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Tonechaser: Understanding Edward: My 26-Year Journey with Edward Van Halen
"Tonechaser - Understanding Edward: My 26-Year Journey with Edward Van Halen is a hardback book published in 2022 and written by author Steve Rosen. The book is a 7"x10" format with 580 pages of text and eight pages of both color and black-and-white photos. The front and back covers are never-seen-before photos by legendary Van Halen photographer Neil Zlozower. Rosen, a rock journalist for nearly 50 years, first met Edward in 1977 and had a friendship with him that lasted until 2003. Tonechaser chronicles that relationship and describes in poignant and heartfelt detail what it felt like to be friends with the greatest guitar player in the universe. Rosen spent time with Edward up at 5150 as well as his own quaint guesthouse in the Hollywood Hills where the guitarist would simply show up on his front doorstep from time to time. The author even jammed with the legendary instrumentalist on more than one occasion as astounding as that may sound. Rosen writes in beautifully-rendered prose, which is simultaneously touching, funny and somber. Steve shared a relationship with Van Halen no other writer ever experienced and hence, Tonechaser brings to the fore a portrait of the guitar player never before described. The 580 pages read like a novel and in Rosen's words represents what he has described as a "modern fable." Indeed, the tale of a brilliant musician meeting up and becoming fast friends with a rock journalist seems implausible but it did happen. Rosen took 14 months to write and craft Tonechaser and that devotion and care is revealed on every page. If you love Edward Van Halen, you will be mesmerized and transported by Tonechaser - Understanding Edward: My 26-Year Journey with Edward Van Halen." (Amazon)
580 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2022
6 people are currently reading
113 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 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.
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 - 7 of 7 reviews