Edward Van Halen: a Definitive Biography

Book excerpt: In July of 1984, Edward Van Halen was the most popular musician in the world in the most popular band in the worldthe band that to this day bears his own surname. As a 12-year-old, author Kevin Dodds experienced his first Van Halen concert, and it changed his life. In this biography, Dodds takes a comprehensive look at the life of Van Halen, one of the worlds most famous and influential musicians. He examines Eddies early years growing up in the Netherlands; his life with his mother and musician father; the familys immigration to the United States; his lifelong trials and tribulations; and his remarkable music career. For more than a year, Dodds delved into more than a thousand different sources to compile Edward Van Halen: A Definitive Biography, the story that captures the life of a man with complex personality and character traits whose life and times has played an important role in American cultural and musical history. Dodds has also woven his personal experiences with Van Halen as well as his own band into this story, providing a unique perspective in the field of rock-and-roll biographies.