Ok, all you Blogcritics and Blogcritic readers who are fans of Van Halen. Help me settle a dispute.…
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Van Halen or Van Hagar? It's a Battle Royale! - Comments Page 3
Ok, all you Blogcritics and Blogcritic readers who are fans of Van Halen. Help me settle a dispute.…
Article comments
— go to most recent comments76 - JoJo
Let me clarify.
What I was trying to say is Van Hagar sucks.
But i will allow a fat chic to fondle me. Unless she is a metaphor for VH with Sammy Hagar. In that event I definitely would not allow her to rub my package because i do not enjoy Van Hagar's music.
Now if you'll excuse me I have to get back to my lab at NASA.
77 - Chris
As much as I like Dave, the man really can't sing. Great entertainer, but listen to his stuff - he basically shouts his lyrics. Sammy is just an all-around better musician and vocalist. And his image was definitely a party image, so I don't think he can be held responsible for the change in musical direction. That has always been up to Eddie. The old stuff everyone remembers as being great - "Unchained", "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love", "Panama", even "Jump" - aren't great because they are Dave songs. It's Eddie's openings (guitar or keyboard) and solos that make those so memorable.
Eddie wanted to use keyboards more. Dave wasn't into that, which contributed to him leaving. Sammy didn't soften the band - it was heading in that direction anyway. But because they had more musical variety doesn't mean they didn't have some good power songs - "Poundcake", "Best of Both Worlds", "Judgement Day", "Humans Being" aren't as raw as early VH, but still rock. Sammy worked better for the band because he could pull off ALL of the stuff Eddie wanted to do.
Too bad Eddie has turned out to be such a problem child.
78 - therake
Remeber the "reunion" of 1996 or so with DLR? The two songs VH did with him then "Can't Get This Stuff No More" and "Me Wise Magic" have so much more lyrical depth than any of Sammy's stuff. No doubt Sammy is a talent singer and seems like a nice guy. But the DLR stuff with its humor, raunch and in your face attitude stands out as real classic rock for the ages. One thing about Sammy is that he keeps moving on and working and playing and recording. Good for him. DLR put out three pretty good albums, too. But VH has done nothing without SH or DLR. Anyway, DLR days rock!
79 - WiMac
ROTH BY A MILE, BABY!
This is the most one-sided contest since the US entered WW II.
When it's Van Halen you crave, y'all want Diamond Dave!
WHOO!
80 - Sam
What i think is really sad is the way the van halen brothers try to change history by putting sammy singing DLR song on best of both worlds.all that does is show how inferior sammy was to dave.DIAMOND DAVE ERA IS THE REAL VAN HALEN
81 - TK
Dave era wins no contest. Sammy had (has) a great solo career, and his work with VH was great, but Dave's work with VH changed music. Those are phenomenal records, great timeless music, instant classics.
82 - Randy
The fact that people are still arguing about David lee Roth after 20 years of his exit from Van Halen prove how big of a shadow he cast over the band.Sammy has been in and out of the band twice and all we (the fans) care about is DLR ERA.There will still be people that will argue that sammy is a better blah blah blah but those are the same people that thought Pink Floyd was still pink floyd without Roger Waters.The real Van Halen fan knows that without Dave, Van Halen was just another band.To qoute DLR from I`m the one "We came here to entertain you you say we aggervate you don`t you know it means the same to me".Now that`s real ROCK AND ROLL.mY VOTE IS FOR dAVE.
83 - mike
Roth hands down, everyone knows this incuding the VH brothers. They try their best to make all of the fans forget about dave (refuse to release videos, live concerts, bring dave back, release best of videos w/ only 3 roth songs, it goes on and on...)
Dave much much much better.
I like hagar as a solo artist and would see him assuming he didn't try to trash dave
84 - Jim Stantion
It is simple. Dave rocked. I just saw him on my birthday this summer and even my wife who is not a fan of VH said she was rteal impressed. Sammy turned VH into Journey.
85 - Curt
Dave is king. Loved every album. I will give Sammy fans the benefit of several tremendous songs, all of 5150, much of ou812 and some from FUCK (Poundcake, Runaround, Right Now) - but overall, the DLR albums I love from the first sone til the last !
86 - Mike Merz
Seems like the majority of the 80 plus responses have been pro DLR ... add mine to the mix. ;)
Look at it this way ...
If ... tomorrow, Van Halen announced it was going to tour and put out a new CD with A) Sammy B) David Lee Roth ... which one do you think would make a bigger impact? Make more fans happy?
I think you ALL know the answer to that one ... whether pro DLR, OR pro Sammy. ;)
I'm been following Han Halen since Day 1 ... and I got into it because it was balls to the wall, walking down the beach with a drink in my hand while checking out the ladies, roll down your car windows on the highway and turn the volume up rock and roll.
