Backbeat Books has announced plans to publish a book dedicated to VAN HALEN's virtuoso guitarist Eddie Van Halen. Entitled "Eddie Van Halen: Know the Man, Play the Music" (view cover image), the book was authored by Malcolm Dome and Rod Fogg and is scheduled for release on August 29. It will retail for $24.95. A book synopsis reads as follows:

"Bursting out of Los Angeles in the late '70s, Eddie Van Halen and his eponymous band lit the fuse for an explosion of hard rock, heavy metal, and glam. Amid the band's bombastic attack, Eddie's unbelievable guitar pyrotechnics instantly elevated him to an icon and made him the most imitated guitarist since Jimi Hendrix. Now, Backbeat Books is excited to present 'Eddie Van Halen: Know the Man, Play the Music', from the new Fretmaster series that tells the story of musicians, their bands, and their playing.

"Kicking off with the group's beginning, Eddie Van Halen recounts each step of the band's career, from the Sunset Strip to the US Festival and Monsters of Rock tour. The book pores over Eddie's guitar style in expert detail, from Roth-era classics like 'Women & Children First' and 'Fair Warning' through the 'VAN HAGAR' years and right up to the 2004 reunion tour. Captivating vintage photos accompany an album-by-album critical analysis of the band’s music and Eddie's playing.

"Getting down to the business of learning his style, the 'Playing like Eddie' section features lessons on tapping, harmonics, rhythm, and other essential elements straight from the Van Halen trick bag. All of the exercises are presented in standard notation and tablature. To leave nothing in doubt, the included 32-track CD features all of the exercises, complete with backing tracks for play-along thrills. In addition, the book is conveniently spiral-bound so it lays flat on a table or music stand so readers can look at the exercises while they wail away on their guitars.

"Beyond the music, the authors devote an entire section on Eddie's equipment, including his amps, guitars, pickups, effects, and custom-made gear. Insider tips reveal how Eddie searched for (and found) his distinctive sound, from taking a chisel and soldering iron to a vintage Strat to dipping his pickups in wax and monkeying with his amp voltage to achieve his renowned 'brown sound.'"

For more information, visit www.backbeatbooks.com.