KB's Reviews > Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock

I'll freely admit that I took out this book purely to read about the Van Halen drama. I've read Greg Renoff's book about their rise to fame, and also Noel Monk's book that generally covers the David Lee Roth period. I thought Sammy's book might be a good next step.

So, I knew very little about Sammy Hagar. I knew his name and the song "I Can't Drive 55," but that was about it. I also knew very little of the music to come out of the Van Hagar years, save for "Why Can't This Be Love?". Hagar begins where everyone else begins their autobio: childhood. This seemed to drag on - which is impressive considering how short and not-detailed the book actually is. Needless to say, I was pretty unimpressed with how this started and figured I wasn't going to enjoy it.

But, I don't know. I guess I just got accustomed to the writing. And I began to enjoy it much more as I continued to read. Like, by no means is this a really good book. But it's fine. Hagar's personality really comes through - he's confident and self-assured, driven. Everything he's ever done has been awesome - that's his opinion anyways. I don't think I really buy into that.

I think the thing that really sold me on the book was Hagar's honesty. He just tells you like it is. He gives you his real opinions about people. The part where he calls Eddie Van Halen a fruitcake? Priceless.

Those years Hagar spent with Van Halen didn't sound like they would have been much fun. It seemed like things started out okay, but then quickly deteriorated. The brothers seemingly had little respect for Michael Anthony, and were suspicious of anything Hagar did outside the band. Then Eddie's alcohol problems (and most likely drug problems as well) really began to take a toll on the relationships within the band and Eddie's own playing abilities. So, Sammy is unhappy and Sammy leaves.

Reading about all of Hagar's business ventures was pretty uninteresting, and as I've said, the beginning really dragged, but overall this isn't a bad book. It absolutely falls into that casual reading type of autobiography. It was fine, or maybe even enjoyable. Nothing more, nothing less.