If I wanted to hear love songs, I'd pick up an old Commodores CD ... political stuff? The Clash, or U2.
Ass kicking Rock and Roll?
'Classic' Van Halen.
Much success,
Mike 'Van Halen : 1977 - 1984' Merz
87 - WTF
The vibe and the verve was with Davy Lee. Hagar... I never really listened to them after that. And I wasn't that big of a DLR fan. I just thought the band rocked harder with DLR.
88 - Mike Merz
A couple more quick facts ...
I've heard many say that Sammy 'saved' Van Halen ...
Was 1984 not successful ... as far as sales, and fan support?
Regardless of what was happening inside the band ... the fans, overall, were still into what they were doing.
DLR and Eddie were the main two reasons VH went from playing bars and nightclubs to becoming a major player ... YEARS of live gigs ... the VH 'machine' was already well established when Sammy came into the picture ... and it took years of blood, sweat and tears to get it to that point ... Sammy just helped keep it going.
True ... not just anyone could do that ... giving Sammy credit where it's due ... but VH was the house Eddie AND Dave built ... not JUST Eddie ... and not Sammy, at all (he just helped maintain it).
I don't think Dave was perfect, either ... that high pitched scream thing came along a bit too much for my taste on the earlier stuff ... he cut down on it a bit toward the end (thankfully).
Regards,
Mike
89 - Steve
Let face it when Van Halen lost DLR they lost the one thing that made them special and that`s humor.And to hear these guys go at it over and over again makes me relise that it`s never coming back.Sammy keeps threating to re-group if eddie changes.Do we really care?? Sammy was not part of the Van Halen I Loved.tHESE GUY ARE DONE OVER FINISHED PART OF HISTORY.RIP.
90 - steve
I saw them play live June 28th, 2004. they put on a good show. any van halen fan will know that the show is all about eddie, not sammy or dave...Id prefer to see dave sing...but sammy can put on quite a show.
91 - steve tyler
SAMMY BYE A MILE HE IS THE KING sammy hagar made van halen
peace.xx
92 - myothaw
As far as I understand, there's two VH fan groups, DLR group and Sammy group.
DLR fans like the style and popularity of DLR on the stage. The tune and lyrics are party music type. Sammy group like the inspirational lyrics and tune, aslo the high pitch and energitic vocal of Sammy. Generally, DLR is for the people in top layer class and Sammy is for the labor class. Without Eddie, Sammy is nothing and without Sammy Eddie can't do anything. Since they 4 (Eddie, Alex, Sammy, Mike) work together, we have 4 albums of our life time. (5150, OU812, FUCK and Balance).
Eddie want to fire Sammy because he want to rule the band with his own and he would hate Sammy's anti-woman lyrics. He would dream the band like the combination of DLR & Sammy. So he picked the Gary for the mixture of DLR style and Sammy look alike vocal to do the VH3. The songs in VH3 has some quality, but the VH world is not accepted. I always dream the band would continue with Sammy and dream for the music like Mine All Mine and Judgement Day. I listen the Sammy Hagar music with Wabo Rita band, that's the same old tune of Sammy Hagar before 1986. Nothing improvement. I was Sammy's fan and I always wish I could go to Sammy's BDay Batch in Cabo one day before Sammy die.
hee hee, i've posted this msg in http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=41211 also. ;p
93 - sam
VAN HAGAR RULES. DREAMS
94 - Eddie
Roth Rules Hagar DROOLS.Roth era Van Halen has stood the test of time 20 Years later and it still kicks ass and 20 years from now it will still be kicking .Sammy era on the other hand was ok but still not the classic Van Halen and 20 years from now will still be over shadowed by Diamond Dave.Eddie and co tried to erase DLR on best of both worlds but by having sammy singing Roth tunes just proves they know Dave was THE MAN .On there recent tour the highlights for me and most of the fans around me were when they played Roth era tunes. It`s a fact that Van Halen is now dead
95 - JD
Van Halen (w/DLR) was great, but got boring after while because DLR was too
much of an arse..
Van Halen (w/Sammy) was also great,
they were/are more serious into the
songs which make them just as good if not better..
I like both the DLR & Sammy era's. Growing up with the DLR era was great,
it was fun growing up into the Sammy era
also. But I will most likely grow older
in the Sammy era, with a splash of DLR
in the mix..
And for "Michele Catalano", I like how you make your "one-sided" comparison of
the DLR era to the Sammy era.. Next time try to make the comparison a little
more balanced on each side..
