Van Halen – Hot or Not?

January 28, 2010 74 Comments

File this under “Humor” (Or Attempted Humor, at least):

A bloodthirsty roasted turkey, Turk, and mild-mannered midwestern man, Jim, comprise an unlikely duo. Episode 5 – Van Halen.

Filed Under: Humor, Van Halen

chris.omeara

That makes it unanimous! (I told you so…)
Rich

Sammy Hagar hasn’t been in Van Halen for 15 years. “Fuck that guy” – who cares? 4 number 1 albums later, many still love him and VH. Eddie pulled out some killer riffs during that time.

How is this even news?
5150=1984

Sammy Hagar the best frontman.
scott

Someone has too much time on their hands.
Atomic Pete

They sound like most people in these forums.
Deathsquatch

Those who truly know Van Halen know that Sammy Hagar at least contributed something to the band, even if some people think he didn’t do much.
jrocks

this is so funny.
http://vhnd.com surfthis!!

dont diss sam.

sam is the man.
DrJay

I laughed. The best part of that was the Olds Cutlass 442 they are cruising in.
Rick Pride

I love Sammy. I don’t understand why so many people want to argue and talk trash about him. I mean Dave Left in 1984. Sammy didn’t kick Dave out and wasn’t even the reason Dave left. Eddie and Al were looking for a singer after Dave left. Thank God they found an awesome singer like Sammy Hagar. Some amazing things came from OUR band Van Halen with both singers!!! Sammy did an awesome job in Van Halen. I love Sam and Dave those who hate one or the other are very small minded people.
Keith

Who the hell is running VHND now ??? This was a totally useless and unappropriate post.
andym

Amen Rick and the other Sammy lovers! When Sam was in the band they made some pretty good music. And at least Sammy is out there doing things like making NEW music unlike our “Guitar Hero”, Eddie.

Speaking of Sammy’s Van Halen stuff…who else is ticked off that Eddie basically shuns that BIG chunk of the band’s history to the point that we will probably never hear those riffs again in concert???
Tony

“That Sam I am, that Sam I am, I do not like that Sam I am…”

That’s all I hear in the court of public opinion and mainstream media, BUT – look at 5150, OU812, F-U-C-K and Balance… tell me that wasn’t some of the greatest music Van Halen ever produced?! Puh-lease

So screw you – little orange blob riding shotgun. WTF do you know?! You don’t even have a nose, dammit. LOL
http://none Dirty Duck

Rick Pride:

If you did your homework there were MANY reasons why MANY couldnt stomach hagar when he joined the band. My biggest gripe will always be because he had no respect whatsoever for the roots. He also rubbed fans the wrong way with his “Anti-dave” signs he would hold in the air. Example: “Dave who?”
I heard there was one show when he tried to pull that shit and I guess someone switched the sign and it said: “where’s dave?”
Wish I could have seen that.
phillster

Hey andym: here`s a “big chunk” of tunes “Spammy” REFUSED to do LIVE in concert:
on Fire
I`m the one
Atomic punk
D.O.A
ToraTora/Loss Of Control
Take your whiskey Home
Dance the night Away
Women in love
Jamie`s cryin`
feel your love tonight
Cradle will rock
Light up the sky
Ice cream man
Beautifull girls
outta love again
Mean sreet
Hear about it later
So this is live
fools
Romeo Delight
Where have all the good times gone
Hang`em high
Secrets
Little guitars
The FULL bug
Top Jimmy
Drop Dead legs
Girl gone bad
House of pain
I don`t recall ANY of these songs being played LIVE during the Spammy yrs,The closest he came was the pitiful `04 tour.(jump&somebody get me a doctor)
ROTH era =VH= was WIDELY IGNORED because Spammy wanted to erase
the memory of ROTH like a jealous bitchy 2nd wife.
So F*ckin` get over yourself already. putz.
Canes_fan5150

Vh with Dave and Sam are both good. I like to look at them as 2 different bands so I don’t compare them. Van Hagar is like def leppard on steroids and actually having good music.
Tony

Sammy performed “Aint Talkin’ bout love”, “Panama” and “Jump” really well… How many Hagar-era songs did Roth sing their last tour?… Ummm… none. Right. BUT, we all wanted to hear the classic songs that we missed the past twenty years. Point is, we shouldn’t neglect All the great music they made with Sammy either.

It’s really pointless to keep rehashing this same bloody crap. Yet I still do?! Why!?

New music please.
D.O.A.

