Asbury Park is one of the few true music scenes in the world. Many people know the city as the place where Bruce Springsteen got his start, but it's also where artists like Bon Jovi, Southside Johnny, Billy Chinnock, John Eddie, Glen Burtnick, Dramarama, The Bongos and The Smithereens started out as well.

Beyond The Palace takes you on a ride through the city's long and illustrious music history; from the Upstage Club where musicians like Bruce Springsteen, Billy Chinnock, David Sancious and Southside Johnny used to jam all night to early clubs like The Student Prince and Sunshine In; from the legendary Stone Pony to clubs like T-Birds Cafe and The Saint. The book contains interviews with over 45 artists and features over 50 photographs from the world-famous photographer Debra L. Rothenberg.

To read reviews of Beyond the Palace please visit this web site at http://www.asburymusic.com/press

To hear an interview with Gary on the Joey Reynolds Show please visit this web site at http://www.wor710.com/joey_reynolds.shtml

As explained throughout the book, having the talent is one thing, but amassing the knowledge, resources, equipment, etc, and then getting yourself into a position where you can entertain people with a view to earning some money is another.

Like any trade, the entertainment industry is not something you can just jump into. You have to learn the basics and learn about the industry you are getting involved in. There has to be some kind of an 'apprenticeship' of sorts.

If you are even considering starting up as a 'gigging' musician ( going on the road ), spend a couple of weeks or even months with a working act or band, preferably the latter.

Travel with them from the moment they leave for the gig. Don't just meet them at the gig, that's cheating. Jump in from the start. You should get an idea how long it can take to pick up band members and equipment with the added bonus of travelling in the back of a cramped van!

It's very surprising how much you learn from attending 'coal face' gigs from start to finish. Don't be afraid to ask questions if you need to; they had to start somewhere themselves!

Wherever and whenever you first heard the music of Van Halen, it's an experience few of us will ever forget. Just one song can evoke many questions: "How does he play the guitar like that? How does that singer do his incredible scream? Is that an earthquake or a rhythm section? What planet is this band from anyway? And why does their music make me feel so GOOD?"

As a fan, it gets even more intriguing when you discover that guitarist Eddie Van Halen, drummer Alex Van Halen, bassist Michael Anthony, and vocalists David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar, and Gary Cherone are as colorful a cast of characters as have graced any concert stage from Beethoven to the Beatles.

Since the late 1970's, these California hard rock titans have inspired thousands of people to lock themselves in their rooms and play guitar all night, or just leap into mid-air for no apparent reason. They've redefined rock 'n' roll good times with their musicianship and unstoppable energy. They've given us some of the most famous songs, albums, tours, and offstage controversies in rock history. And they continue to provide the soundtrack to the lives of millions of avid fans from Amsterdam to Panama.

Van Halen inspired me to write this book with one thousand, nine hundred and eighty-four trivia questions about the greatest rock band in the world today.

1984: The Ultimate Van Halen Trivia Book tests your knowledge of the classic material Van Halen has committed to record and videotape: lyrics and titles, album covers, recording techniques and equipment, engineers and producers, vocal and instrumental oddities, and much more. Just how closely have you been paying attention? What do you know about those legendary Van Halen concerts? Check if you can recall quotations from band members and what others have said about them. There's also trivia on the musical tributes and critical tongue-lashings they've received over the years.

Some questions put Van Halen in historical context, as you test what you know about the personal backgrounds and hobbies of band members and the day-by-day history of the band. Questions on the solo careers of Van Halen alumni round out the mix. You'll find that Van Halen pops up in places you'd scarcely expect. You will learn things about the mighty VH which you wouldn't find anywhere else.

Now here's fair warning (allusion intended) on a few matters. First, everyone who has ever been in Van Halen is referred to as a "member of Van Halen" throughout, even if he's not part of the current lineup. Only a few questions refer specifically to "current" members. Band members are mostly cited just by their first names to save space. The terms "Dave-era" and "Sammy-era" denote the periods when those two singers were recording studio albums with the band (1978-1983 and 1986-1995 respectively), and "solo song" means a song performed as a solo artist.

Second, the answers to some questions can give you clues to other ones. Some back-to-back questions are linked as well. It's probably best to read through the book from start to finish and cover up the response below each question with your hand as you try to answer. But hey, no rules and no schools, right? If it sounds good, it IS good! So do whatever you feel like.

Third, I've made every effort to ensure the information in 1984: The Ultimate Van Halen Trivia Book is as accurate as possible. If there are differences of opinion about the answer to a certain question, I've tried to indicate that too. And why the title of the book? Well, as the band makes the transition to its third era with Gary, it seemed right to name this book after a record which marked both a glorious finale and a new beginning.

You say you don't know? You won't know until you begin.

Late breaking news: All members of Van Halen have received copies of 1984: The Ultimate Van Halen Trivia Book, and tour manager Scotty Ross says, "the band loved the trivia book!"

Cuarenta años después de su primera grabación, los Rolling Stones son una leyenda viva, la personificación misma del rock, una máquina musical potente y extraordinariamente bien aceitada que sigue despertando euforia donde quiera que va. Otras bandas han llegado y se han ido, pero los Rolling Stones permanecen. Mick Jagger y Keith Richards, líderes de la banda, supieron retratar en sus canciones a la sociedad de su tiempo y canalizar la frustración, la energía y la imaginación de millones de jóvenes. 

Con sus guitarras y actitud capturaron la imaginación de su generación, hicieron observaciones brillantes y compusieron algunas de las piezas de rock más excitantes y sublimes que se hayan producido jamás. 

"The Rolling Stones: Bailando con el diablo" es la más excitante y completa obra en español sobre las aventuras y la música de los Rolling Stones.

• Historia de la banda, con abundantes citas e información histórica. Los escándalos, los problemas legales, los éxitos y las tragedias de cada década.

• Biografía de cada piedra, contada por ellos mismos y por quienes más cerca de ellos estuvieron.

• Información álbum por álbum y canción por canción, con múltiples referencias a las letras que hicieron historia y a los éxitos que hicieron bailar a cuatro generaciones. Incluye información sobre el ´lbum "40 Licks".

• Guía de todo lo demás sobre los Rolling: libros, videos, grabaciones inéditas, cine y anécdotas indispensables para entender a la mejor banda de rock del mundo.