New VH history book by Martin Poppoff

**Dont disturb my Paradise** · 12.03.20, 01:15 AM

http://www.martinpopoff.com/html/van...biography.html

I haven’t seen this discussed on here yet. I ordered my copy last week. Poppoff is brilliant. I’ve got a lot of his books. If this is as good as his Alice Cooper history I will be happy. It covers all eras too which is great.

**rvk5150** · 12.03.20, 03:57 AM

I may have mentioned it somewhere....awesome book. The first 100 or so purchasers have their names in the front and he also included an envelope of high gloss pics of the band over the years.

**Dutchie5150** · 12.03.20, 04:11 AM

I've got a copy coming too. I got in early and my name is in it. It hasn't arrived yet.

**wombattt** · 12.03.20, 07:16 AM

He was recently on the Discovery Podcast talking about this book. I like Martin, but I don’t always agree with him...in that interview he said “Eddie’s brown sound was at its peak on the 5150 album” couldn’t disagree more. On a side note he said, “Jason Bonham is a better drummer than John.” I laughed out loud in the gym when I hear that one.

**thechefs2003** · 12.03.20, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by wombattt

He was recently on the Discovery Podcast talking about this book. I like Martin, but I don’t always agree with him...in that interview he said “Eddie’s brown sound was at its peak on the 5150 album” couldn’t disagree more. On a side note he said, “Jason Bonham is a better drummer than John.” I laughed out loud in the gym when I hear that one.

Yep, I heard that podcast too. Both those statements made me cringe. I'd like to get the book but it's pretty pricey. I'd love to see some pics of it if anybody has it.

**Little Dreamer** · 12.03.20, 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by Dont disturb my Paradise

http://www.martinpopoff.com/html/van...biography.html

I haven’t seen this discussed on here yet. I ordered my copy last week. Poppoff is brilliant. I’ve got a lot of his books. If this is as good as his Alice Cooper history I will be happy. It covers all eras too which is great.

To me for a good VH biography, for a band so secretive, you have to talk to the band members themselves. Mike, Dave, Al, Sam, etc. Then probably Ted, Donn, Noel Monk, etc. Anything else is just going to be a rehash of stuff already printed.
Greg Renoff approach it seriously on VH Rising, I'm looking forward to his next book.
In some sense, though, VH has only themselves to blame for not cooperating with someone serious to have an official biography come out. Since they didn't do it, then it opens the door for a whole bunch of hack books to come out.

**rvk5150** · 12.04.20, 07:20 AM

Originally Posted by thechefs2003

Yep, I heard that podcast too. Both those statements made me cringe. I'd like to get the book but it's pretty pricey. I'd love to see some pics of it if anybody has it.

I do not know how to post pictures else I would....waiting for my account to become premium after donating.

**thechefs2003** · 12.04.20, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by rvk5150

I do not know how to post pictures else I would....waiting for my account to become premium after donating.

Thanks! I did find this review of the book on YouTube. The reviewer is clearly not a hardcore VH fan but the book looks like it has a lot of good photos! i may have to break down and buy it after Christmas.

**Model Citizen** · 12.04.20, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by Little Dreamer

Greg Renoff approach it seriously on VH Rising, I'm looking forward to his next book.

Is he writing another VH book?

**Metalsludge** · 12.04.20, 09:27 PM

Not high hopes for this. He did three Thin Lizzy books 5-10 years ago that were total amateur hour, really disappointing. Half of the books were (crappy) scans of old posters etc, really amateur. Might have got one good book out of the three volumes if he had an editor. The Rocker by Martin Putterford is still the best Lizzy book and that came out twenty years ago.

**Dutchie5150** · 12.11.20, 12:03 AM

Mine arrived today. I ordered two (one for a mate). I cant wait to go through it tonight.

**thechefs2003** · 12.16.20, 02:33 PM

So how is it?

**thechefs2003** · 12.16.20, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by Dutchie5150

Mine arrived today. I ordered two (one for a mate). I cant wait to go through it tonight.

So how is it?

**Ain't Talkin' Bout' Love** · 12.16.20, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by Little Dreamer

To me for a good VH biography, for a band so secretive, you have to talk to the band members themselves. Mike, Dave, Al, Sam, etc. Then probably Ted, Donn, Noel Monk, etc. Anything else is just going to be a rehash of stuff already printed.
Greg Renoff approach it seriously on VH Rising, I'm looking forward to his next book.
In some sense, though, VH has only themselves to blame for not cooperating with someone serious to have an official biography come out. Since they didn't do it, then it opens the door for a whole bunch of hack books to come out.

I'd told Greg that he wrote the answer to anybody who doesn't understand why VH is so important. I'd always hoped someone, preferably Greg, would write a book on the Hagar years. They were great but were only getting better when they split.