The project shares the writer’s personal and intimate history with the guitarist, which began in 1977 – before the release of Van Halen’s debut album.
While Edward was rewriting guitar history, Rosen became a close and trusted ally of the rocker; among his published works are three lead features for Guitar World magazine that are recognized as pivotal pieces on the iconic guitarist.
“There is no other book on Edward out there like mine,” says Rosen. “I had a front-row seat to his life and he told me things he never told another journalist. I wanted to write as honest and as insightful a book as I possible could and I believe I've done that. I wrote about spending time in my Hollywood Hills pad while Edward noodled on guitar; attending NAMM Shows with him; introducing him to Ritchie Blackmore, Billy Gibbons and Les Paul; buying a set of guitar strings for him; jamming with him; and getting high with him.”
Through the years, Van Halen famously tinkered with his equipment – from guitars to amplifiers, effects, and more – in an attempt to translate and communicate the sounds he heard in his head.
“I chose that title, Tonechaser, because Edward once described himself in that way,” Rosen explains. “I thought it was such a beautiful, fragile, and poignant word for him to use in his pursuit of the ever-elusive Brown Sound. I also thought it worked on another level in terms of the ‘tone’ of his life and being a guitar player, bandmember, husband, father, and icon.
“I had never heard Edward ever use that phrase anywhere else and, in fact, after interviewing hundreds and hundreds of guitar players, I've never heard one of them ever use that word to describe what they do.”
In addition to the book, Rosen has also just released “Tonechaser: The Audiobook”, which includes 30 hours of self-narration as well as hours and hours of the original archival interviews Rosen conducted with Van Halen many decades ago.
With more than 80 million albums sold worldwide, Van Halen were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007; five years after the band performed their final concert at the Hollywood Bowl in October of 2015, Edward passed away in 2020 at the age of 65 from a stroke and other issues following a lengthy battle with cancer.
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See also:
New video surfaces for David Lee Roth cover of Gerry Rafferty classic Baker Street
Van Halen stream 1991 Dallas performance of Top Of The World
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Van Halen announce For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge Expanded Edition
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