I saw this thing on VH1 about their history. It's pretty interesting, Sammy Hagar is okay but DLR was the man, he made Van Halen rock, Sammy sometimes made some of the songs sound like Micheal Bolton. I'd like an experts opinion on this.

I liked Van Halen and also Sammy, but I do think that when the lead singer of any group leaves or dies or whatever, that the group, for the most part is history. Not that Sammy isn't good, but it really was no longer "Van Halen" IMHO.


TIS

In the music business there are alot of occassions where a member of the group leaves and it just isn't the same. I liked Sammy alright. He's alot better then the last guy they got. I think he did one song and they folded.

At least this wasn't as bad as all of Guns-n-roses leaving and Axl forming a whole new group and still going by GNR. That was pathetic.

I agree with Beth about GN'R - why not just rename the group? I'm sure it's because Axl still thinks the name sells. But the GN'R "tour" of 2003 was a disaster and cancelled after just a few dates. Hell, the Velvet Revolver band is more GN'R (3 ex Gunners) than the current "GN'R."

I also agree with TIS - once the singer leaves, it changes something. Not that I'm big fans of these groups, but Deep Purple and Black Sabbath were never the same after their original singers left. Plus Van Halen kind of turned into a soap opera for a while. First it was all the turmoil with DLR leaving. Then they fired Sammy or Sammy quit, depending who you believe. Then they had that horrible guy from Extreme for one album. Then Dave & Sammy toured together - that could have been funny if anyone would have went to the shows.

"I like Van Halen not Van Hagar"-Joe Dirt

Sammy Hager also has a heckuva resume without Van Halen.

Some bands get better with a shake-up of personnel or when a new guy stepped-up to the microphone. The Moody Blues, Springsteen's E Street Band and Journey are some notable examples of bands that benefitted from fresh blood after the first album or two.

The Moody Blues were in the first wave of the British Invasion, but it's hard to imagine they would have survived with the "Go Now" pop sound advocated by Denny Laine when he was in the band. It wasn't until Justin Hayward and John Lodge began to assert themselves that the classic Moody Blues sound began to emerge.

Journey without Steve Perry.

E Street Band -- Born To Run album wouldn't be what it was if Springsteen had used the same line-up as Greetings From Asbury Park or The Wild, The Innocent...

Any of youse New Jersey guys remember Dr. Zoom and the Sonic Boom, Springsteen's band from around 1970 or so?

tony b.

I like Van Halen, regardless of the front man (though didn't they recently replace another member for their latest effort, Van Halen III, which flopped?)

I liken it to the song "1985" by Bowling For Soup.

"and who's that other guy singing in Van Halen..."

I saw them in concert last week.

How cool! How was it?

It was great! I got in free too because my moms friends husband owns the place where they played. It was cool finally seeing them.

Ultimate Classic Rock article on Alex's Book Signings in October 2024

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/alex-van-halen-brothers-book-signing/

Van Halen brothers were proud Dutch guys !

Soundboard Audio - Van Halen 10/22/82 Worcester, MA

Alex Van Halen with Ariel Levy at Live Talks Los Angeles

I was really suprised the brothers still talked pretty good dutch !

Down to earth funny guys, they always talked 'hollands' with their mother who lived close by.

Thanks cool interview their dad Jan van Halen seemed my kind of guy!

Largo, MD Complete Show 1982