Brad Tolinski

Eruption is primarily based on a collection of interviews with Eddie Van Halen and other individuals from his inner circle, making it more like a collection of magazine articles than a chapter-by-chapter biographical history. This is not surprising, as the authors Brad Tolinski and Chris Gill come from the world of guitar magazines. It also should not be a surprise that the book goes into great detail about a lot of guitar minutiae. Satisfying the craving for gory details is the raison d'etre of Guitar World and presumably every other hobby magazine out there. On the upside, this perspective means we get a lot of interesting details about Van Halen's "Frankenstrat," possibly the most famous individual musical instrument of the past half century.

There is plenty about Eddie's creativity and process as a songwriter, his innovations in guitar playing technique, and his technical innovations in electric guitars and amplification. Unfortunately, there is also all too much about the strife and struggles of being in an enormously famous rock band in the 80s and 90s, as you would typically find in articles at the time. One gets the impression that it's no fun being a rock star at all.

Overall, worth a read for rock guitar nerds.… (more)

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Eruption: Conversations with Eddie Van Halen by Brad Tolinski and Chris Gill puts together interviews and of Eddie Van Halen, friends, and family. Mr Tolinski was Editor-in-Chief of Guitar World magazine, Mr. Gill was the Editor-in-Chief of Guitar Aficionado magazine.

Is Eddie Van Halen overrated or underrate?
This,at any rate, was a often topic of conversation in high school, in hindsight by a bunch of know-nothing, yet all knowing, teenagers. I always maintained he was way underrated – afterwards, it turns out, I was wrong as well, not realizing just how underrated he was.

In Eruption: Conversations with Eddie Van Halen by Brad Tolinski (who also wrote a book about Jimmy Page) and Chris Gill, the authors certainly don’t hide their admiration for Van Halen. The compilation of interviews, as well as the sidebars, really lets the reader know Eddie Van Halen like never before.

The book covers some of the guitars Eddie played, and chiefly built himself. While I always recognized Eddie Van Halen as the best rock ‘n roll guitarist I’ve ever listen to. I did not, however, knew his contributions to guitar technology.

Specifically, I enjoyed the background essays before the interviews. These tidbits gave context to the interviews that followed, which elevated this book from “just a bunch of interviews” to probably the best biography of Eddie Van Halen we’re ever going to get.

The authors also included interviews with other people who worked with Van Halen during pivotal times in their life. Ray Daniels, manager in the 90s, was a fascinating look at a turbulent time. Vocalist Gary Cherone put a very humane aspect to a man who was a legend during his life. And, of course Sammy Hagar, David Lee Roth managed a word or two in as w… (more)