Alex Van Halen Releasing Limited Edition 'Van Halen' Book
(Republic) Genesis Publications proudly announces that pre-orders are now open for Van Halen, written and signed by Alex Van Halen. This is the official chronicle of the band, published in a limited edition of only 1,500 signed and numbered copies worldwide.
The book traces the brothers' journey from their childhood in Pasadena, California, and the band's early days playing backyard parties, to the release and world tour of their chart-topping album 1984. Pre-order here
Featuring a dynamic blend of iconic photography alongside rare and never-before-seen images, and with exclusive access to Alex Van Halen's private archives, Van Halen offers a personally guided tour through the band's legendary rise.
'We had our tour passes printed with the acronym W.D.F.A on them - which means 'We Don't F*** Around' - the reason for that was simply that everybody needs a battle cry, and that happened to be ours.' - Alex Van Halen
Van Halen opens the Van Halen family archive for the first time. From the brothers' arrival in California from Holland in 1962 to backyard parties in Pasadena, their 1978 debut album and the chart-topping success of 1984, the band's story is explored through an extraordinary collection of correspondence, tour memorabilia, album artwork, press material, musical equipment, unpublished photographs and much more.
Featuring photography from the band's early years on the Sunset Strip, their first tours to Japan in 1978, and landmark performances including the US Festival in 1983 and 1984's Monsters of Rock, VAN HALEN brings together rare archival material alongside the work of celebrated photographers.
This wealth of archival material is accompanied by an original manuscript from Alex Van Halen, drawn from a series of new interviews conducted especially for this book - his most sustained and detailed reflection on the band's formative years. Alongside Alex's account are archival texts from Eddie Van Halen, together with contributions from fellow musicians, friends and artists inspired by the band.
'Brothers with different superpowers. Eddie revolutionised rock guitar with tone, technique, and attitude, while Alex anchored those innovations with sophisticated rudiment-based grooves, syncopated accents, and a jazz-tinged feel that still feels modern decades later. In that sense, the quip "Alex Van Halen is to drums what Eddie was to guitar" captures how both were virtuosic, stylistically singular, and essential to the band's sound.' - Modern Drummer Magazine
Copies 1 to 350 are presented as Deluxe boxed sets, each containing a copy of VAN HALEN hand-signed by Alex Van Halen. The Deluxe boxed set also includes an archival art print of Van Halen in front of the collapsed Pier 48 on the Hudson River, West Village, Manhattan, NY, 1978. The print measures 11" × 8" and is suitable for framing.
Fully bound in black vegan leather with silver page edging, the Deluxe copies feature a patch motif from Van Halen's 1982 Hide Your Sheep tour and are housed in a black clamshell box featuring the Van Halen emblem surrounded by Alex's iconic burning ring design.
The Deluxe set also includes exact replicas of items from the Van Halen archive: a vintage silver Van Halen logo pin, a 1979 Van Halen Productions keychain, three replica Eddie Van Halen stage-used guitar picks, six 6" × 4" art postcards and a 7" vinyl record (tracks to be announced).
Copies 351 to 1,500 are presented as Collector boxed sets, each containing a copy of VAN HALEN hand-signed by Alex Van Halen. Quarter-bound in black vegan leather with silver page edging, Collector copies feature a silver debossed Van Halen logo from the band's 1978 World Tour. The book is presented in a black clamshell box featuring the Van Halen emblem, surrounded by Alex's iconic burning ring design.
Each Collector boxed set includes exact replicas of items from the Van Halen archive: a 1979 Van Halen Productions keychain, three replica Eddie Van Halen stage-used guitar picks, six 6" × 4" art postcards and a 7" vinyl record (tracks to be announced).
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