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Tonechaser - Understanding Edward: My 26-Year Journey with Edward Van Halen
Edward Van Halen was a rock guitar legend who left an indelible mark on the music world with his innovative playing style and iconic riffs. This book, written by rock journalist veteran Steve Rosen, offers a personal and heartfelt account of their 26-year journey together, from Edward's early days as a struggling musician to his meteoric rise to fame with Van Halen. Steve shares intimate details about their relationship, Edward's creative process, and what it was like hanging out with the greatest guitarist on the planet. With rarely-seen photos and deep and personal memories, Rosen's book provides a unique insight into the life and music of one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time.
580 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 31, 2024
To enhance the read listen to the catalog of the group while turning the pages. It was a delightful read about the legend that was Edward Van Halen.
October 25, 2023
WOW… I must say that this book is a wonderful read! For me, it was such a look into Edward Van Halen and his life that brought back a lot of memories, and I loved it. Van Halen was a band that I really enjoyed when I was younger (much, much younger) and Eddie was an absolute legend back when I was in high school. Reading “Tonechaser” by Steve Rosen gave me a much greater sense of the man who was to so many one of the most incredible guitar players at that time. Being able to get a glimpse, through Rosen’s book, of the “real” man was just so much fun. This is definitely a read that should be at the top of everyone’s list.
“Tonechaser – Understanding Edward: My 26-Year Journey with Edward Van Halen” is written by a man who is not only a rock journalist, but one who had a real and honest friendship with this very famous man for almost 50 years. There is no way that anyone else could have given readers such an incredible look into the life of a star except Mr. Rosen, who is able to tell us the true story of his friendship with the man himself. It is also apparent that the author was not only a true friend to Edward Van Halen, but he is also able to get to the core of one of the world’s most famous guitar players and put together a book full of true stories and real moments because he was there. He was a part of them. “Tonechaser” is a book that all fans of Edward Van Halen, and of rock music in general, will adore.
As the book was written over a period of 14 months, you can tell that the author took his time and created a story that is both accurate and riveting. It is filled with so many wonderful stories about their friendship and it is all written with such insight and care that the reader can tell this was a labor of love for the author. The writing is insightful and fun. The book is part funny and part serious, but always touching and very authentic. I do not think there is a better compliment to the author than to say that he transformed a legend into someone who was relatable to all of us. For me, that is the most impressive part of the book.
“Tonechaser – Understanding Edward” by Steve Rosen is a book that I would highly recommend to everyone. Whether Eddie Van Halen was a favorite of yours or not, this book is one that should be on your must-read list. I absolutely loved it, and I am sure you will as well. Thank you, Mr. Rosen, for sharing your memories and your special friendship with Edward. It was a wonderful look into the life of someone who made such an impact on my own.
“Tonechaser – Understanding Edward: My 26-Year Journey with Edward Van Halen” is written by a man who is not only a rock journalist, but one who had a real and honest friendship with this very famous man for almost 50 years. There is no way that anyone else could have given readers such an incredible look into the life of a star except Mr. Rosen, who is able to tell us the true story of his friendship with the man himself. It is also apparent that the author was not only a true friend to Edward Van Halen, but he is also able to get to the core of one of the world’s most famous guitar players and put together a book full of true stories and real moments because he was there. He was a part of them. “Tonechaser” is a book that all fans of Edward Van Halen, and of rock music in general, will adore.
As the book was written over a period of 14 months, you can tell that the author took his time and created a story that is both accurate and riveting. It is filled with so many wonderful stories about their friendship and it is all written with such insight and care that the reader can tell this was a labor of love for the author. The writing is insightful and fun. The book is part funny and part serious, but always touching and very authentic. I do not think there is a better compliment to the author than to say that he transformed a legend into someone who was relatable to all of us. For me, that is the most impressive part of the book.
“Tonechaser – Understanding Edward” by Steve Rosen is a book that I would highly recommend to everyone. Whether Eddie Van Halen was a favorite of yours or not, this book is one that should be on your must-read list. I absolutely loved it, and I am sure you will as well. Thank you, Mr. Rosen, for sharing your memories and your special friendship with Edward. It was a wonderful look into the life of someone who made such an impact on my own.
April 25, 2024
A music journalist idolizes and connects with a subject like a love affair that falls apart. Without hearing the taped recordings referenced I’ll review this book as if it’s all true. In this respect I think EVH very early was socially immature but he loved music. When he encountered Mr. Rosen he slowly opened up as he had no one else, but then outgrew the author as he grew up and was ultimately on a different level. The book reads less a biography of EVH but a memoir of a relationship that ebbs and flows with the lesser partner left stunned and confused.
August 1, 2025
When I bought this book from the author to get it autographed I thought that it would be more about Eddie Van Halen but it was mostly about how he played his guitar than anything else but I kept reading it til the end even though the book is over 570 pages long. I don’t think the author knew Eddie as a good friend as he thought he did either because he didn’t have a lot of personal knowledge of EVH in the book. I would recommend Brothers by Alex Van Halen which is more on a personal level.
June 16, 2023
Great job, Steve. So intimate and personal that it feels like we were part of the conversations, or at least we wish we were. Like for many others, Edward was my guitar hero growing up, and you’ve provided a fascinating glimpse at what he was really like - human like the rest of us but gifted beyond measure. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences with him. I only wish there were more.
September 16, 2025
It’s difficult to know where to start with criticism for this book, so I’ll simply say it’s 2/3rds too long. This book is the embodiment of why authors need editors: Three sentences when one would do. Truly, there are usually two more sentences than needed. A fact is stated, then restated two slightly different ways.
March 25, 2025
One of the best Eddie Van Halen books I have ever read !!!
July 4, 2025
Tonechaser - by Steve Rosen
Van Halen was a major force in rock and roll for rock fans around in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s and beyond, especially those of us in our 50’s and older 🙂. Eddie Van Halen was a force of nature, and we all have memories in Jr High and High School with Van Halen ripping through one of their many hits.
Tonechaser is a unique book. Steve Rosen was a noted rock guitar journalist back then, and he met and developed a friendship with Eddie early on, and bonded and developed a friendship with Eddie that lasted throughout his peak years in Van Halen. Early in they agreed that Steve would write a book about Eddie and the band, so he taped many of his lengthy phone conversations with Ed, and therefore was able to produce a documentary novel covering the crazy life and times of Van Halen.
This is an amazing (and massive) book, and one that is an absolute pleasure to read for us old rockers. It covers the early years, the tumultuous David Lee Roth years, the switch to Sammy Hagar, and the unfortunate demise of one of our rock guitar hero’s.
Great book for those of us who remember the amazing talent of Edward Van Halen.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Van Halen was a major force in rock and roll for rock fans around in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s and beyond, especially those of us in our 50’s and older 🙂. Eddie Van Halen was a force of nature, and we all have memories in Jr High and High School with Van Halen ripping through one of their many hits.
Tonechaser is a unique book. Steve Rosen was a noted rock guitar journalist back then, and he met and developed a friendship with Eddie early on, and bonded and developed a friendship with Eddie that lasted throughout his peak years in Van Halen. Early in they agreed that Steve would write a book about Eddie and the band, so he taped many of his lengthy phone conversations with Ed, and therefore was able to produce a documentary novel covering the crazy life and times of Van Halen.
This is an amazing (and massive) book, and one that is an absolute pleasure to read for us old rockers. It covers the early years, the tumultuous David Lee Roth years, the switch to Sammy Hagar, and the unfortunate demise of one of our rock guitar hero’s.
Great book for those of us who remember the amazing talent of Edward Van Halen.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews