Runnin' with the Devil cover art

Runnin' with the Devil

A Backstage Pass to the Wild Times, Loud Rock, and the Down and Dirty Truth Behind the Making of Van Halen

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Runnin' with the Devil

By: Noel Monk, Joe Layden
Narrated by: Fred Berman
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About this listen

The manager who shepherded Van Halen from obscurity to rock stardom goes behind the scenes to tell the complete, unadulterated story of David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen, and the legendary band that changed rock music.

Van Halen's rise in the 1980s was one of the most thrilling the music world had ever seen - their mythos an epic party, a sweaty, sexy, never-ending rock extravaganza. During this unparalleled run of success, debauchery, and drama, no one was closer to the band than Noel Monk. A man who'd worked with some of rock's biggest and most notorious names, Monk spent seven years with Van Halen, serving first as their tour manger, then as their personal manager until 1985, when both he and David Lee Roth exited as controversy, backstabbing, and disappointment consumed the band.

Throughout Van Halen's meteoric rise and abrupt halt, this confidant, fixer, friend, and promoter saw it all and lived to tell. Now, for the first time, he shares the most outrageous escapades - from their coming of age to their most shocking behavior on the road; from Eddie's courtship and high-profile wedding to Valerie Bertinelli to the incredible drug use that would ultimately lead to everyone's demise. Sharing never-before-told stories, Monk paints a compelling portrait of Eddie Van Halen, bringing into focus the unique combination of talent, vision, hardship, and naiveté that shaped one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time - and made him and his brother vulnerable to the trappings and failings of fame.

Runnin' with the Devil is manna from rock heaven no Van Halen fan can miss.

©2017 Noel Monk (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers
Entertainment & Celebrities Music Celebrity Guitar

What listeners say about Runnin' with the Devil

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    4 out of 5 stars

Half fun rockstar anecdotes, half anticlimaxes

Author shits on all four members at various points, but taken lightheartedly, an enjoyable history.

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Excellent story.

An excellent glimps into an amazing chapter in Noel Monk's life. 5 stars overall,
Well done.

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  • Overall
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What it was like to live with VH 24/7!

An in-depth story of Van Halen by their Manager. Offers the listener a great understanding of what it was like to live on and off the road with these four amazing musicians. The sex, the drugs, the rock n roll, and not forgetting the EGOS! Throughly mesmerising!

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RIP Eddie

Great stories and insights on a band on a band that I’ve loved for so long. A bit of a different perspective.

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    4 out of 5 stars

Van Halen...which was louder -- the music or egos?

Wow!! What a story. This offers a scorched insider's view of a bigger than big band. All with egos to match. This proves the long hours, the lack of sleep, the cheated wages and the chiselled deals a good manger's life they don't make. This audio soars with the growing excitement of being attached to the biggest band in the universe...until it all starts to sour. This will make you laugh, cry and, maybe, finally realise the grass on the other side of the fence is not as green as it seems. Highly enjoyable.

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Very revealing

Great read. I love Van Halen but sometimes they seemed like real jerks. Poor Noel.

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Amazing tale of brilliance and betrayal.

Amazing tale of a talented band on a meteoric rise that ends in deluded petulance with 3 of the members of Van Halen showing themselves to be the worst kind of people- selfish, greedy and stupid.

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Not as bigger fan anymore....

Totally loved it. A great behind the scenes story & a real eye opener.

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Brilliant

Great audiobook well performed…great insight into the band and the personalities. Highly recommend if you’re a rock fan.

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Very intriguing and interesting

A very raw, honest and believable book - thoroughly enjoyed it, and recommend to all who may be interested.

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