Is there anyone who prefers Van Halen when they were fronted by Sammy Hagar over David Lee Roth? I like a lot of 5150. I can't say that I prefer it to earlier Van Halen tunes like Runnin' with the Devil, Jamie's Cryin', Beautiful Girls or Hot for Teacher, but I do think much on that album is superior to 1984. I know that one's a classic, but I think it hasn't aged very well. Then again, the same can be said for the production on 5150 and definitely on OU812.

I think you right. 5150 is a more solid ablum than 1984, but not nearly as solid as, say, Fair Warning. Then there's Diver Down, only about 30 minutes long and four cover tunes. It's better than 1984, imo, but perhaps the second weakest Roth album.

NO!

Well, not me at least.

minneapolisgenius said:

Drop Dead Legs is a great song, isnt it?

Stax said:

I was JUST listening to it! It's in my IPOD.

minneapolisgenius said:

The Roth early years were king.To see them live in the early 80's was mindblowing.I liked Sammy better solo.Eddie needs to dump that keyboard in the pacific

U know, I had thought about running a thread on this very subject about 6 weeks ago. Me, David Lee Roth IS the ONLY true lead vocalist for Van Halen. They are one of my all time fave rock bands. I grew up loving Van Halen and admiring Eddie's guitar playing. Sammy's cool, and some of the stuff with the band is good. But, it doesn't compare to the o.g. lineup.

I am a rock fan and guitarist, but would you believe that in my 32 years on this planet I have never once heard a Van Halen album...?




(Maybe it is because i am a guitarist that I deliberately steer clear of them? I don't wanna give myself a complex, after all...)

I was a fan of Sammy Hagar before he joined Van Halen, so I liked some of the stuff he did with them. I guess if I had to choose though, I would choose VH with David Lee Roth only because it brings back such great memories of the late 70's and early 80's.

Slash said:

13inchshoe said:

Without question. I saw the Diver Down and the 1984 tours, both amazing and hella fun. I also prefer Sammy solo, but I must admit, when they announced Sammy as Dave's replacement, it made sense to me....then they had to go get all sugary on us.

Stax said:

Quick! Get this man Van Halen's first album, stat!!!

minneapolisgenius said:

I have heard a lot about "Eruption" and ... I just can't bear to listen to the man's playing, it'll make me wanna kill myself.

I get stressed badly enough listening to Zakk Wylde, don't make me hang up my guitar for good!

Slash said:

Yes, you will kill yourself if you hear "Spanish Fly" off Van Halen II.

i will go against the grain --- cus i have always found david lee roth to be just plain annoying ... his vocals ... (and also his attitudes) ...

not that sammy cant be a pompous pc of u know what ...

but i like sammys yellin ... far better ... just my opinion .

I grew with Van Halen and there is a depth in the lyrics and singing ability that Sammy brought to the band that I love. The DLR years were really about the rock/showmanship than they were about the music. I love the early stuff musically but live they just sucked. The opposite was true of the Sammy era and the live shows were better than the albums.

Too bad I've out grown Van Halen and the "reunion" concert with Sammy was average at best. It was a place and time thing I guess.

Van Halen music is great for a sunny summer day, I don't know why.

"Intruder" (intro into pretty woman on Diver Down) just makes me

Slash said:

Nah, I STRONGLY suggest u listen to early Van Halen. "Eruption" is a must listen, in itself.

Guess what? I like their later mid 80's stuff.

i shouldn't even mention Gary Cherone, that would be Blasphemy

Luv4oneanotha said:

I intentionally left him out of this!

Diamond Dave by a country mile

This thread needs pics... ;P



What the hell has Dave got on?

Excellent shots Minnie.

We also need to include one photo of the best singer that Van Halen EVER had:

blackguitaristz said:

BG, I agree with you 100%. Sammy vocals lacks the umph and excitement needed to accompany Eddie's guitar solos. I'm sorry but there are certain things you just don't mess with when it comes to music. The original Van Halen line up was perfection at its finest. Some of my favorite cuts that I still vibe off of today are Running With The Devil and Ain't Talking About Love.

Luv4oneanotha said:

Please don't.That was a sorry time in Van Halen history.

minneapolisgenius said:

This is a cool thread. That picture of the young Eddie w/ the Les Paul is funny. Never seen that one before. I have respect for Sammy and he seems like a cool guy, but Dave with VH is the ONLY VH that I love. They were an influential rock band that a lot of L.A. bands tried to emulate in the late 80's.

SPYZFAN1 said:

Oh hell yeah, spyz. During high school, I started out playing Gazzarri's, this was much later after Van Halen had played there of course. But, that was the staple VH had made. Motley Crue was next to hit it big from the strip.

SPYZFAN1 said:

Yeah, I never seen that one with the Les Paul either. Eddie's looking like "What? Don't look at me" and shit.