Eddie Van Halen is one of the most revolutionary and influential players ever to pick up a guitar. His music; his technique; his passion; and amazing invention continue to energize fans and guitarists around the world. This book focuses on the innovative early years of the band Van Halen; when Eddie burst onto the scene and changed the face of electric guitar playing and melodic hard rock. More than 200 images of Eddie in action both classic and never before seen are complemented by text and testimony from some of the world s great guitarists; music writers; and many others.
#1652156 in eBooks 2012-05-01 2012-05-01File Name: B0087GZIUQ
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Visions of HerzogBy Alex ReaganAlan Greenberg directed the amazing documentary. Land of Look Behind. which is ostensibly about the reaction to Bob Marleys death in Jamaica. but is really about much more. His book about the making of Werner Herzogrsquo;s Heart of Glass is similar in that he doesnrsquo;t directly critique the film as an artwork. and instead weaves his story through the loose ends of the moviemaking process. We read about absurdly heroic attempts to get to a location. amateur actors who are weirder than the already weird movie they are in. and some metaphysical quotes about the universe and all within from Herr Herzog himself.Most books I have read about auteur directors either lionize their subject or delve into the interpersonal strife that occurred on set. Greenberg offers himself as a young American improbably meeting Herzog. taking in film shoots in fly ridden castles. snowy fields. and a remote island off the coast of Ireland. Through the fog of filmmaking. he finds the strange. yet recognizable. violent. but disciplined. element of the art.Did I mention that Herzog hypnotized his actors during the making of Heart of Glass? Oh. and the screenplay is inserted in a lovely way between most of the chapters. Excellent interior photographs in color as well. apparently by the author. I should also mention that I had extremely vivid dreams while reading this. which is rare for me. Enjoy!2 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Danielle K.Lovely book3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Interesting but not much hereBy faringtonThis slim volume would be even slimmer were it not for the inclusion of generous excerpts from the film scenario in alternating chapters. The content of this book might have been covered in a long magazine article. and evidently it was originally released in a "different form" over 30 years ago (thats per Herzogs Afterword). Im not sure the scenario excerpts add anything; they were apparently included as stand-alone chapters by Herzog for this recent re-release. so they dont tie in with the other chapters. And anyone reading the book has obviously already seen the film or he/she wouldnt be reading the book. so a recitation of the films action by way of the scenarios is not necessary. Perhaps theyre included to add atmosphere. but the book suffers from a bit too much atmosphere as it is.There are some interesting anecdotes of the practical difficulties encountered in the filming. a few insights into Herzog behind and away from the camera. a good look at how almost everyone in his cast and crew was a lunatic. a lot of cryptic (apparently profound) statements by everyone concerned. and tales of animals being hit by Herzogs van(the significance of which was lost on me). The book provides little if any insight into the film that one cant get more succinctly by listening to Herzogs own commentary on the film on the DVD. Most of the book is written in a "poetic" style that felt a bit pretentious and which portrayed Herzog as a far-off mystic. making me wonder how he could ever pull things together enough to complete the organizational tasks needed to complete a film. This impression is countered by Herzogs Afterword. when Herzog enters. explaining things coherently and plainly. Its refreshingly sober and direct after the authors atmospheric writing.So. some bits of interest in the book. and it doesnt take long to get through (especially if you start skipping the scenario excerpts as I found myself doing); just dont expect too much from it.
