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Van Halen: Exuberant California, Zen Rock'n'roll
Van Halen are known for classic songs like “Runnin’ with the Devil,” "Panama,” and “Jump,” but also for the drama surrounding the exits of its former members. While many have attempted to discover the secrets of Van Halen through an analysis of their musical role models, John Scanlan looks at deeper aesthetic and philosophical influences in Van Halen, a groundbreaking account of this extraordinary band.
Following the band’s pursuit of the art of artlessness, Scanlan describes how they characterize what historian Kevin Starr terms “Zen California”—a state of mind and way of being that above all celebrates the now, and in rock and roll terms refers to the unregulated expenditure of energy and youthful exuberance destined to extinguish itself. Scanlan sheds light on key events and influences—the decaying of Hollywood in the 1970s; Ted Templeman’s work as a producer at Sunset Sound Studios; Top Jimmy, a blues rock singer who performed at the Zero Zero club; and the building of Eddie Van Halen’s Hollywood Hills studio in 1983—that show how 1970s California was the only time and place that Van Halen could have emerged. Along the way, Scanlan also explores the relationship between David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen, the climate of Southern California and its relation to a sense of cultural exuberance, the echoes of Beat aesthetics in David Lee Roth’s attitude to time, Eddie Van Halen’s bebop sensibility, and the real roots of the so-called “Brown” sound. An illuminating look at a classic rock group and the cultural moment in which they came of age, Van Halen is a book for fans of the band and the history of rock and roll.
Following the band’s pursuit of the art of artlessness, Scanlan describes how they characterize what historian Kevin Starr terms “Zen California”—a state of mind and way of being that above all celebrates the now, and in rock and roll terms refers to the unregulated expenditure of energy and youthful exuberance destined to extinguish itself. Scanlan sheds light on key events and influences—the decaying of Hollywood in the 1970s; Ted Templeman’s work as a producer at Sunset Sound Studios; Top Jimmy, a blues rock singer who performed at the Zero Zero club; and the building of Eddie Van Halen’s Hollywood Hills studio in 1983—that show how 1970s California was the only time and place that Van Halen could have emerged. Along the way, Scanlan also explores the relationship between David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen, the climate of Southern California and its relation to a sense of cultural exuberance, the echoes of Beat aesthetics in David Lee Roth’s attitude to time, Eddie Van Halen’s bebop sensibility, and the real roots of the so-called “Brown” sound. An illuminating look at a classic rock group and the cultural moment in which they came of age, Van Halen is a book for fans of the band and the history of rock and roll.
216 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 1, 2022
A fairly philosophical interpretation of David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen and their music.
May 9, 2024
3.5 stars
I was surprised how many factoids I learned
I was surprised how many factoids I learned
May 18, 2016
Whew. This one was a bit of a battle to get through. I guess I didn't really know what I was getting into when I started it. When the author focuses on Van Halen the stories are great and it holds my attention with no problem. But, when he starts going off on tangents about California and the zen lifestyle, I'm in dreamland. I can't recommend it. Like I said, the actual Van Halen stuff is great, but there's GOT TO BE another book or two or three or four out there where you can get the same stories and be entertained the whole way through, without having to wade through the other garbage.
April 11, 2013
Interesting and insightful study of Van Halen's music as related to the time and place it was made. Some very astute commentary from their lyrics to the tones of their recordings. This is a must-read for any VH nerd.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews