For me, it was hearing the symphonic punch of "Jump" at every NHL hockey
game I saw on TV in 1984. For you, it might have been dancing to "Dreams"
with your friends at the high school prom. Or turning up the volume when
"Poundcake" came on the car radio as you sped down the Interstate one day
after work. Or waving your arms frantically in a packed arena as
"Unchained" exploded from the speakers and the lights blazed on to reveal
four laughing, wild-eyed guys making magical sounds.
Wherever and whenever you first heard the music of Van Halen, it's an
experience few of us will ever forget. Just one song can evoke many
questions: "How does he play the guitar like that? How does that singer do
his incredible scream? Is that an earthquake or a rhythm section? What
planet is this band from anyway? And why does their music make me feel so
GOOD?"
As a fan, it gets even more intriguing when you discover that guitarist
Eddie Van Halen, drummer Alex Van Halen, bassist Michael Anthony, and
vocalists David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar, and Gary Cherone are as colorful a
cast of characters as have graced any concert stage from Beethoven to the
Beatles.
Since the late 1970's, these California hard rock titans have inspired
thousands of people to lock themselves in their rooms and play guitar all
night, or just leap into mid-air for no apparent reason. They've redefined
rock 'n' roll good times with their musicianship and unstoppable energy.
They've given us some of the most famous songs, albums, tours, and offstage
controversies in rock history. And they continue to provide the soundtrack
to the lives of millions of avid fans from Amsterdam to Panama.
Van Halen inspired me to write this book with one thousand, nine hundred
and eighty-four trivia questions about the greatest rock band in the world
today.
1984: The Ultimate Van Halen Trivia Book tests your knowledge of the
classic material Van Halen has committed to record and videotape: lyrics
and titles, album covers, recording techniques and equipment, engineers and
producers, vocal and instrumental oddities, and much more. Just how closely
have you been paying attention? What do you know about those legendary Van
Halen concerts? Check if you can recall quotations from band members and
what others have said about them. There's also trivia on the musical
tributes and critical tongue-lashings they've received over the years.
Some questions put Van Halen in historical context, as you test what you
know about the personal backgrounds and hobbies of band members and the
day-by-day history of the band. Questions on the solo careers of Van Halen
alumni round out the mix. You'll find that Van Halen pops up in places
you'd scarcely expect. You will learn things about the mighty VH which you
wouldn't find anywhere else.
Now here's fair warning (allusion intended) on a few matters. First,
everyone who has ever been in Van Halen is referred to as a "member of Van
Halen" throughout, even if he's not part of the current lineup. Only a few
questions refer specifically to "current" members. Band members are mostly
cited just by their first names to save space. The terms "Dave-era" and
"Sammy-era" denote the periods when those two singers were recording studio
albums with the band (1978-1983 and 1986-1995 respectively), and "solo
song" means a song performed as a solo artist.
Second, the answers to some questions can give you clues to other ones.
Some back-to-back questions are linked as well. It's probably best to read
through the book from start to finish and cover up the response below each
question with your hand as you try to answer. But hey, no rules and no
schools, right? If it sounds good, it IS good! So do whatever you feel
like.
Third, I've made every effort to ensure the information in 1984: The
Ultimate Van Halen Trivia Book is as accurate as possible. If there are
differences of opinion about the answer to a certain question, I've tried
to indicate that too. And why the title of the book? Well, as the band
makes the transition to its third era with Gary, it seemed right to name
this book after a record which marked both a glorious finale and a new
beginning.
You say you don't know? You won't know until you begin.
Late breaking news: All members of Van Halen have received copies of 1984: The Ultimate Van
Halen Trivia Book, and tour manager Scotty Ross says, "the band loved the trivia
book!"