Van Halen Rising

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This topic has 36 voices, contains 125 replies, and was last updated by  ron 1391 days ago.

October 21, 2015 at 6:22 pm Quote #50631

vhrob
(1745)

just grabbed a copy of the book. Wansnt really going to grab one as I just didnt think I’d actually take the time to sit and read it. But after reading all the comments and stuff I figured I couldnt pass it up. Cant wait to sit down on a sunday afternoon (of course before or after watching my PATS KICK ASS!!!!) and read it…

Rob


vhtrading member since 2000


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October 21, 2015 at 9:30 pm Quote #50633

dand363
(194)

This book transported me back to my youth. In 1978, as a 15 year old, I bought the first album and I scrambled to find every magazine article out there to get a little background on all the magic in this slab of vinyl. Nothing I read then or since compares with Van Halen Rising. While flipping the pages, I felt like a fly on the wall. There is so much information in there about those early days that I had never seen anywhere else and it also gave me a better idea of the timeline for the demos and the recording of the first album. Don’t hesitate to grab a copy, it’s well worth it.


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October 22, 2015 at 4:43 pm Quote #50637

kaloway
(2024)

A fun question, if not able to answer, just say so. Were there any hurdles to using the Van Halen name for the book or for merchandising?


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October 22, 2015 at 4:59 pm Quote #50638

VAiN
(2777)

kaloway: A fun question, if not able to answer, just say so.Were there any hurdles to using the Van Halen name for the book or for merchandising?

I’m going to assume no, because I never heard about any issues other than Fan Halen getting a letter to modify their logo after it appeared on the LA newspaper site… But Greg can fill in the details on the start-up.


Resident dickhead. I will hurt your delicate feelings.


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October 22, 2015 at 6:00 pm Quote #50639

ffoner
(1089)

VAiN: I’m going to assume no, because I never heard about any issues other than Fan Halen getting a letter to modify their logo after it appeared on the LA newspaper site… But Greg can fill in the details on the start-up.

No, anyone can write a book about any public figure(s) and use the name in the title. Think of all of the political hit-job bios done on people like the Clintons. You know if there was a way to stop them from being published, they would take advantage of that and say you can’t use our name in your book title, etc.


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October 22, 2015 at 10:09 pm Quote #50640

Gilligan
(1518)

I’m about half way through the book and enjoying the heck out of it. Most of this stuff is news to me – never knew they had a keyboard player and didn’t realize Mark Stone was in as long as he was. Anyway, it’s a great read and I’m really happy for you (and the band) that it’s doing well!

I read a similar book about MTV called “I Want My MTV – The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution” and one thing I really appreciated in that book was a one line bio for each person interviewed for the book. It was at the beginning of the book for quick reference and super helpful since they interviewed 100s of people for the book. Similarly, in Van Halen Rising there are so many different names and sources, I find myself wishing you had a similar “quick bio section” so I could remember how each person was related to the story. Not complaining, of course – my 47 year old brain just can’t keep up!


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November 1, 2015 at 1:33 am Quote #50743

rvp4806
(38)

I just finished VHR, just a few observations, etc…

I absolutely loved it! It really made me feel like a fly on the wall at some of those early gigs. Along with the new (early) audio that has been recently posted, the early Fresno films from S8, the Whiskey Promos, and all of the previously available pre-78 recordings, we can truly get an impression of what it was like to experience VH as up-and-coming rock royalty. Also, I Google Earthed a bunch of the Pasadena area addresses, cool to see where a lot of the parties took place.

I feel like so many of the Dave-era lyrics highlight these early exploits (Romeo, Feel YLT, Cradle, etc.), and now they make a lot more sense.

I’m sure it’s been said, but this book would make a great movie. Though it’s probably not likely, I could see someone like Cameron Crow or Richard Linklater making an epic coming-of-age film based on Greg’s book. I was reminded of the 1979 film, “Over The Edge”, which features some VH1 tunes, as well as a good representation of the mid-70′s California party scene in suburbia.

I hope the current wave of VH appreciation (2015 tour, VHR, Tokyo, ADKOT, etc…) continues past 2015. Of course, the “Holy Grail” is that the VH Camp will start to “Rape The Vaults” and start releasing the archived material. For now, I am ecstatic with the current state of the band! No fan should complain about 2015. “Heavy Rock” is pushing it’s way back into the mainstream. I couldn’t be happier, our band still has all the quality that made them so huge in the 70′s.


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November 1, 2015 at 1:45 am Quote #50744

rvp4806
(38)

“Over The Edge” movie trailer (1979)


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November 24, 2015 at 10:38 pm Quote #51031

mrmojohalen
(6471)



When you turn on your stereo, does it return the favor?


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November 30, 2015 at 5:38 pm Quote #51126

rockphantom
(188)

Is anyone else going to the Greg’s presentation at the Half Price Books (5555 N. Lamar Blvd) in Austin on Thursday night?
Greg Renoff Book Signing
Listen up VH fans and Metalheads! Meet author Greg Renoff on Thursday, December 3, at 7 p.m. at your North Lamar HPB in Austin. Greg will discuss and sign his new book Van Halen Rising: How a Southern California Backyard Party Band Saved Heavy Metal. Books available for purchase as specially-priced new items while supplies last

http://hpb.com/005/
I’ll be there taping Greg’s Van Halen lecture.
I’ll have a pair of Church Audio mics mounted on a hat.
Feel free to introduce yourself if you see me.
In the meantime, I need to hurry up and finish reading VHR.
I’m up to page 239. If I read 40 pages per night over the next 3 nights, I can get it done!


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December 5, 2015 at 11:11 am Quote #51199

rockphantom
(188)

The torrent of my audio recording of Greg’s Van Halen Rising presentation in Austin is now live on DIME:

http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=547960

Greg Renoff
Van Halen Rising – Presentation and Q&A Session
Half Price Books – North Lamar
December 3, 2015
Austin, Texas

24 Bit/96khz master downsampled to 16 Bit/44.1khz

Lineage: Church Audio CA-14 Cardoid Mics (mounted on baseball hat) -> Church Audio Ugly 2 Preamp (Gain setting +40db) ->
Sony PCM-M10 (REC Level 8.0) -> 24/96 WAV – > Audacity 2.1.1 (normalization/tracking/fades) -> Trader’s Little Helper 2.7.0 (FLAC level 8 lossless compression & verification) -> YOU

Taped from Front Row directly in front of loudspeaker.
Volume increases at 1:33

On Monday November 30th, I discovered that Greg Renoff, author of Van Halen Rising, would be appearing at my neighborhood Half Price Books on Thursday, December 3rd. At this point I was up to page 239 of Van Halen Rising and decided to read through the rest of the book before Greg’s appearance.

This recording came out better than expected. Mr. Renoff is very easy to understand.
However, I had extreme difficulty picking up the voices of fans in the audience during the Q&A session.
I had to crank the CA Ugly 2 preamp gain level to +40db and keep the REC level of the PCM M10 around 8.0 in order to keep the db levels between -6db and -12db on the display. This was my first time to record a spoken word performance with my concert capturing rig.

There is no musical content on this recording.
However, Mr. Renoff’s Van Halen Rising lecture is essential listening for all =VH= Fans!

More information on Van Halen Rising is available here: http://www.vanhalenrising.com/

[01] Greg Renoff – Van Halen Rising Presentation 2015-12-03 Austin, TX
[02] Greg Renoff – Van Halen Rising Q and A 2015-12-03 Austin, TX

Running time: 73:14

NOTICE: I am open to taping any classic rock band that performs in Austin in exchange for a guest list spot or complimentary ticket.

REQ: Van Halen – Austin September 30, 1995 and San Antonio January 24, 2008 audio/video

REQ: Any uncirculating Guns N’ Roses material or upgrades from 1985-1993

REQ: Any uncirculating Journey/Steve Perry material or upgrades

rockphantom
December 5, 2015
Austin, Texas

***DO NOT SELL***
***DO NOT SHARE WITHOUT THIS INFO***
*** SUPPORT GREG RENOFF’S EFFORTS***
***BUY VAN HALEN RISING***


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December 24, 2015 at 6:20 pm Quote #51487

Cato
(158)

sorry if someone has posted about this already.

I just finished reading the chapter “The Golden West” and remembered I had this boot.

http://www.vhboots.com/goldenwest.html

the rear cover says it was recorded on May 9, 1976, when they opened for UFO. so I thought it was the show that Greg described in his book.

According to his description, most of the songs they played that night were their originals but there are lots covers on this CD. now I’m confused.

did they open for UFO at the same venue twice in a short term? or is that credit just incorrect?


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December 24, 2015 at 7:18 pm Quote #51489

wjamflan
(1113)

Cato: sorry if someone has posted about this already.
I just finished reading the chapter “The Golden West” and remembered I had this boot.

http://www.vhboots.com/goldenwest.html
the rear cover says it was recorded on May 9, 1976, when they opened for UFO. so I thought it was the show that Greg described in his book.

According to his description, most of the songs they played that night were their originals but there are lots covers on this CD. now I’m confused.
did they open for UFO at the same venue twice in a short term? or is that credit just incorrect?

Cato – that boot is dated incorrectly. It is more likely to be mostly from 3/13/77; but, it likely incorporates multiple dates.


“This hamburger don’t need no helper.” – DLR 5/17/15


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December 24, 2015 at 8:10 pm Quote #51491

PT5150
(6290)

Got the book for Christmas looking forward to reading it.. :wink:


EDDIE’S fingers aren’t fingers they are muscle-powered pistons that hammer guitar strings to the fretboard with the force of a rivet gun”.


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December 24, 2015 at 10:24 pm Quote #51492

mrmojohalen
(6471)

rockphantom: The torrent of my audio recording of Greg’s Van Halen Rising presentation in Austin is now live on DIME:

http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=547960

Greg Renoff Van Halen Rising– Presentation and Q&A Session Half Price Books – North Lamar December 3, 2015 Austin, Texas

24 Bit/96khz master downsampled to 16 Bit/44.1khz

Lineage: Church Audio CA-14 Cardoid Mics (mounted on baseball hat) -> Church Audio Ugly 2 Preamp (Gain setting +40db) -> Sony PCM-M10 (REC Level 8.0) -> 24/96 WAV – > Audacity 2.1.1 (normalization/tracking/fades) -> Trader’s Little Helper 2.7.0 (FLAC level 8 lossless compression & verification) -> YOU

Taped from Front Row directly in front of loudspeaker. Volume increases at 1:33

On Monday November 30th, I discovered that Greg Renoff, author of Van Halen Rising, would be appearing at my neighborhood Half Price Books on Thursday, December 3rd. At this point I was up to page 239 of Van Halen Rising and decided to read through the rest of the book before Greg’s appearance.

This recording came out better than expected. Mr. Renoff is very easy to understand. However, I had extreme difficulty picking up the voices of fans in the audience during the Q&A session. I had to crank the CA Ugly 2 preamp gain level to +40db and keep the REC level of the PCM M10 around 8.0 in order to keep the db levels between -6db and -12db on the display. This was my first time to record a spoken word performance with my concert capturing rig.

There is no musical content on this recording. However, Mr. Renoff’s Van Halen Rising lecture is essential listening for all =VH= Fans!

More information on Van Halen Rising is available here: http://www.vanhalenrising.com/

[01] Greg Renoff – Van Halen Rising Presentation 2015-12-03 Austin, TX [02] Greg Renoff – Van Halen Rising Q and A 2015-12-03 Austin, TX

Running time: 73:14

NOTICE: I am open to taping any classic rock band that performs in Austin in exchange for a guest list spot or complimentary ticket.

REQ: Van Halen – Austin September 30, 1995 and San Antonio January 24, 2008 audio/video

REQ: Any uncirculating Guns N’ Roses material or upgrades from 1985-1993

REQ: Any uncirculating Journey/Steve Perry material or upgrades

rockphantom December 5, 2015 Austin, Texas

***DO NOT SELL*** ***DO NOT SHARE WITHOUT THIS INFO*** *** SUPPORT GREG RENOFF’S EFFORTS*** ***BUY VAN HALEN RISING***

Could this be Dropboxed ?


When you turn on your stereo, does it return the favor?


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