'Van Halen Rising': Tulsa author explores rock band's roots - Tulsa World
Five years in the making, “Van Halen Rising” is about Renoff’s favorite band. He grew up in New Jersey and was introduced, by way of an uncle’s albums, to bands like The Doors and Cream and the Allman Brothers. Van Halen’s “Jump” video was placed in heavy rotation. Renoff was “that guy” who read all the guitar magazines in the 1980s. He wanted all the information he could get about his favorite band, but answers to basic questions — How did the band form. He said the band hasn’t been great about giving fans what they want. “And KISS’ manager says ‘I don’t see anything here. ’ This is, like, the manager of the most powerful rock band in the world at that time. It’s hard for me to imagine what that would be like with someone with that level of authority in the industry saying ‘I don’t see it. You guys are never going to make it. I would say having my family here. (I like) the Blue Dome and Brady (districts) and going around and walking around and sort of exploring these places that, to me, are all new. To have that experience of kind of discovering a new place is really great. Among other things, I tell them come see the beautiful downtown. For a lot of people who have never been to Oklahoma, they don’t really understand how cool Tulsa’s downtown is, so that’s one of the things I always try to sell people on — and just the things to do during the summer. My family, we’ve gone several times to Grand Lake and spent the day there, and they love it. It’s great. Source: www.tulsaworld.com
