Hagar admits the VH/Roth reunion tour was “outta sight”, but asks “why didn’t they just keep Mike?”

August 15, 2008 118 Comments

TheTourBus.com has recently interviewed Sammy Hagar, and today they posted just a quick, 90 second clip from it, when they asked Sammy what he thought about the Van Halen/David Lee Roth reunion.

Sammy Hagar: “The reunion with Dave was the greatest thing they could have done. I think it was so outta sight. But why didn’t they just keep Mike just one more time?”

Filed Under: Michael Anthony, Sammy Hagar, Van Halen

Robby Venice

Thats why when you see these old rock stars getting together and having an all star jam it only happens one time and usually it is for some charity and the only reason they do it in the first place is to make themselves feel good about being ego-centric power trippers…all i know is I am going to work on monday and If i could make the kind of money these pansies make doing re-union tours i would pull my head out of my ass swallow my pride and make the fans happy…and if you think it isnt about the fans then i say you should play for free no matter how famous you are
Shawn

I have been a faithful fan of VH since 1983. I have seen many shows. Sammy’s shows are always a blast and you leave feeling you got what you came for. Dave’s solo shows for the last few years have been full of fan interaction and fun. This last VH show was solid but had no heart. Dave had scripted lines and nothing else. I went with friends who were Dave fans to the core and they left the show saying, “It was good to see Dave but it wasn’t as good as the anticipation”. They played the tunes but the performance was flat. Mike brought energy to the show that you can’t measure. Dave was under a gag order. It obviously isn’t about the fanss with the brothers. I am not sure it ever has been about the fans with Eddie.
kyle thompson

Shawn you must of saw a different show than I did. The band sold out across the country and did multiple shows in New York and LA. I miss Mike being in the line up but Wolf did a great job. As for Hagar, if you call sitting on your ass for half the show signing anything that gets thrown your way entertaining than so be it. Dave was great, as well as Eddie, Alex, and YES Wolf. If you are going to compare ANYONE in thier 20 ies and the 50ies it will not be what it was, but it was pretty damn close.
ClubfootKolby

Bring both back if you want the best of Van Halen. The 2004 tour was sold out every nigh too.
Shawn

We saw the same show. I see it over and over on You Tube and still feel the same. Entertaining yes but Van Halen kick you in the face and steal your girlfriend? Van Halen will always stand up over most bands. I had a good time as well but,Dave barely spoke,not the Dave I know. Eddie stood in one spot most of the show,not the Eddie I remember. Wolfgang had zero stage presence.certainly not Mike! The only one who played with heart was Alex. Of course it sold out all over. We have been waiting for this since 1985. Yes Sammy spends a lot of time signing, but he understands that his fans keep him doing what he loves. I agree he should focus on quality music as well but I have never felt disappointed after Sammy’s show. I can even accept Wolfgang. If I was Eddie I would want to play with my son. I just don’t want contrived and controlled. Is that really Van Halen? Especially the Van Halen David Lee Roth line up? I think not!!! Use the same sober judgement of Van Halen as you do with Sam an ask yourself again. Is this the Van Halen your remember or cooperate Van Halen? I can live with cooperate Van Halen cause it beats no Van Halen.
kyle thompson

Again, we just saw a different show.. Eddie was jumping around constantly, Dave was entertaining/talking/and sounded great;and Alex was fantastic as usual. I do agree with your view of Wolf but give the guy a break he was only 17 years old!! For me corporate Van Halen started at 5150 when Ed wanted to take the band in a more commercial/pop direction and he found the guy who would go along with him. Again, it just all depends on which version of the band you like.
RW

****For me corporate Van Halen started at 5150 when Ed wanted to take the band in a more commercial/pop direction and he found the guy who would go along with him. Again, it just all depends on which version of the band you like.****

First off, I like and respect your writing & opinion.
That said, the quoted comment is just something I don’t “get”. I have all the VH CDs and I can swear that the remake of the Vandellas is on a Dave CD. “I’ll wait til your love comes down”? Dave. And, let’s face it, other than the guitar solo, is there a bigger pop song in the band’s history than “Jump”? How about “Dance the night away”? (seen any bikers singing “dance….dance….dance, the night away” at the pool parlor, lately?) “You’re no good”? “Pretty woman”?