Not to argue Phil, but isn’t it fair to point out the Roth refused to do ANY of the catalog of songs featuring Hagar thus denying the history of that period of VH?

Putting the blame on Sammy for the “Dave who” stuff can hardly be put solely on his plate. It was still Van Halen, not Sammy Hagar with Van Halen. The band itself shoulders the responsibility. Did you miss Eddie yucking it up whenever that was going on? There was never a hint of admonishment from anyone in that regard.

I’m not trying to be a Hagar apologist, but if we’re being realistic it’s been a soap opera worthy of an emmy with all members deserving of an award.
Dooley

Hello Duck & phillster: As a member of the “loyal opposition”… So Dave never said anything bad at that time about Ed, Al, Sam & Mike? Wasn’t there mutual grumbling going in both directions? Sam performed Aint’ Talkin’ ‘Bout Love & Panama on the Live Without a Net DVD released in 1996. I’d say that’s resepect for the “roots” of the band. Dave never sang any tune from the Hagar era.
http://none Dirty Duck

Dooley:

No he didnt….and thats a fact jack!

Even ed and the rest of the band would tell sam to cool it during the shows.

Dave didnt open his mouth and start his side of the bashing until after he was called an asshole by ed in rollingstone 86′. Then dave called a press conference (which you CAN google to prove my point) and called them out.
Is this all childish? Sure! But the facts are the facts.
SCAR

DLR and Sammy both fucking rule!!!!!
Dooley

Duck:

OK, I’ll accept your take on it. Sam “started” it. I knew the hits during the early days and became more of a fan when Sam joined. So, you were probably more tuned in than I was on how things went down.

But my other point stands. Sam paid his respect to the roots and made up for some of the “childishness” by performing a few of the CVH tunes after Van Hagar was formed and went in a different direction. If you won’t give Sam credit for that, I will.
VH2008

Keith said “This was a totally useless and unappropriate post.”

I guess you meant “inappropriate”? I disagree. Sure, it’s not one of the better posts, but it is appropriate. If the VHND posted only true NEWS, there would be very few stories. These little things keep the site fun, in my opinion.

I think this is pretty funny.
phillster

Just for the record- I enjoyed the 1st 3 albums with Sam.
After 1984 though,I would`ve bought an album of just farts from this band-I was HOOKED Big Time!!And I really DID try go to along with the “Sammy bandwagon”, I honestly did.
but the songs on F.U.C.K. to me sounded more like they were better suited for DAVE`S lyrical approach than Sam`s.
Screeching isn`t always a substitute for attitude,which i felt at the time was sorely missing.I guess that`s when I “chose sides” so to speak.DAVE can be a pompous goofball,but he`s OUR pompous goofball Y`know?(like a dirty little secret or “in”joke only WE know about)
Sam always came off as “businessman”to me even back then.
DOOLEY!!!-Never say Never when it comes this band brother!
If DAVE ever sings a “VHGR” tune,I personally will sh*t a brick&Blow my mind.Whatever song it`d be, would be AMAZING!!
Maybe that`s something the band is “arguing” about right now.lol.You have to realize though,when Sam joined,there were 6 albums worth of material with ROTH,Sammy picked about
3-4 songs out of the Roth era,and that`s it.DiamondDave`s never been in a situation where he`s HAD to sing a VHGR tune-
until now.Only time will tell.I read someone`s blog here recently that they met a guitar player who`s recording for a new DLR solo album,is it a “contractual obligation” or is DAVE”hedging” his bets?-I wonder.I`ll say this though, this f*kin` band always keeps you guessin`
I`m Outta Here!!!
ROB5150

The endless story dave vs sam. Past days someone write about U2; I don’t like their music so much but I see 4 people at the service of a band that still make music after 30 years, 4 smart people that put their own ego aside for the band. When I look on you tube the video or the tracks no matter if Dave era or Sam era, I can only blame destiny that the people that play in my beloved band was no so smart.I repeat, I don’t care about “dave or sam”,I would be the fan of the biggest band on the planet, things have not gone so.
http://none Dirty Duck

Dooley:

I respect your view brother and your post.

No beef on my end with you. Just a very serious cat when it comes to classic VH. I’m sure that if you were my age or grew up around that time you would see things waaaay differently.

Hey it’s friday! I’m almost done with work in 15 mins!
I got some cold ones waiting for me and a girl named “maryjane”!
Hope you have a great weekend boys!: Dooley, SCAR, Phillster, Phil, pete, and Panama red!

