Everybody Wants Some: The Van Halen Saga
by Ian Christe
List Price:
Our Price: $9.14
You Save: $7.81 (46%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $4.99 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Ian ChristeEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-08-18
ISBN: 0470373563
Number of pages: 352
Publisher: Wiley
Book Reviews of Everybody Wants Some: The Van Halen Saga
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.
Summary of Everybody Wants Some: The Van Halen Saga
The first definitive biography of the ultimate American rock bandHow did a pair of little Dutch boys trained in classical music grow up to become the nucleus of the most popular heavy metal band of all time? What's the secret behind Eddie Van Halen's incredible fast and furious guitar solos? What makes David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar so wacky? And, are all those stories about groupies, booze bashes, and contract riders true? The naked truth is laid bare in Everybody Wants Some--the real-life story of a rock 'n' roll fantasy come true.
Music Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Music Books
Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brainby Oliver Sacks
Knopf Publishing Group; Published: 2008; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.98
Listenby Joseph Kerman, Gary Tomlinson
Bedford/St. Martin's; Published: 2007-02-21; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $22.95
The Rest Is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Centuryby Alex Ross
Picador; Published: 2008-10-14; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.19
Price in other shops:
Forever Young: Photographs of Bob Dylanby Douglas R. Gilbert, Dave Marsh
Da Capo Press; Published: 2006-10-24; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.55
Price in other shops:
Heroes And Villains: The True Story Of The Beach Boysby Steven Gaines
Da Capo Press; Published: 1995-08-22; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.15
Price in other shops:
Handbook for Sound Engineers, Third Editionby Glen Ballou
Focal Press; Published: 2002-01-21; Hardcover; Book
Price in other shops:
Jazz Anecdotesby Bill Crow
Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 1990-05-17; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $24.18
Lovesick Blues: The Life of Hank Williamsby Paul Hemphill
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2006-08-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.93
Price in other shops:
How to Train Singers/ Book and Tapeby Larra Browning Henderson
Parker; Published: 1991-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $29.95
Price in other shops:
I, Tina: My Life Story (icon!t)by Tina Turner, Kurt Loder
It Books; Published: 2010-06-22; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.05
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
Off the Rails: Aboard the Crazy Train in the Blizzard of Ozzby Rudy Sarzo
TOO SMART! Publishing; Published: 2008-09-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.84
Price in other shops:
Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?: A Rock 'n' Roll Memoirby Steven Tyler
Ecco; Published: 2011-05-03; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $11.98
Price in other shops:
Walk This Way: The Autobiography of Aerosmithby Aerosmith, Stephen Davis
It Books; Published: 2003-02-18; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.94
Price in other shops:
Slashby Slash, Anthony Bozza
It Books; Published: 2008-10-21; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.31
Price in other shops:
No Regretsby Ace Frehley, Joe Layden, John Ostrosky
VH1 Books; Published: 2011-11-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $15.78
Price in other shops:
Eddie Trunk's Essential Hard Rock and Heavy Metalby Eddie Trunk
Abrams Image; Published: 2011-04-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.50
Price in other shops:
Motley Crue: The Dirt - Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Bandby Tommy Lee, Vince Neil, Mick Mars, Nikki Sixx, Neil Strauss
HarperCollins Publishers; Published: 2002-07-09; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.23
Price in other shops:
Tommylandby Tommy Lee
Atria Books; Published: 2005-09-13; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.80
Price in other shops:
Van Halen: A Visual History: 1978 - 1984by Neil Zlozower
Chronicle Books; Chronicle Books; Published: 2007-11-12; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $26.48
Price in other shops:
Red: My Uncensored Life in Rockby Sammy Hagar
It Books; Published: 2011-03-15; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $15.84
Price in other shops: