Beginning in 1978 Van Halen's rise was one of the most thrilling the rock world had ever
seen?their mythos an epic party with a sweaty sexy finger-tapping guitar solo as an encore.
During this infamous run of success debauchery and drama few people were closer to the band
than their manager 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 initially as their tour manager
then as their personal manager until 1985 when he and David Lee Roth exited as controversy
infighting and egos consumed the band. Now for the first time Monk shares his side of the
band's rapid ascent and abrupt halt both of which left rock music forever changed. During his
time behind the scenes he saw it all and lived to tell the tale helping the band grow from
club-performing novices to hardened veterans who sold out stadiums. Lifting back the curtain on
one of the great untold stories of rock music Monk details the most outrageous escapades from
his time as confidant fixer and promoter?from hotel room destruction to outrageous backstage
behavior to Eddie Van Halen's high-profile marriage to Valerie Bertinelli to the incredible
drug use and drinking that would ultimately fuel the conflict between the band members. More
than just presenting a portrait of sex and drugs?though there's plenty of both?Monk goes behind
the legend of Eddie Van Halen bringing into focus the unique combination of talent vision
hardship and naiveté that not only shaped one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time but
also made him vulnerable to the trappings of fame. Monk also sheds light on a breakup long
shrouded in rumor and animosity telling the story of David Lee Roth's departure as he saw it
and explaining how a band at the height of their powers found themselves struggling in vain to
hold it all together. Complete with sixteen pages of never-before-seen photos of life with the
band Runnin' with the Devil offers Monk's backstage view of Van Halen's journey from obscurity
to headliners only to watch it all fall apart. Messy loud and most of all fun this is a
look inside Van Halen unlike any you've ever seen.