Later!!!!!!
tru5150

Gary! Gary! Gary! Gary! Gary!
Dooley

Dirty Duck says:

Hey it’s friday! I’m almost done with work in 15 mins!
I got some cold ones waiting for me and a girl named “maryjane”!

and Sammy says:

“She can drive, I get wasted
A stoner’s dream on a Friday night…”

lyrics from “Sexy Little Thing” on the Chickenfoot album.

So get your buzz on…me too. Later
Brantgoose

Scar dead on!!! All the talk about Sammy not singing DLR songs,I have personally seen him sing: You Really Got Me,Runnin’With the Devil,Ain’t Talkin’Bout Love,Unchained,Somebody Get Me a Docter,Jump and Panama. Not to mention: Mean St.,Romeo Delight,Feel Your Love Tonight,and Dance the Night Away that Gary sang in 98.So more than HALF the VH DLR reunion was nothin’ new. Not to mention Sam and Gary actually sing.Besides Ed and Al tearin’ it up,I was majorly let down with the DLR reunion.That’s not even taking the lack of Mad Anthony into account!!
T.O. Mike

Both DLR and Sammy provided some great moments for me, the fans and music!!

But the reason I love Van Halen can be typed real easy!

EVH!!!!!!
chris.omeara

I remember seeing VH in concert once when Sammy congratulated Alex for becoming an uncle to a newborn little girl…

He told the fans they were going to name her “David Lee”…

The crowd started booing…

They were booing Sammy- Not David Lee Roth…
Panama Red

There is nothing to comment about on the actual VHND post of the 39 seconds of whatever the hell that was. But as far as the conversation here about Dave and Sammy AGAIN.
I’m almost positive that when Sammy held up a sign that said “Dave Who?” it was a fan-made sign that someone threw up on stage. Fans also threw signs on stage that said “Sam Halen” “Van Hagar”. I’m sure Sammy held those signs up because he was slightly amused by it. I doubt he ever made a sign himself and brought it onstage. I don’t think he was denying the roots of the band by doing that. He was the new singer ready to move forward and make new music. The “Dave Who” thing was a general feeling by some fans ready to rock out with new Van Halen.
Eddie was the one in the band who was the most hurt and pissed off at Dave not Sammy. I remember An interview with Sammy and he said something like “Eddie told me if I ever see Dave to kick him in the nuts.” And I remember Eddie saying stuff himself like that. “I’m going to kick Dave in the balls if I ever see him.” Eddie felt betrayed by Roth and was ready to move forward with Hagar. Sammy was pretty much still the new guy and didn’t have any real animosity towards Dave. He was just reacting to the feelings of his new band and the VH fans. Remember Roth left the band on his own accord. It was his choice. He felt he had outgrown Van Halen.
Sammy isn’t the bad guy in all of this. Sammy auditioned along with other singers after Roth quit the band and he was hired to fill the lead singer position. He didn’t sabotage Roth or anything.
To say that Sammy wasn’t respecting the roots of Van Halen I think is unfair. After all he’s always been the one who stood up for Mike (a founding, original member) even after Sammy wasn’t in the band anymore. Dave and Alex didn’t stand up to maintain their roots during the reunion tours.
But seriously put yourself in Sammy’s shoes when he joined Van Halen. If you were hired to be the new singer in a band and you were an already established musician, your first thoughts wouldn’t be “Lets do a bunch of stuff by that last guy who just left, who everybody in the band is pissed off at right now.” C’mon give Sammy a break. Van Halen hired him to make some new music and continue Van Halen’s saga. Not to be a stand-in wannabe that sings Dave’s material. Ed probably didn’t even want to hear Roth’s stuff again for awhile. And later on Sammy did start singing some older Dave era stuff for the fans. But I bet Hell freezes over before Dave could ever wrangle his ego in long enough to do Sammy era songs so we could hear Eddie play some of the stuff he made during those times. Just puttin my two cents in.
Dirty Duck – I can see how lookin back on the times, someone could interpret Sammy as disrespecting “the roots” of VH. But honestly, Eddie dissed and talked more crap about Dave than anybody else ever has. Sammy was the new singer trying to bring new life and material to his new band. Plus I think the “Roots” will always remain in the two guys with the last name VAN HALEN.
Keith

VH2008 … if that’s what you call fun, keep outta my neighborhood bro !
chris.omeara

Even on Wayne’s World when exposing Rob Lowe’s character, Wayne and Garth asked him the same question as this cartoon asked. He also failed the test.

