wrote the entire book as Ozzy told his life story to him (or what he remembers from it.)

Seshmeister

10-10-2013, 09:50 PM

'Write it all'?

Get serious, he probably has no idea what is in that book even if he knows it exists...

twonabomber

10-10-2013, 10:01 PM

Keef and Peter Criss wrote auto-biographies. This guy is doing an Ed bio, so it's most definitely going to be a lot of what we already know.

Like Ed claiming he doesn't use a tuner but tunes the guitar to itself?

Seshmeister

10-10-2013, 10:03 PM

Or that he didn't use any guitar effects...:)

Terry

10-11-2013, 09:47 PM

The thing with Ed for me is...like, Ed's just one of those rock musicians where I just wanna hear him play. I just totally dig listening to Ed Van Halen play guitar, and I don't even wanna read about him anymore...or even read interviews given by him these days.
While Roth's book was an excellent read, that was kind of to be expected, because Roth is a great storyteller and was always a great interview subject. Roth has led a very interesting life.
Ed's life is obviously different from most in that he's a rock star, but as rock star lives go Ed's life wasn't really all that interesting. Bizarre and sad in the late 1990s and early-to-mid 2000s because he was fucked in the head, but I gotta say that I really didn't get much pleasure from seeing him nearly flush his life down the toilet because he couldn't control his drinking (and god knows what else he was on).
Like most around here, I've probably read more than enough about Ed's life that it'd take a really special type of biography to tell me something I didn't know. A book that's a compilation of past articles and interviews is of little interest. But hearing him play guitar, still after all these years of listening to him, it still rocks my world...and that's enough, you know? What else do I need to know about him at this point?

DLR Bridge

10-11-2013, 11:07 PM

You're dang right Terry. If anyone on this Earth should let the music do the talking for them, it's this guy.

I am still excited about the Van Halen Rising book as it seems that it will be as close of a chronicle to the club days explosion as we're gonna get, short of Dave, Ed and Al (and Mike) sitting down with someone and pouring out every last detail.

DavidLeeNatra

10-12-2013, 09:31 AM

Ozzy has dyslexia so he wasn't able to commited to write it all by himself, so Chris Ayers basically wrote the entire book as Ozzy told his life story to him (or what he remembers from it.)

I bet Ozzy didn't spend one single minute with the guy.

Terry

10-12-2013, 08:06 PM

we'll see...I hope it's not the usual collection of information we all have from countless interviews and what have you...like the Ozzy bio...total piece of shit, without ANYTHING new. Lemmy's was readable, Keef's was fantastic and the last one I read from Peter Criss was also a very good read.

The Peter Criss book was so frank and raw...like, he put some stuff in there that I couldn't believe he had the nerve to. Things of such a personal nature that he would have easily been forgiven for not including them.
But that's what you want from such a book, right? There's nothing more boring than reading a rock star bio or autobio that's just a bunch of generalized gloss, or an obvious case of idol-worship by the bio author (or x amount of pages of self-love by the autobio author).
Criss just let it all hang out, let the chips fall where they may and didn't worry about the consequences. Keith's was like that, too.

katina

10-12-2013, 10:20 PM

The Peter Criss book was so frank and raw...like, he put some stuff in there that I couldn't believe he had the nerve to. Things of such a personal nature that he would have easily been forgiven for not including them.
But that's what you want from such a book, right? There's nothing more boring than reading a rock star bio or autobio that's just a bunch of generalized gloss, or an obvious case of idol-worship by the bio author (or x amount of pages of self-love by the autobio author).
Criss just let it all hang out, let the chips fall where they may and didn't worry about the consequences. Keith's was like that, too.

I'm glad Peter wrote that book, so brave and sincere.
I would like to see more rock stars write a book like that.