Everybody Wants Some: The Van Halen Saga by Ian Christe Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Everybody Wants Some: The Van Halen Saga
Book Review: Why did they even bother?
Summary: 2 Stars
The author's pretentiousness, arrogance and mendacity all but ruined this book. Their writing didn't do much for me either. Precisely who were they trying to impress with all that overwrought language? Its rock and roll not Tolstoy. Get over yourself. I could barely make it through the foreword without wanting to vomit. Amongst the more nauseating statements you'll come across are Ian's declarations that he is the first person to ever write a book about Van Halen (he's absolutely not) and that he felt the need to master Eruption before doing the book so as to deem himself worthy of writing about Van Halen. Talk about pathetic testosterone-driven displays of self-aggrandizing and ego-stroking. Given his lack of cred until we see a vid of the author dazzling us with his amazing cover of Eruption posted over on youtube I'd say its a bunch of bullocks.
Had Ian Christe written this under oath he'd now be facing multiple charges of perjury. Luring fans with false professions of seedy revelations of the group members personal lives and habits is despicable. Who taught this guy how to present and market his work...Geraldo Rivera?
Ian's first book was pawned off to us as an encyclopedia of metal but in reality was nothing more than a love letter to Metallica that all but ignored Van Halen's historic contributions to the metal scene and metal guitar playing. Which begs the question how did he suddenly and so mysteriously learn so much about Van Halen? Halfway through this current book the answer became apparent. To their credit several of my fellow fanatics have pointed it out on here. The verdict is in. Ian Christe thoroughly ravaged material from all the other books ever written on Van Halen. This character even dared to go as far as to lift parts from Diamond Dave's Crazy From The Heat. If Valerie had released her book before Ian's one has to suspect he would've nicked some of her material as well and then attempted to pass himself off as Eddie's ex-wife.
So great is my disappointment I've decided to pop my cherry and post my first review with the hopes it will serve as a harbinger for future fans who are debating whether or not to purchase this product.
WARNING. There is not a spec of information or data within its pages the average fan hanging around a VH messageboard doesn't already know and would not share with you for free.
Ultimately this will be remembered, if at all, for being the most ridiculously overwritten, overhyped and altogether unnecessary of all the Van Halen books to ever see the light of day.
Book Review: Somebody get me a doctor! ;-)
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of those books that is for info. only -- this is no major literature effort, but who expected that? If you loved VH in the 70s or 80s, it's really entertaining and gets into the technical guitar stuff you wouldn't know about otherwise. If you want Britney type coverage, I don't think they had it then... but Adnan wouldn't have lived through it! Go see these guys - they rock! DLR can't do the split jumps off the drums any more. But he actually sings some.... and eddie is still eddie. Holy NOT the Monsters of Rock tour! Book Review: A well-researched & entertaining read; Nothing earth-shattering
Summary: 3 Stars
All the information in this book was culled from decades of interviews in guitar magazines, fanzines, press clippings, and web-based press releases, some of which I remembered word-for-word. As others have said, there is nothing in this book a hard-core fan wouldn't already know. Still, it is a decent summary presented in an entertaining fashion. I had lost interest in Van Halen after Sammy left the first time, so it was fun to catch up.Book Review: A Mediocre Book About a Great Subject
Summary: 3 Stars
Ian Christe's latest book about the Van Halen phenomenon is a work of tortured prose. This is more a collection of anecdotes and vignettes than it is a biography. Almost all of the quotes from musicians used in this book are taken from previously published articles by other writers and are not the results from interviews that Christe has had with them. It is par for the course for Christe whose career as a rock music writer is akin to that of a journeyman baseball pitcher: he can have his moments, but ultimately his work may not be worth your money.
Instead of merely attempting to tell us Van Halen's life story, Christe attempts to pass off ridiculously overwritten, bombastic babble as having insight into his subject.
However much of a Van Halen fan that you may be, this is one book that you need to take your time in deciding whether or not to buy it.
Book Review: A Van Halen Story Worth Hearing
Summary: 4 Stars
I read this book after having seen the band perform in Phoenix, AZ in November 2007. I've been a fan since the early years (mid 80's), but saw them live for the 1st time this year. Although I love nearly everything the band has produced, my loyalties are to the D.L.R. version of the band, and I was extatic at seeing the 'one and only' D.L.R. perform live with the band after so many years.
This book really goes places most fans have never been, and gives those die-hards a look at their heros they've never seen before (or ever wanted to). Ian Christie is not a top-notch writer, but the story he tells makes up for his writing limitations. However, I did feel like most of what he said I could have learned by reading everything else that had ever been written about the band. Nearly all of his book came from other, previously published works, by other authors. I am happy to let someone else do the reasearch and wrap it up in a nice, tight, little package for me to enjoy.
I would recommend this book to anyone who only knows Van Halen casually, but would like a more intimate introduction. They are a legend which will continue to grow regardless of whether or not they ever release another album.
The books ends only suggesting a reunion with D.L.R. I was lucky enough to experience the real thing this past Fall. I hope a new album is in the works. Everybody Wants More, and So Do I!