A biography of the ultimate American rock band. It answers questions such as: How did a pair of little Dutch boys trained in classical music grow up to become the nucleus of the most popular heavy metal band of all time? What's the secret behind Eddie Van Halen's incredible fast and furious guitar solos? And, what makes David Lee Roth so wacky?

Helps you know how two Dutch boys trained in classical music grew up to form America's greatest hard rock band. This title provides you details, from the secret of Eddie Van Halen's guitar mastery to the truth about groupies, midgets, and contract riders and the details of Van Halen's explosive entree to California's hard rock scene.

Welcome, all ye who dare enter Sound of the Beast, the first definitive and highly illustrated look at the madness and mayhem of heavy metal. From its cataclysmic beginning with Black Sabbath more than thirty years ago to the hyperactive 'nu metal' bands, this is a complete overview of the dark and untamed history of metal.