Everybody Wants Some: The Van Halen Saga by Ian Christe
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Book Reviews of Everybody Wants Some: The Van Halen Saga
Book Review: Van Halen Saga
Summary: 5 Stars
Very interesting. A lot of information that I didn't expect. If you like this book, check out Red by Sammy Hagar. If you have one, you need them both.Book Review: Don't let some of the reviews here misguide you
Summary: 4 Stars
I've been on a real metal/hard rock biography kick recently. I'm not a huge fan of Van Halen, but like many people who grew up in the 80's, I certainly have had exposure to Van Halen and enjoy plenty of their songs. Even more so recently. But I'm much more the metalhead, Iron Maiden, Sabbath, etc.. Anyway, I thought about buying this Van Halen book a while back but saw a lot of these negative reviews here. I held off. Eventually I decided, why not and bought it. I knew somewhat of the author, and figured, not being the kind of fan that already knows every single little detail about Van Halen, maybe the book would have something to offer me at least. And it certainly did, and then some.
Yeah, I've heard some of the story within the book before, but there was plenty of things I knew nothing about, and it was great to see everything all in one book. The whole story from the beginning days of Halen to the recent reunion with Roth is covered. And it was covered in a way that made me want to keep turning the pages to find out what happened next in epic story that is Van Halen. It was pretty exciting! And, there is enough guitar tech talk (deservedly), but not too much so overtly. I found it very interesting, and very informative with plenty of insights and side stories etc., that you would expect of any rock bio. It may not be as detailed as Motley Crue's "The Dirt", or some of the detailed books on Iron Maiden or Black Sabbath, or Led Zeppelin, but honestly I found that the book was just fine for me and I don't really see what so many people here are SO bothered about. It seems like a typical average band bio to me. Even a bit above average in places. Maybe that's what get's some people upset. For many, Halen is not a typical band and they want some 600 page monster or something.
Perhaps it is the fact that the author is covering a band with a history of drama and controversy, and plenty of insights and quotes covering the inner turmoil of Halen are included, along with the author's attitude here and there. Maybe he could have been more unbiased in places, but I don't get the feel that he really "sides" with anyone overtly, he is just willing to point out if this or that person in the band was acting like a jerk. Maybe some people would prefer an author who was more stand off-ish, more dry, and just presented the facts. But I found that this book was just fine the way it was, and written by someone who obviously has a deep love for Halen during all time periods, but especially for the Roth era. He really pours his heart into the book. I certainly don't agree with everything in the book, or everything done by the band themselves, but that's up to the individual.
Is this the final say on Halen? Probably not. But it could be a whole lot worse believe me. If this is all that is ever written on Halen, it stands as a decent, informative book. A summation of the Van Halen story. I like that it had a lot of quotes. Halen was very public in a lot of the things they said and did, and that public record makes up a lot of the story about Halen, whether its always positive or not. Could the author have dug deeper? Sure, probably, but I think some things would have been just run into the ground if he did.
I kind of wonder if some of the people who have given negative reviews of this book just don't like the story that comes to light about Van Halen when all the information and drama is put together in one book like this? With Halen there are some glory years for sure but then it truly descends into darker years. The author still tried to show the love of the band by himself an by the fans even when they made what were clearly bad decisions regarding the direction of the band and the personal lives of band members.
All in all, this is one time I think that, for me at least, some of the negative reviews here are a little overboard. But Van Halen is an extreme subject, they were extreme times. I guess I should expect nothing less than drama and controversy when it comes to Van Halen, even when it comes to books about them. And I suppose that will go for reviews about this book as well.
My final thoughts on this book, for the average reader looking to learn about the band and wanting to hear some stories about those times from one particular perspective, the book is a bit above average considering the subject matter it is covering. It could be much more exhaustive in many areas, but it does the job adequately for the average reader who's expectations are not raised too high and are just looking for the typical meat and potatoes on the Van Halen saga... up to 2008 anyway.
Book Review: I think of all the education that he missed....
Summary: 2 Stars
This could have been written for Tiger Beat magazine. There is no insight, nothing that hasn't been reported a thousand times, no answers and many great stories/quotes that weren't discussed at all. No one of importance was interviewed for the book and it is obvious that the author simply read a lot of issues of CREAM magazine and put together a book based on that 'research'. David Lee Roth is a quote machine and even he didn't come off as playful and fun.
This is a great book if you don't know anything about the band, but for those of us who haven't been in a cave, with our fingers in our ears, in the dark, on the moon and with our eyes closed, it is a lot of promise and no real delivery. A few typos but not sloppy... it is just (is it possible considering the subject matter!)... boring.
Book Review: Worst excuse for a biography ever
Summary: 1 Stars
Worst excuse for a biography ever. I've literally read blogs on random myspace pages with more depth, passion, guts and style. Where is the scandal? Where are the gripping tales? Where is the band? Aside from being a powerful force of nature Van Halen was also one of the rowdiest and hardest living acts in rock history. Led by guitarist wunderkind Eddie Van Halen they kicked tail and took names both onstage and off. Though you'd never know it reading this sorry thing. The blame rests solely on the shoulders of its creator who fails miserably to even break the surface. True biographies such as Heroin Diaries and the recent Slash bio to name but a few have certainly raised my expectations as a reader. I've grown accustomed to books written by authors in collaboration with their subject. Hence providing fans with a deeply personal read told in the first person by the artist in their own voice. Books like Heroin Diaries are brutally honest, gripping reads that are near impossible to put down. In this instance we get some clown who has nothing to do with Van Halen painfully dragging us through nothing more than a lackluster tired never ending rehash of everything that classifies as common knowledge to even the most average of fans. Plagiarizing old music magazines and previously released Van Halen books does not a bio make. Somebody please call me when the band or at least Eddie finally releases a proper bio.Book Review: Lots of Opinion, little knowledge...
Summary: 1 Stars
Just finished "the book". I knew it was suspect when I got a little ways in and read that Van Halen did not play the Handlebar Saloon in Pasadena, CA. Really!? I saw them there when they were the HOUSE BAND! Very little research or investigation of scandals, stories, legends, just poorly regurgitated general knowledge gleaned from the media and Roth's book. It could have also used a proofreader...