Van Halen Rising: How a Southern California Backyard Party Band Saved Heavy Metal

by Greg Renoff

A vivid and energetic history of Van Halen’s legendary early years

After years of playing gigs everywhere from suburban backyards to dive bars, Van Halen — led by frontman extraordinaire David Lee Roth and guitar virtuoso Edward Van Halen — had the songs, the swagger, and the talent to turn the rock world on its ear. The quartet’s classic 1978 debut, Van Halen, sold more than a million copies within months of release and rocketed the band to the stratosphere of rock success. On tour, Van Halen’s high-energy show wowed audiences and prompted headlining acts like Black Sabbath to concede that they’d been blown off the stage. By the year’s end, Van Halen had established themselves as superstars and reinvigorated heavy metal in the process.

Based on more than 230 original interviews — including with former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony and power players like Pete Angelus, Marshall Berle, Donn Landee, Ted Templeman, and Neil Zlozower — Van Halen Rising reveals the untold story of how these rock legends made the unlikely journey from Pasadena, California, to the worldwide stage.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Biography, History, Audiobook, Rock N Roll, Music Biography

400 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2015

About the author

Greg Renoff was born in the Bronx, New York, and grew up in New Jersey. Renoff earned his Ph.D. in American history from Brandeis University and is the author of Van Halen Rising: How a Southern California Backyard Party Band Saved Heavy Metal, which will be published by ECW Press in October 2015. He lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with his wife and two daughters.

He enjoys hearing from readers and can be contacted at grenoff at-gmail dot-com.

Reviews

[Jesse Fink · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know from personal experience writing The Youngs: The Brothers Who Built AC/DC how tough it can be when the subject of your biography refuses to cooperate. Not so much in the actual writing (at the end of the day, a writer is only as good as the story he or she tells and the research they do, not the celebrities they get "access" to through PR agents or personal networks; such obstacles can be overcome through talent and hard work) but when it comes to promotion. How do you get people to pay attention to your book among the small mountain of books released each week without the benefit of a celebrity-driven publicity blitz? Small-minded reviewers will point out that Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth wouldn't talk to Renoff. So what? The wonderful and candid Michael Anthony did. So did hundreds of other people who all contributed to the rise of Van Halen, one of the great rock bands of all time. They all have a story to tell that will be closer to the truth of what really "went down" than the self-serving, image-protecting mythologising that passes for so many "official" music biographies. The fact that this is not an "official" Van Halen book and has still been published (and raved about) in an age of "easy sell" celebrity bios should serve as a mighty recommendation of its own. What you have in this book is an author who did the hard yards. It's the product of many years of research and it's a book written by someone who loves the music he's writing about without being a fawning hagiographer. You can't ask for more than that.

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to the audio, had a bitchin' time and even cried a few times. I was not expecting to like this so much, but it was well written and entertaining. The author did A LOT of research, conducted so many interviews so I can only say thank you for putting in so much effort Mr Renoff, it totally shows!

The book mostly covers Van Halen's early years of which I didn't know much about. They worked so hard to be successful and I can't help but admire them for it. And even with David Lee Roth being David Lee Roth, and getting them kicked out of places, they still managed to make it big.

The world would be a very sad place if there was no Van Halen around, that's for sure.

[Angela DeSilva · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite band ever. I was swooning. And Fangirling over David Lee Roth omg, saw them live in 1983, they were on fire and Portland Oregon last summer and they still rock. I can't wait to read this book. I screamed for joy when I discovered that my library has it. I put a hold on it immediately. I am a die-hard Van Halen fan. I hope there's pictures in this book.

LOVING this book, learned so much cool stuff. Michael Schenker, lead guitarist from UFO, (prev. Scorpions), who I adore, played with Eddie. Didn't realize how much Dave promoted this band, knowing Eddie was the best. Full REVIEW to come . . . .

[William Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent historical documentation of the origins of one of the world's biggest rock bands. The author Greg Renoff is a historian, so the quality of this book is far better than most music biographies. Details and citations are meticulous, but most of all, Renoff really tells their story in an interesting way. This book had a lot of surprises in it for me, and the narrative of their work ethic made them more likable and human. Roth's early days were fun to read about and the Van Halen brothers musical upbringing was fascinating to read (for me as a father). The importance of Michael Anthony's contributions were certainly not glossed over here either.

One of the best parts of the book for me was when we learn of a strange perhaps fateful vision involving one future member. From the parties they played to the clubs to the demos, this book takes you through all the hard work they put in to overcome the obstacles of a hard rock band getting signed in the middle of the disco era. Van Halen Rising is a must read for any rock/metal music lover.

[Cody · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is fantastic scholarship that, my opinion, requires no love of VH. Put it this way: it ends with the first record being made. (This is not to say that DLR ((pronounced ‘Dealer’)) era Van Halen doesn’t kick absolute ass. From a purely mechanistic perspective, them Van Halen brothers were pretty goddamn hard to beat. Thank you, EVH.)

What it covers so brilliantly is the epochal, alCHEMICAL slather that the Greater LA Basin existed within throughout the funked-up, early-skate/burnout/surf/keg/prePunk/girls in those incredible high-waisted jeans/Spicoli’s formative 19-and-70s. ‘Course it was a teenage wasteland, but what beats getting wasted as a teenager? We had the best sunsets, I swear to you. ‘Twas the pollution pinging off the ocean…

Yes: me and my ilk may have been Slanted & Enchanted, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t do our damndest to emulate the prior generation’s operational maxim of staying Quaaluded & Deluded—each and all of us in pursuit of perfect sound forever.

[Jeremy Hornik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fuck it, five stars. This is a great band bio, about how the strengths and the weaknesses of the members came together to make something really new and different. Eddie Van Halen’s massive musical talent and introversion; David Lee Roth’s giant ego, pop sensibility, and generosity; Alex Van Halen’s musicianship and temper; Michael Anthony’s talent and (relative) chill. It’s about how hard they worked and all the shows they played in backyards and biker bars, so they were rock stars before they had sold one record. And the long, long wait to get signed, which at this point in time is the craziest thing about this whole story. But the book goes to great lengths to explain how there’s nothing inevitable about inevitability.

Well written, too. There’s a lot of detail, but it never feels bogged down. Really fun.

Great book. If you like Van Halen at all, you’ll probably like Van Halen Babies. And I want to see the HBO series, too.

[Fred Klein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting rock bio about Van Halen's development, especially the conflict between Edward Van Halen's extreme talent and David Lee Roth's limited vocal range. Indeed, as I suspected, David Lee Roth's tenure in the band was threatened from the very beginning. I am not the biggest Van Halen fan, but I have to admire their work ethic that led to their incredible success. However, I think the author may be over-selling his premise when he claims that they saved heavy metal. Rather, I think they gave rise to another sub-genre within the genre of heavy metal, whether you want to call it pop metal or glam metal. Ironically, you have to take into account that the band even refuses to call themselves heavy metal.

[Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the whole thing in one night without the assistance of krell. Absolutely compelling for true fans, or anyone interested in a great tale of immigrants making good through relentless work, slogging through local gigs with talent and a dream, fighting off the haters at every turn. You get points of view from friends, fans, musical peers, and industry influencers who witnessed their struggles and steady ascent first-hand. I can't image my life today without this band, who truly saved us from disco and punk as the old metal guard faded into irrelevance, while spawning a generation of imitators.

[Martin Popoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super pro, detailed, academic but still wild and fun look at not only Van Halen but a magic, lost time. There's a reason Greg's book was a resounding success - every page, you can feel the dedication to craft and just the grind of being an investigative journo.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

An early in-depth look at one of the World's greatest rock and roll bands, Van Halen. While you may know the success Van Halen has had, Greg Renoff puts together a comprehensive account of the pre-history of the band by interviewing the people that were there to experience their ferocious rise to stardom. Along the way, we also learn each band members influence, strengths and weakness. It paints a vivid picture of what a rock band must go through and how all pieces of the puzzle must fit together to be successful. It also begs the question, what would this band have been like if they all didn't work together? Clearly, Renoff shows the reader just how much the original line-up of Van Halen needed each other to succeed and standout from the other bands at the time.
Readers will be excited to learn how this small band from southern California threw their hats in the ring with giants like Journey and Black Sabbath while setting a pace the competition couldn't contend with. They will also love to learn the influence and the door they opened for a decade of 80's metal bands such as Quiet Riot, Ratt, and Motley Crue. In the end, Renoff does a great job of putting you in the moment with the band's rise to fame. Most importantly, he reminds you of the shear awesomeness that is the Mighty Van Halen. Read Van Halen Rising and learn how a Southern California Backyard Party Band Saved Heavy Metal.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of this book is incredibly interesting, and some of it drags. (I know VH spent two years with a standing gig at Gazzari's, but I didn’t need it to feel like it was going to take me two years to read that section of the book.) I would also quibble at times with what Renoff calls "heavy metal." Nonetheless, there are some great anecdotes in here, and you'd be hard pressed to argue that he didn't do his research. Renoff also makes an interesting case for how the rising tide of punk and country rock, among other 70s styles, kept VH without a record deal for years…but also allowed them to practice, practice, practice and write a ton of songs. Which is why their first album is so fantastic (and that's an objective fact!). If you're not a fan of VH, especially the DLR years, you should probably stay away from this. But if you are, I would encourage you to read it.

Really, I would give this work 3.5 stars. But I'm not interested in Goodreads recommending me a bunch of books on the history of hard rock, so I'm rounding down.

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read about half of this and gave up, it was pretty boring.

[Paul Spence · Rating 4 out of 5]

The riffs are indelible. The songs are undeniable. The vibe is spectacular. Early Van Halen has come to define classic rock radio, in its time catapulting Eddie Van Halen to status as the quintessential guitar god and David Lee Roth as the ultimate rock and roll lead singer. Van Halen’s 1978 self-titled debut seemed for most of the country to be spawned out of nowhere, an immaculately conceived hard rock masterpiece that thrust Eddie Van Halen, his drummer brother Alex, bassist Michael Anthony, and the always over-the-top Roth to Mt. Rushmore of Rock and Roll status. But as Renoff examines in Van Halen Rising, the band’s conception was anything but spontaneous.

Little has been written about Van Halen’s early, pre-debut days. The Van Halen brothers were sons of Netherlands immigrants and Roth came from a wealthy doctor family. The band toiled on the California backyard party circuit. But few details beyond these had been examined. Renoff rights this wrong. Van Halen Rising is wonderful in its comprehensiveness and research. Renoff conducted over 230 interviews, and the book contains an insanely comprehensive Works Cited section and copious end notes, filling in every gap of Van Halen’s early days and proving itself the definitive document.

The writing style is as engaging as it is detailed, Renoff drawing the reader in from page one and leading him or her on a journey through to the end of the band’s tour to support its first album. The band’s demo with Gene Simmons is discussed. The studio work for the debut is examined. But most terrifically, Renoff details all those thousand people-strong backyard parties that were the source of Van Halen’s early legend.

Nuggets are unearthed along the way, such as the rumour that Eddie Van Halen actually played the recorded solo for Kiss’ “Christine Sixteen” (he worked with Simmons on an early version of the song in the studio) and that producer Ted Templeman initially wanted Sammy Hagar to replace Roth for the band’s debut. Other gems will not be spoiled her. Suffice it to say that Van Halen Rising is a wonderfully written trip through the pivotal early days of a band that would soon be swept up in a wave and become hard rock gods.

[Thierry Côté · Rating 5 out of 5]

In many rock bios, the "pre-history" stage is dealt with in a perfunctory manner—those early chapters that you skip to get to the stardom years and the backstage shenanigans. Not so with Greg Renoff's excellent Van Halen Rising, which focuses almost entirely on the time before the release of Van Halen's epochal self-titled debut and captures the spirit of a youthful Pasadena quartet that was at once filled with confidence about its abilities (and deservedly so—even if DLR's vocal struggles and resemblance to Black Oak Arkansas's Jim "Dandy" Mangrum become something of a running theme) and insecurities about its ability to actually get that 1970s brass ring: a major-label record deal.

Superbly researched (one wouldn't expect any less from a trained academic) and compulsively readable, Van Halen Rising is probably the next best thing to being at one of the legendary Californian backyard parties it describes in great detail. Not only is it obviously an essential book for Van Halen fans (yes, even those who prefer the Van Hagar years), but its emphasis on the years VH spent honing its sound every Californian stage—the band's overnight success was the better part of a decade in the making—should also make it a mandatory part of the syllabus for any aspiring musician.

[Catherine Adde]

See you soon for the book signing - after VH plays at the Hollywood Bowl!

[Tony Farinella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Van Halen, my second favorite rock band after Guns N’ Roses, holds a special place in my heart. Beyond the music, I’m fascinated by the history and journeys of my favorite bands. Greg Renoff’s book delves into the origins of Van Halen, exploring the factors that propelled them from obscurity to stardom.

While there’s a touch of drama in the book, I found it captivating. My primary interest lies in understanding the backstory of how these four individuals came together and achieved immense success. Renoff’s writing truly captures the music scene of that era, highlighting what set Van Halen apart and how they revitalized heavy metal.

Gene Simmons’s attempts to sign Van Halen, Eddie’s perfectionism, David Lee Roth’s confidence, Alex’s drumming, and Michael Anthony’s often-overlooked backing vocals are all riveting stories. Renoff’s passion for music is evident throughout the book, making it a must-read for Van Halen enthusiasts like myself. I highly recommend reading this book before diving into “Running with the Devil.” It concludes just as they achieve their breakthrough with their debut album.

[Jason Koivu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic look at Van Halen's early days. This takes the reader right up to the release of their first album. And honestly, that's all I really wanted. When I read these music bios, I'm mostly interested in where the band/musician came from before they were a household name. I want to hear about the struggle. It was particularly enlightening to learn about Van Halen's dynamics between band members, especially knowing that they would break up the original line-up at the pinnacle of their success. I also loved the details about the local club shows. Renoff paints you right into the moment. This is well done all around.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars! Super-fun! Van Halen definitely helped heavy rock navigate some late-'70s doldrums. I would add Rush to the author's list of bands - VH, Scorpions, Judas Priest, AC/DC etc. - that revitalized the hard rock genre. Rush were proggy and serious and way into technique, but you can't underestimate how many dudes heard Van Halen's sexy vaudeville three-minute "big rock" approach and went straight to their bedrooms for 2-3 years to woodshed Eddie's technique. Speed metal was still off on the horizon but speed - tempo or virtuosic dexterity - was always one of the intoxicants of hard rock.

Anyway, as a Pasadena kid who came along a decade or so after the Van Halen guys, it was good to get something close to the full story, because it seemed everybody of a certain age in the SGV has a Van Halen tale. It was cool to see acquaintances quoted in the book, and read about houses that I can see in my mind decades later that hosted epic keggers featuring the band. Plenty of music books talk about band collectives or manifestoes or happenings in abandoned buildings or DIY but in their way Van Halen were as subversive as anybody, playing non-stop in the shadow of the entertainment industry, in the LA area's overlooked biker bars, declasse joints like Gazzari's, school shows, and LOTS of $1 a head teenage parties.

It's also cool to read about an LA band that wasn't part of that '70s No Nukes/NORML/Tom Hayden/Jane Fonda mellow scene. The author seems pretty aware that the rock audience was fractured along class and generational lines, and while I was sympathetic even as a kid to the New Left views of the LA older Boomer musician and FM DJ crowd, I thought Jackson Browne and the Eagles were totally lame and boring.

Lots of good anecdotes about Rodney Bingenheimer, Kim Fowley, KISS, Ozzy, etc. Also the author has just enough insight into the nuts and bolts of music - I didn't know a variac could be used to bring a gnarly tube amp sound down to a tolerable volume level, and Dave Roth's and Michael Anthony's vocal skills are discussed intelligently. This is more of a musical biography than a hard-hitting personal biography, but you get the picture of how the self-contained pair of biracial immigrant brothers and the misfit son of a San Marino doctor came together to conquer arenas and high school parking lots everywhere.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great look into the beginnings of Van Halen. This book explains events in chronological order from the time the band members were little boys until they successfully toured the states after dropping their first album. What a great tribute to one of my favorite rock bands!

Van Halen was my first rock concert at McNichols Arena in Denver, Colorado when they toured Van Halen II. The show was electric and huge. It remains, always, one of my favorite concerts. Intensity levels shot to maximum as the lights powered up full force with screaming guitars and Dave swinging on a rope onto the stage (like Tarzan coming to swoop me away). That intensity never let up until we screamed for an encore.

David Lee Roth was always my favorite charismatic showman, and I loved learning that he was integral to moving the band forward. My 14-year-old self who stared at that particular poster for hours on end is happy to know he was more than just an awesome chest chained to my wall….although, I truly was OK with that.

This is a must read for early Van Halen fans….and for those lucky Pasadena kids who got to experience the backyard parties. I can imagine how much fun it would be to read about some of those parties now, remembering actually being there. I had a blast remembering where I was at the time, and when my path finally crossed with Dave’s poster and my fan-hood began. Excellent book.

…now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to crank up the iPod cuz my Ice Cream Man is here….

[Kent · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is THE definitive book on early Van Halen. Period. Greg Renoff has conducted over 225 interviews, consulted almost 200 works (cited at the back of the book), and has included over 700 end notes in this be-all, end-all, volume of big rock goodness. If you are a fan of Van Halen, order this book yesterday! Having been a rabid fan since 1980, this work answers a lot of the questions that have been buzzing around in my mind since then. For instance, what would it have been like to attend one of those legendary backyard parties at which VH performed? What's the real story on how Dave ended up in the band? (Yes, the PA situation figures into the story, but hearing how Dave took advantage of the situation is the real meat and potatoes here). How close was Eddie to really dying after OD'ing on PCP? Answers to these questions are just the tip of the iceberg in this titanic early history of the band. A huge and mighty thanks to Greg Renoff for his passion and pursuit of putting the history of early Van Halen on the printed page. I hereby bestow an honorary Doctorate of Knowledge of the Mighty Van Halen upon him!

[Chris Wagnon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolute must read for any diehard Van Halen fan. By looking at the early roots of the band author Greg Renoff captures the essence of one of the greatest hard rock bands of all time. He examines the unlikely partnership between them talented Van Halen brothers and the flamboyant and persistent David Lee Roth. Using countless sources such former bassist Michael Anthony and producer Ted Templeman, Renoff tells the story of the rise of the band playing backyard parties in Pasadena to playing in dive bars and clubs before flirting with an album deal through Gene Simmons before ultimately signed by Templeman of Warner Brother Records. He captures recording and production of their legendary debut album and highlights their first major tour in 78 when they were blowing bands like Journey and Black Sabbath off the stage. It was an incredible journey that I didn't want to end while I was reading it.

Take it from someone that has read a lot of the Van Halen books out there, Van Halen Rising should be at the top of your list. #VanHalenRising

[Stevejreviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first saw Van Halen in 1978, opening for heavy metal stalwarts Black Sabbath on their tour supporting Never Say Die. I had their debut album, but was completely unprepared for the new face of hard rock to utterly wipe Sabbath off the stage. It wasn’t even close. And that might be the last time I’ve given Van Halen much thought. Until, that is, Greg Renoff’s book "Van Halen Rising" came out. You can read my review in its entirety at allmusicbooksdotcom, but Greg Renoff has penned one hell of a fun read.

[Laurie · Rating 1 out of 5]

My husband's favorite band. I like them well enough, but geez this book was monotonous! Written more like a term paper. It got slightly more interesting as it went on and they were "discovered" and their popularity increased but before then it was just one story of a drunken backyard party after another with nothing to distinguish it from the one before or after. So many names with no reference given to them just that they had a quote to add to the story of how Van Halen became a band. Dirt, the story of Motley Crue was a MUCH more entertaining read.

[Tracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Van Halen Rising is more than a biography of one of rock's most legendary bands. Greg Renoff has created a masterpiece. Painstakingly researched and fairly reported, Renoff's book traces Van Halen's roots all the way back to Edward and Alex's arrival in America. In the book, as in real life, Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth are the stars, but they scraped and fought to get there. This is the story of the little band that could that earned it's place in rock history. This book is unlike any biography I'd read before; the writing and the subjects are absolutely compelling.

[Carlton Duff · Rating 5 out of 5]

To find out the most cocksure lead vocalist of all time got into the band because he owned a pa is not how the story is supposed to go...whatever...great book.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best music books I have read so far!

[Jeffrey Falk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This detailed, impeccably researched narrative is required reading for anyone remotely interested in the subjects (including Los Angeles County rock culture in the 1970s). It definitely has a "fly on the wall" quality. The only shortcomings are that it could have used one more edit to clear up a few confounding passages and endnotes as well as a comprehensive list of all known performances, demonstration recordings, etc. (though maybe that would have detracted from the narrative nature and should be part of a different book). I didn't want it to end.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring...

[Tommy Schenker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is easily my favorite Van Halen book. It's about the early years before they made it big. It's fascinating to read about those times. It's crazy how hard Dave worked to get in good with the band when they didn't even want him. Can you imagine with they never joined forces?

[Andrew Wodzianski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex’s autobiography ‘Brothers’ left me unsatisfied and disappointed. This book, while not career comprehensive, is very thorough with the band’s origin and ascension. There were many LOL moments and even though I know their history, I found myself rooting for the guys.