Van Halen Fans : David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar ?

[Rey C.]

He looks like hell now, but when DLR left the band, I pretty much stopped listening to their stuff. 5150 was pretty good though. But Van Halen (with David Lee) was one of the first bands I saw live in concert. To this day, that was probably the best show I've ever seen - with AC/DC a close second. I really liked Van Halen and I remember being really angry about the whole "Van Hagar"/DLR thing. That anger probably kept me from enjoying the good stuff they did while Hagar was there. But still, DLR FTW.

 

[Mason Popoff]

He looks like hell now, but when DLR left the band, I pretty much stopped listening to their stuff. 5150 was pretty good though. But Van Halen (with David Lee) was one of the first bands I saw live in concert. To this day, that was probably the best show I've ever seen - with AC/DC a close second. I really liked Van Halen and I remember being really angry about the whole "Van Hagar"/DLR thing. That anger probably kept me from enjoying the good stuff they did while Hagar was there. But still, DLR FTW.

I envy you. Those would be great bands to see live. They just have such an intense balls- out- party-time energy.

 

[passenger57]

^ Agreed. While the first 4 Van Halen albums were fantastic, they started declining with the release of the aptly titled "Diver Down" with those embarrassing covers of "(Oh) Pretty Woman" and "Dancing in the Street". Sammy Hagar helped keep Van Halen somewhat viable during the years of the brothers' alcohol induced stupors. Sammy's solo work and his current band, Chickenfoot (with former Van Halen bassist, Michael Anthony) is far superior to anything David Lee Roth did after he left Van Halen. :2 cents:

Yea, i saw David Lee Roth and his band in a smaller club when he was solo................a disappointing performance. I think Bowie and Jagger did a cover of Dancing in the Street too. Oh well................

 

[Killer B]

Yea, i saw David Lee Roth and his band in a smaller club when he was solo................a disappointing performance. I think Bowie and Jagger did a cover of Dancing in the Street too. Oh well................

I heard the same thing about Diamond Dave's solo show from a huge fan, lol. I like DLR as a singer and showman but Hagar is much more accomplished as a musician and writer.

Seriously, check out Sammy Hagar's albums, "Standing Hampton", Three Lock Box", "Marching To Mars" and Chickenfoot's first 2 albums. You won't regret it.

The Bowie /Jagger cover of "Dancing in the Street" was lame too.

 

[Mr. Hyde]

Yea, i saw David Lee Roth and his band in a smaller club when he was solo................a disappointing performance. I think Bowie and Jagger did a cover of Dancing in the Street too. Oh well................

There's a story out there somewhere about DLR post-VH when he was touring with his all-star lineup in the mid-late 80s. I think it was Steve Vai who recounts it...how they'd roll in to a town, and their managers would book the top two floors of the best hotel there. The top floor was for the tour. The floor below it was left empty as a barrier between the band and the other hotel guests.

He said he remembers often times walking around the hallways and there would be a few dozen naked women just strolling around, rooms set up with coke and booze. Just utter wildness.

 

[passenger57]

I prefer the first era, but I think that has a lot more to do with timing than anything else.

I also think there was a stretch there where Van Halen started to take themselves a little too seriously, and it showed. There's a fundamental fact which I think Eddie forgot - probably lost in a drunken haze - which Dave never did:

Van Halen was never meant to be taken too seriously.

I also think it's funny that when Dave first left the band that he was the bad guy, at least in the public's opinion.

Time has told us otherwise, just ask Michael Anthony.

They did have a history and a following. Yea, early Van Halen did rock.

 

[passenger57]

More from The Red Rocker

Excellent guitars. The second song had a nice driving beat and reminded me a bit of Night Ranger.

 

[passenger57]

Sammy in Montrose

Never heard these before..................appreciate you posting them !

 

[passenger57]

DLR needs to go to Vegas or Branson, Missouri to do some sorta Bill Murray Lounge Singer act.

Original SNL cast was simply great !

 

[passenger57]

Some Sunday Sammy

Gonna have to check these out.................appreciate the post !

 

[TheSpokenWheel]

Van halen is overrated poop, like 90% of "classic" music.

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

Hagar easily. At least he can play a mean guitar unlike that fag Roth.

 

[passenger57]

Another i need to check out !

 

[passenger57]

Roth could NEVER even attempt Gillan, like Sammy did and did well:

That was a good version and does bring back memories........................one of my first 8 track tapes was Deep Purple's ''Machine Head''.

 

[passenger57]

Shit. Deep Purple themselves can't play Highway Star that good anymore. Excellent video.

It did rock !

 

[passenger57]

I used to have this song cued up to play on my cassette deck when I got off work on Friday (long time ago obviously). Drivin' my '71 Monte Carlo....I'd crank those Jensens up as loud as they could go!!!

Good crusin' song !

 

[passenger57]

I not only like Joe Satriani better than Eddie Van Halen but I think Joe is better as Eddie than Eddie is as himself.

Excellent for sure ! Blew my mind when he mentioned the name''Gene Krupa'' in the first video.

 

[passenger57]

Here's a good Van Hagar song.

Never would have guessed that was Hagar.

 

[passenger57]

I don't think the Hagar stuff is terrible but definitely Roth for me.

Two different styles for sure. I like Roth myself.

 

[passenger57]

David Lee Roth

http://www.onlinesheetmusic.com/static/images/image/David_Lee_Roth.jpg