Top Of The World - VH (Sammy)
Runaround - VH (Sammy)
Aftershock - VH (Sammy)
Can't Stop Lovin' You - VH (Sammy)
Ponudcake - (Sammy)
It's About Time - VH (Sammy)
The Seveth Seal - VH (Sammy)
96 - jay leno
I NEED A VAN HAGAR TOUR RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW
VANHAGAR PAVED THE WAYFOR THE REALVAN HALEN
PEACE XX
97 - braveheart
U MAY TAKE OUR LIVES BUT U WILL NEVER TAKE OUR VANHALEN
HAGAR RULES
XX
98 - wolfgang
if it wasn`t for sammy hager van halen would`ve never gotten signed.oh my god sammy is van halen.if you believe that then you`re an idiot.everybody want some ?? not if sammy`s in it .i already wasted 150.00 for tickets on the last tour to watch sammy give high fives and sign autographs...hahahahahahaha DIAMOND DAVE ALL THE WAY !!!
99 - wolfgangs mum
DAVIDLEE ROTH PAYED HIM TO SAY THAT.SAMMY HAGAR IS GOD.PEACE XX
100 - Valerie
David Lee Roth is GOD saving lives and rocking. Sammy`s on the food network . and wolfgang like his food. and eddie now single because he`s loves his bottle
101 - patch adams
hey ok you guys listin some people like hagar some like roth some even like gary c but see at the end of the day van halen with any singer would rock the world. my fav is sammy hagar to be honest but i aint going to sit her and slag any the other guys simply because i thot roth was class gary c was ok but van halen as a hole are the best rock band of all time in my eyes dave roth with his slick moves and sarcasim sammy with his heart and soul?and i really hope eddie can get out this hole he is the best ther was and the best ther willever be in my eyes u get some van halen fans having a go at eddie but have u uys not got any problems because he is rich and famous it does not mean he can not get downeven if eddie never played again it would be cool that guy knows what he has done eddie we love u..
102 - sam
SAMMY HAGAR ISTHE KING
KING HAGAR
103 - Mitch
Sammy`s enables Eddie to drink.He`s always pushing his tequlia on everyone no wonder the last tour bombed.And what`s up with michael anthony selling his hot sause ?? The only one who still lives on the edge is Dave Mr EMT helping others saving sick people and rocking the stage.Too bad Van Halen has become a joke and oldies act.Heck even the rock and roll hall of fame passed over them again this year.Sad to see one of the Great american Rock and Roll bands turn into a sick soap opera.Well at leats i still have the first 6 cd to remond me what once was.
104 - eddie
why can this be love sammy coz when its love sammy we are the best band in the world xx peace sammy is the best bye far xx
105 - Jordan
Gary Cherone!!!
No just joking I don't know...
It's way too hard.
As long as Eddie's in there that's good enough for me!
106 - tanya kristine
where is Eddie anyway? I've seen recent pix of him and it makes me just want to put my arms around him.
anyway, i'm a girl and i reach for the DLR days buddy...dont' be speakin' for me!
107 - Jenny
Nothing beats the DLR era. Those are the songs that when you hear them you crank up the radio and rock out. As for Van Hagar.......Sammy completely gayified Van Halen and the Hagar era is truly painful to listen to.
108 - Cosmo
David Lee Roth all the way. David Lee roth and eddie Van Halen where the best. Sammy hagar ruined Van Halen
109 - Jim
Diamond Dave kills sammy hagar. It's Van Halen Not Van Hagar
110 - Vern Halen
Gotta have my 2 cents' in here (again!). Last year when this thread came up, I went out and bought the first Van Halen album and came to the conclusion that other than a handful of tracks, this is the only essential Van Halen album that everyone ought to own. So my vote goes to DLR.
But Sammy rules in Montrose!
111 - Paul
It's David Lee Roth...and he'll kick your ass
With a flying leap kick thingy
112 - Ed
Ok just one thing:
Dave Lee Roth has a shit voice for Rock music.
The only bad thing about Van Hagar was that there wasn't enough material...
Sammy I love you.
He shouldve been there from the start!
"5150 Time!"
113 - MissZ
Van Halen rocked with Diamond Dave!
Sammy Hagar rocked with Montrose and as a solo artist.
Van Hagar is nothing more than a generic yuppie rock band. Van Hagar may have sold more records than Van Halen, but so has Britney Spears and she sucks.
114 - Scott
I saw Sammy and the boys 5 times during my high school and college days. Each time I felt so great after the shows. It was for the simple reason of the band really went out of their way to put on the best shows possible, and just when you thought that it couldn't get any better, they took it over the top. The raw energy that they would unleash on stage was phenominal. The attitude that Sammy put forth onto the crowd was mesmerising to say the least. Van Halen will never be the the way that it was, but man.. wasn't it great being there when it was happening?