Now, before you unload: I love all those songs (except Jump….never liked it). My point is that all the diehard Dave fans seem to only remember the unbelievable classics like “Mean street”, “Eruption”, “RWTD” and the many, many others, while seeing only “Love walks in” or “Can’t stop loving you” from the Sammy era. Well, I beg to differ. I can plug in F.U.C.K. and hear some of the best rock of the 90s. “In n’ Out”, “Poundcake”, “Judgment Day” and “Man on a mission” are harder than the classics of the 80s, IMO. (not saying ‘better’, but ‘harder’) To me, and since Eddie wrote most of the music it stands to reason, they had just as many hard rock songs, they just went with more love related songs w/Sammy instead of the campy/schmaltzy stuff they did with Dave (I love “Ice cream man” and “Where have all the good times gone” just like everyone else, but they also sound a lot like something a lounge singer does).

You’re quite right, it all depends on which version you like….well, I like ‘em both, I just don’t see how “Push comes to shove” is from the ‘kickass’ era and “Finish what ya started” is part of the era when VH ‘sold out’.

Don’t get it. Never have. They’ve always rocked.
Joe S

RW,
I agree wit what you said about Van Halen at one point I got so sick of jump I would change the station when it came on because it was so damn poppy. It took me till about five years ago to where I could listen to it again with out cringing or changing the station.

I also do agree that the F.U.C.K. album is one of the hardest rockin’ albums they had released since Van Halen one, in my opinion they went back to their roots and I loved it, now that is what made Van Halen.

For me I have the albums in the order of hardest albums to worst albums, my top three Van Halen albums are Van Halen, F.U.C.K. and Fair Warning in that order. For that matter, all the Van Halen albums are good with some exceptions here are some examples, Van Halen III, there might be two good songs on it, and of course Diver Down, this was there worst selling album till Van Halen III came out, those are the worst albums they had released. As for VIII and DD, I do have them but I don’t enjoy as much as I did the others.

Here are some questions, will they record a new album, will it be with Dave or will there be a new singer, will they ever tour again as Van Hale. Tune in next time for As Van Halen Turns
TS

The sound is better with Dave for whole bunch of reasons. The sound is a function of the era..analog vs. digital…Dave’s more unique, more soulful voice (vs. Sammy’s me-too hair-band falsetto squeal); Dave’s far more colorful, off-beat, interesting and poetic lyrics, storylines, subject matter. As well as Eddie’s de-evolution in his sound – going from the innovative yet simple, rich and elegant brown sound (with a pop hook or two) to nine different guitar solos mixed over the top of one another. All that means is that even a cover of Pretty Women with Dave sounds better than love walks in not just because of the words but because of the voice and the sound.
Mad Mike

Let’s be honest, Ed was a wreck on the 04 tour. Mike and Sam handled themselves so well under the circumstances. It was nuts. Ed got mad that Sam and Mike were unhappy because of his condition, and it caused a lot of problems. I’m glad Ed’s straight now, but he’s already done the damage.

If you read all the books by every one, Ed was looking for a new bass player years ago. The reason? Power- Mike got a 1/4 vote in everything VH and now Wolfie will just go along with whatever Dad says. I am most disappointed in Al, he lets Ed do whatever he wants and never stands up to him. It breaks my, and a lot of others people’s hearts to see our hero’s turn petty and vicious. Try working my job for a day Ed, maybe the reality kick would make you try to get along with people who helped make you rich.

Wolf needs to leave VH and start his own thing. He has a valid resume now, but it is unrealistic to think he can take over the Van Halen name someday and keep VH going like Menudo with a new member every few years. Bring back Mike, do a tour with Dave and Sammy and make things the way they should be. Hagar, to his credit, has been calling for this for years. It seems he and Mike have the fans needs placed about thier own.
Joe S

Mad Mike,
I could not agree with you more. Sammy and Michael have always been the ones that are doing things to meet the fans. They make it easy to buy there tickets and always seem to make themselves available for the fans. I never really hear of anything where Edward or Alex are meeting fans unless its at NAMM other than that you just see them on tour or in the media.

