Editor Reviews:

Description:
"The VAN HALEN Story: The Early Years", chronicles the rise of four young musicians from their formative years to their transformation into a worldwide phenomenon.

Hear the group's gripping tale told by the people who were there when it all began childhood friends, fellow musicians, roadies, bodyguards, producers, and the band themselves. Rare footage and never-before-seen photos help to further document their remarkable story.

Rating : - Short but decent unauthorized doc on the early years
As far as unauthorized band docs go, this one is pretty good because it has a mix of people who worked with VH before their rise to fame as well as being there at their peak. The interview with Stone, the bassist prior to Mike is worth watching to find out the reason why he left right when they were on the edge of stardom. There are interviews with VH (and some of their "inner circle"), but obviously taken from other sources. There's very little in the way of archive footage, and the only song they were able to get the rights to were "Happy Trails", but it's about their rise from a backyard party band to being a smash success, but the photos and flyers (and even a copy of the infamous "no brown M&Ms" rider) are sufficient. And it goes into some of the reasons why Dave left (mostly through Mike and Alex's words.. but Dave and Valerie's books truly detailed the reasons why).

If you want some of the blanks filled in, just read any of Ed's Guitar Player interviews, Dave's "Crazy From the Heat" and Valerie's "Losing It" books and put their music on. And there's plenty on You Tube as far as archive footage and the demos go. The band should put their own official documentary together while there are good feelings between Ed and Dave.

It is worthwhile for someone starting in a band and a hardcore VH fan who gets a kick of seeing old photos.