Runnin' with the Devil Audiobook By Noel Monk, Joe Layden 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

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Runnin' with the Devil

By: Noel Monk, Joe Layden
Narrated by: Fred Berman
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $22.49

Buy for $22.49

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

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 Musician
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about Runnin' with the Devil

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,768
  • 4 Stars
    453
  • 3 Stars
    103
  • 2 Stars
    28
  • 1 Stars
    13
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,699
  • 4 Stars
    308
  • 3 Stars
    69
  • 2 Stars
    20
  • 1 Stars
    13
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,555
  • 4 Stars
    403
  • 3 Stars
    101
  • 2 Stars
    32
  • 1 Stars
    10

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This book puts all the pieces together.

Van Halen was THE band in my formative years as a teenager. Back when vinyl and cassettes were fighting for supremacy. Eddie inspired me to pick up my first guitar, and my love affair with the instrument has never faded. When Van Halen broke up, I was stunned and saddened. Why? How? You cannot have Van Halen without David Lee Roth! All these year later, I finally got what I think is as close to an answer that would ever come. The story is fascinating, if not sometimes predictable, and, ultimately, heartbreaking in the end. Van Halen had it all in the palms of their hands...and lost it all in a haze of drugs, boozed, and ego. Like I said...predictable. The same ingredients that wrecked so many other great bands. Noel Monks telling of the story put together a timeline of events that brought the history of this band's rise to greatness and trainwreck fracturing, in a way that added clarity and context - as much as possible, anyway. He presents it in a way that celebrates the band while at the same time detailing the dirty, volatile side of big-time rock and roll life. This does not feel like a hit piece, you can tell he really loved this band and despite how terrible things got towards the end, The narration was excellent. Fred Berman is one of the best storytellers in the audiobook business, and he did not fail on this one. If you are interested in the story behind the original Van Halen, get this. You will not be disappointed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

great

Everything that you would want in a story is here well written well sequenced and over all All a Perfect read. Very well done you will not be disappointed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good read

A bit annoying that the author uses "we" when talking about the band but he's got some great stories. Worth a read for Van Halen fans.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I loved it!

This book picks up right after 'Van Halen Rising' by Greg Renoff. Hearing about how each album was made, makes total sense in retrospect(you'll know what I mean). Hearing about the dynamics between all the band members and how the music business industry works was an eye opener. CAUTION: Don't expect to finish this book and to look at these rock heroes the same way you used to.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great Stuff

Very interesting story about the years of Van Halen with DLR. sounds like a pretty wild ride...I can only imagine all the stuff that didn't make the book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I felt I was part of the tour

This is a good book and a good audible book. The narration was fantastic. Voice for Eddie and for David felt spot on.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

very well done!

I became sad knowing the book would eventually have to end. Unbelievably entertaining and insightful!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

fun listen

it took a minute to get into the cadence of the storyteller and storyline, but all in all eight great read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing look at the rise and fall of Van Halen

Noel Monk’s story and behind-the-scenes experiences as the tour manager and later band manager of Van Halen definitely deserves to be heard. The disloyalty, disrespect and ingratitude towards Michael Anthony and, later, Monk, that evolves as the band fractures is heartbreaking to hear, but also important for fans to know.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Cemented in stone?

How does “His position as a producer was cemented in stone” get past an editor?

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!