When it comes to media and when you hear about Ed it will be a rollercoaster ride, from cancer to divorce, from new singer/tour to rehab. You hardly ever hear any good news about what Ed is doing and as for Al he is a ghost, you mainly here from him around a tour. With Sammy and Michael you here good things, the only bad thing you heard about them is being fired/leaving Van Halen.

In the next 3 to 6 months, we will see what happens in As
Van Halen Turns fasten your seatbelts it will be a hell of a ride.
Rich

Hey “Dan Halen” “Me Wise Magic”?, best effort in 20 years? As the comedian he is DLR would love to spend time with you! Then EVH would have one more person to control and be pissed at. It all comes down to Ed’s issues. Hopefully for Wolf, EVH will someday find and maintain balance in his life so his family and fans can enjoy his talents and company like they should.
Joe S

Rich
I could not have said it better myself. Eddie has got to find his serenity, to accept the things he can not change, find the courage to change the things he can and the wisdom to know the difference.

There is an old saying, keep coming back it works if you work it. If he dose that things will calm down and he will do better and just maybe we will get something new.
Mike V.

Problem is and probably always will be Ed’s and Alex’s ego and that was pretty evident with the McCain campaign’s playing ‘Right Here, Right Now’, with VH’s lawyers burning up the phone lines demanding they cease and desist playing the tune while the song has been available commercially for years and years, and if I was in charge of the campaign I would have told their lawyers to shove it, nothing they can say or do will prevent me the freedom to play the song where ever I can or please.

While the tour was a success, ticket prices bothered a lot of fans I know, and some had a huge problem ponying up the $75 for decent seats and Michael Anthony would probably have made a difference in ticket prices especially in the southeast and especially here in Jacksonville, FL, and it took awhile for the tickets to sell, but this is Lynnyrd Skynnyrd land and .38 Special land and that’s to be expected.

Also wonder if and when VH will release a new album, there was huge buzz that they’d spent a lot of time in the recording studio with Wolfie but nothing yet. Might wonder if the Brothers VH are just trying to live in the past with the tour.
Mo S

At this rate Axl will release Chinese Democracy before Eddie gets off his ass
Joe S

The next all new Van Halen album (no greatest hits package with a new song or two) will be release when hell freezes over or when Eddie and Alex are Bankrupt which ever comes first.

The reason I say this is because they just did a tour where they charged enormous prices for tickets that were half the price four years earlier, they should be set for life.
jay

I am amazed that none of you get it. Not one comment about it! one word>……..

M O N E Y!!!!

My thinking is, everyone wanted dave back, ok , they held off, did some records without him.. many records, , then finally brought him back and did a world Tour that sold out like nuts! BUT,.. they left michael anthony out.,,.,?????

some fans were all pissy and bummed out. Granted, the wolf is a Van Halen, but he is not Michael Anthony, nor can he sing bkg vox like Michael, nor will he ever be able to, because he has his own tone and style. I respect that and applaud his musiciansship.

M O N E Y!!!!!!
After Wolf gets really established with the band, he will probably ditch VH and go do his own thing and make his own music, THEN guess who will be invited back into the band. YOU GUESSED IT, THE REUNION TOUR WILL HAVE ALL OF THE ORGINAL MEMBERS..

M O N E Y!!!! boys.. M O N E Y!!! keeps all of the fans guessing, but the truth is, you all scratch your heads and wonder why, but it all quite calculated. They know, when they do the Reunion tour, they will make another fortune. If anyone here, thinks, that money is not the motivation, then your lost!

MONEY!!!! MONEY BOYS… Its all about MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMOOOOOOONNNEY!

J
Joe S

Jay

You’re absolutely right. Van Halen will make a lot more $$$$$MONEY$$$$$ when they have a reunion with the four original members of the band.

At that point they will charge upwards of $250+ mark my works after the last tour I can see it being that way.