Have you ever gone Runnin' with the Devil?

Well, I have.

I read the book, that is...

(to see the cover and a preview, open this email in your browser by clicking the link on the upper right hand corner)

This book was by far one of the best I've read about the history of Van Halen.  
Check out my review:
Book Review – Runnin’ with the Devil by Noel Monk

Noel Monk was Van Halen’s manager until 1984, and this book tells all, from his perspective, that happened in the band, during that time frame that he managed them.

I found it very intriguing to learn about what happens behind the scenes, not only with the band, but with the inner workings of management, marketing, politics; all of it is very enlightening. From reading Noel’s story, one can learn to appreciate all that is or isn’t within the band’s control.

Reading about the outrageous pranks and hanky-panky that went on was at times funny, disturbing and sad. I can’t imagine what it must be like to be on the road that often and for the stretches of time that they were away from their families and friends, and so young, too.

Noel gives a personal glimpse of what it was like to encounter the band and their ups and downs, and I paid special attention to the dynamics between him and Eddie. Noel’s experience with the Van Halen brothers was very special, and at times intense. He oftentimes played referee with the boys, and his role didn’t always focus on the brothers, either.

Watching them rise and fall must have been difficult, and the reader picks up on the anger and tension that is still evident from Noel’s abrupt departure from the band. Learning that, like many fish in the sea, Noel was just another number, must have been a bitter pill to swallow. You can feel it in some of his words. He cuts to the quick, as I’m sure the brothers did to him, too.

It was a fun read, definitely, but with an eye-opening edge. If you think that band members have superhuman powers, read this book. They are just as human as the next guy. They went into stardom blindly, and almost overnight, and when you throw in manipulation, money, substance abuse, adultery, politics, and family, you get a mess of both highs and lows…you get Van Halen.

Overall, a great read. I would read it again and recommend it to anyone who has a love for biographies, with a small caveat: if you love Eddie, like I do, you might want to keep in mind that he’s gone now, so appreciate Noel’s story for what it is and for what it was. And remember that we never will get Eddie’s point of view on many of the matters discussed in this book. So, take it with a grain of salt.
​
Click here to view the book on Amazon.

In case you aren't aware, Runnin' with the Devil was Van Halen's first release.  
Here is the official video for 'Runnin' with the Devil'.

This book gave me a really good picture of what it's like to be in a band as part of ongoing research for my a rock star romance series, and it gave me a taste for more.


For fun, here's a video from their 1984 album.  The song is called 'House of Pain'.  This video is actually made from leftover footage from creating other videos, and it's a great display of some of the fun that the band had, that is outlined in the book.

Happy Reading!

Click here to check out the Steamy Reads for Mid-April sale!

Click here to check out the Romantic Spring Moods sale!