115 - Tim
Actually DLR with VH sold more than Sammy's VH. That being said, I prefer DLR by a lot. I like some Sammy songs (Right Now, When It's Love, Why Can't This BE Love, Dreams) but when you compare them to CLASSICS like Ain't Talking About Love, Unchained, etc it's a no contest.
116 - Chicabogirl
RE: MYOTHAW COMMENT DATED 9/10/05 06:00 A.M.
"Generally, DLR is for the people in top layer class and Sammy is for the labor class."
Really now? and which class do you fall in to - because last time I checked, I was in management at a global corporation and I am a REDhead with out a doubt (and proud of it).
"Without Eddie, Sammy is nothing and without Sammy Eddie can't do anything."
Again, I'd like to know where you are getting your facts? Sammy has a very large following and if he were to stop touring today - he'd be set for life at any one of his mansions between No. Cali and Cabo.
You truly need to think about a topic a little more before you sit at your keyboard and type. David WEAVE Roth is nothing but a washed up has been who can't remember the lyrics to the songs he performed with VH; he was so bad in Chicago on the Sam and Dave tour, I walked out (along with about 30% of the audience). That man no longer commands the stage presence he had. WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE - THE 80'S ARE GONE! This is the MILLENIUM!
117 - Chicabogirl
And for those of you professing DLR is "out there saving lives" ... he couldn't cut it as an EMT ... or a radio host, and lastly a solo artist.
HOWEVER, I hope for those of you who do want to see him that Eddie's stint in rehab is a short and successful one and that the band does get back together for a last tour. However, without Mikey - the band just won't be VH! I was at both the Chicago shows in 2004 - Wolfgang just was not in to it at all. Granted, that is a whole different thread all together!
FOR THE DIEHARD REDHEADS: LONG LIVE SAMMY HAGAR!
FOR THE DIEHARD VH FANS: GOD BLESS YOU ALL! :)
118 - JJ
Look, my 2 cents are as follows. Dave era was awesome, however; it was the past and that is where the original Van Halen should stay. I mean Dave was so damn cool in his era, but now he is just a sad old man that thinks it is still 1984. Do you people not make fun of the 50 + year old man with the earring and the long hair? He has the bald spot on the top of his head! Still trying to pick up 20 year olds. That is DLR! If you cannot see that, well then you are probably that guy too.
Sammy, weather you love or hate him, he has aged very well. I mean if I saw my Father with the long hair and the Bermuda shorts, slamming tequila I would probably laugh too; However, Sammy is having fun and he knows his bread is buttered from the fans and he treats them that they are the reason for his success. He is having a blast.
Dave still thinks he is a GOD. It is so funny that he has you people that can’t grow up see him for what he really is.
Keep slamming Sammy, I don't care, I have my own life and I am "living it up!"
119 - Ripper
Hagar no contest!! Roth was just a frontman, Sammy could write with Eddie, play guitar and was 1,000 times better than Dave
120 - jerry stiensteinburger
Eddie over all the singers anyday.
Anybody like the song "feel your love tonight"?
That's what im talking about! The first two albums had that high energy fire thing going.Anyone remember how that sound was all like wow....what the f is that!? It was new and fresh and had tone....
121 - rocketboy
Ithink what everyone is missing here is the idea of synergy (I.e., when certain people working together creates more energy or output than if they all did their own thing individually). Well my friends, diamond dave with VH creates synergy. It does not matter if sammy has more range and is a better guitar player. Unplug his @ss because I am ther to see Ed. They look like a group of demented gypsy rockers with dave and way totally more approachable than with the Red rocker. Also, sammy would not have agreed to an all VH set. Dave could have insisted on "yankee rose", but no, he can hang with what is best for a VH show.
122 - sammyisking
I extremely prefer sammy's stint with van halen he put out many great songs with van halen before van halen and after van halen.
123 - Scandia
VAN HAGAR!!!!!!!!!!
124 - mikemagoo
Why do I always get the vibe that Roth fans are nothing more than jealous of the success Hagar had with the band.
Dave more rocking? During his time in Van Halen they did mostly covers and 3 minute pop songs. Hagar was just a better singer/songwriter the band became much more progressive and diverse. They were just able to do more kinds of music with him. Dave never could have sang 'Right Now' or 'Black and Blue'.
125 - jomama
I think DLR could have done Black and Blue. But he could have never done Dreams or Right Now. Sammy Hager style Van Halen was great I loved it and it Kicked A-- However I just saw VH in Dallas with DLR 2008 and they are Rockin and Im a big fan of the WOLF.