Brad TolinskiEruption: Conversations with Eddie Van Halen

This book is the definitive biography of the greatest guitarist of our generation, Eddie Van Halen, and the closest thing we will ever have to an autobiography from the genius. This is his complete story, told mostly in his own words, with some historical background and new input from people very close to him. Anyone who brushes this book off with a pithy "meh" evaluation isn't a true fan. It's like saying Eddie was an okay guitarist.Eddie's biggest fans may recognize a lot of this material. I did, but I've read every magazine interview and book I could find on him (and this book is by far the best of all of them). Diehard fans should view this as the written equivalent to a band's box set: there are the greatest hits everyone knows, a lot of deep cuts that the fans love and enough unreleased material to make the purchase worth it. I was actually surprised by how much new material there was - several unpublished photos, info on Eddie's obscure guitars, illuminating new interviews with Michael Anthony, Gary Cherone, Ray Danniels (worth the price of the book alone), Steve Lukather and Steve Vai, and even quotes from Eddie that I had never seen before (like what actually happened to the "Hot For Teacher" Flying V).Reading the interviews with Eddie, I felt like I was in the room with him. I also liked how the interviews were arranged chronologically, unlike the Guitar World collections that often jumped all over the place. When I finished, I felt like I knew Eddie better than ever before and I also understood just how big his contributions to music were. He really was a giant, and the authors stated.There's another "Eddie Van Halen Story" that I bought that came out recently in England. If any book is "meh" that one is as it focuses on the gossip and breezes over the genius. The authors of this book truly get Eddie, and they gave Eddie his only opportunity to tell his own story in his own words. This is a book to give to your friends who don't see what all the fuss about him is about, or to pass down to your children and grandchildren to teach them about one of the greatest musical geniuses of our lifetime. Eddie reached well beyond playing guitar and writing songs. He also changed the direction of the guitar itself. Hendrix was a great genius too, but even he didn't accomplish that.In a word, Bravo!

If you are an EVH fan you have probably read much of this before. Nothing much new here but some good tidbits that were new to me. Also, it sounds to me like much of Ed's commentary was edited by the authors, Ed never sounded that sophisticated and concise in his life! I don't like that they screwed with the language. Also, there's quite a bit of REDUNDANCY here, something said on this page and then again on another and another. If you said it once that should be enough, seems to me like filler. If you don't know much at all about Edward Van Halen than this is a great book for you. You would think that the selling point of "50 hours of UNRELEASED interviews" would have yielded some really great new info, but no.

Eruption is an authoritative account of Van Halen - the man and the band - written and assembled by esteemed journalist Brad Tolinski (former Guitar World editor) and Chris Gill. The book comprises new narrative accounts of Edward's life in music, as well as excerpts from several previously-available interviews with folks from Van Halen's world.Overall, Tolinski and Gill do a wonderful job assimilating information from a variety of sources to create a compelling and readable account of Eddie's life with a distinct narrative arc: from Eddie's humble beginnings as a young Dutch émigré, through early years of fame and excess, to later sequestration and redemption. The importance of family is a key theme throughout the book, as is Eddie's perennial struggle with shyness, anxiety, and substance abuse. The book is laden with insight into Eddie's music and guitar innovations, as well has his recurrent conflict with bandmates and industry expectations.Highlights include interviews with Van Halen manager Ray Daniels - who guided the band through the tumultuous 90's - and vocalist Gary Cherone, whose candor and introspection helped paint a very human and fallible portrait of our favorite guitar hero in the best and worst of times. Is it finally time to admit that Van Halen III featured some of Eddie's most devastatingly beautiful guitar work?A must-have for casual and die-hard fans alike, "Eruption" is a snapshot of what made Eddie Van Halen tick: what inspired him, fed his insecurities, gave him hope, and provided him solace. A reclusive genius, Eddie's humility and obsessive dedication to his craft were keys to his success and - paradoxically - his Achilles' heel. In the end, two things mattered: his family and his music. A fitting tribute to a beautiful and flawed man, my hero and a hero to millions who find peace when fingers touch strings.

A book that honors the memory of Eddie Van Halen. I grew up listening to Van Halen but was never what I would call a “huge fan”. I learned a lot about Eddie’s life and his music from this book. I recommend you read this book. I know there are others out but they don’t pay homage to Eddie the way this book does.

I thought I knew a lot about Van Halen and Mr. Edward Van Halen himself. I have read ALL of the books and most of the magazine arrivals out there. This had so much unknown, surprising & honoring detail in it. If your a EVH Fan this is a mandatory read. Brad & Chris put a lot of effort in how this book was put together and the biggest surprise was all the cutting room floor stories & interviews in it along with the well put together timeline of events. Get this book you won’t be disappointed. - Kurt5150

If, like me, you read all the guitar magazine interviews with EVH, you'll still find new conversations… and plenty of things you'd forgotten! All put together with great care, this is a wonderful book.

This is a very good warts and all book about the late great EVH. There are a number of very good reads about the band and this stands along side them

If you're an avid Van Halen fan, you've probably heard a lot of these stories and interviews already. It's fun to re-read them, and have them all collected here for you. But, there are many more new stories, complete interviews and thoughts from others close to EVH, that will keep the reader entertained and intrigued. Well worth it.

This is an outstanding book that covers very well Ed's life, without getting into boring details. It goes beyond his revolution on guitar, showing the human being behind the scenes: someone who could be happy, angry, frustrated... just like any of us. The reading flows very smoothly, with a good balance of narrative and interviews. If you're looking to know more about his guitar abilities, VH history, Ed's gear and recording processes, this is your book! If you're looking to know more about the man himself, this also is your book!

Great stories inside, I'm a huge Eddie fan, his passing was the end on an era. This book is great to relive the memories. And the cover pic is incredible.