Even though most liked Van Halen aka Van Hagar over the Roth solo stuff, given the choice 9 out of 10 people would go back to pre-Diver Down VH over Hagar, unless they came onboard at the time of 5150 and never had a penchant for the classic stuff in the first place. The goofy wussie stuff is why they were for and the harder stuff didn’t appeal to them…
Rich

I think at least the band could do some instrumentals if Roth won’t sing Hagar stuff. I never expected him to. But whats wrong with playing Pleasure Dome or something? An instrumental off Balance? Seems like they just don’t want to mix it up anymore like they used to.

I think Eddie should look back happily over the history of this band. The majority of the fans would love an even mix of Sammy and Dave stuff (I wouldn’t even care if there was some Gary stuff there too – he proved you can mix both sides!).

This argument could go on forever. I love Van Halen. Always will, whoever is fronting them.
http://none chickenfoothater

Sammy hagar-fuck that guy! Should have been the backdrop for 2007 reunion tour.Sammy would have been maybe part of an early 80′s trivia game without vh and nothing else.
http://vhnd Jimmy

I like Sammy, I just prefer old VH…Had more attitude. What people do not realize. Sammy Hager stepped into one of if not thee biggest band in the world in 1985. He did have a couple hits of solo albums but compared to VH they were in a different category. It certainly helped his career in joining VH. Another thing VH had parts of 5150 songs already. Their first true complete album as a band with SAM was ou812. Sammy could sing better then Dave and in higher keys. This is another reason why they would pull out a jam of a Zeppelin cover. Especially in 90 at the Cabo Wabo opening. This Band is great with Sammy or Dave. I truly wish we could see a show with both singers. Mike on bass and Wolf on Ryhthm guitar singing backup with Mike. This was be ultimate. I would love to see them all smiling and jamming.

REALITY=Shit aint gonna happen.

PEACE
Phil

LOL. Nice. So, when’s the new album and tour?
Sean

I’m not the first to say this and won’t be the last. Where would VH be today if it wasn’t for Sammy? I truly doubt we’d have had the “reunion” tour. At least Sammy kept this musical institution rolling so Eddie couldn’t drag it deeper into his reclusiveness. OF COURSE it’s wasn’t the same without Dave, but HOW MANY BANDS ever pull off another front man after reaching the success the pre Hagar VH did. At least we got to keep hearing the best rythym section on earth! I saw Van Hagar several times live and NO it wasn’t the same show without Dave, but it was a hell of a lot better than most others I saw.
Tony

Panama Red: You rock, dude! Well said!
Rick Pride

Panama Red right on you’re post was everything I have been trying to get people to understand. I know a lot of people feel jaded at Dave leaving but Sammy saved our band. I wouldn’t want to step into an open position in a band and sing all of the previous singers stuff. You’d become a nostalgia act. I feel the hatred between Eddie and Roth left that sentiment of Eddie vs Dave. You can see in interviews with Dave in 1984 when 1984 that he wasn’t so sure Van Halen would continue you can clearly see he was looking to a future without Van Halen. Blame it on the drugs and alcohol abuse of the 80′s and huge egos. I’ve never dissed Dave ever. My best friend hates Dave and calls him a homo. I tell him all about why I live Dave and he says yeah he slept with a lot of women but he’s sure he slept with a lot of men too. He tells me to look at how much a sissy and gay Dave acts. I told him that’s BS. Dave is the worlds best Frontman and not to piss on the greatest band ever. Me and him just disagree. There are a lot of people that hate on Dave and only respect Sammy. I’m the one guy that appreciates both and stands up for both. Yes I used to be a Sammy is the greatest guy but I actually love them both equally. For much different reasons. I think Eddie created alot of the animosity. I mean look at what he does with those that leaves. He erases that history of the band. Dave, Then Sammy and Mike. Even as far to take his picture of Mike off the album covers on the site. Come on. But I think now we have the best of both worlds with Chickenfoot and Dave back in Van Halen. Let’s look forward and not look backward. Let’s all wait for the Diamond one to do another press release and control the masses as he does all so well. “do you believe me wise magic”
Gary4life

I’ll never get why people hate poor Sam so much he can’t help it that he got replaced by the best singer of Van Halen. Gary Cherone rules!!! I mean Gary is a hard act for anyone to follow.
Panama Red

Ya know in a way I can see Dirty Duck’s perspective. I don’t agree with him about Sammy not respecting the roots, but I can see how a big DLR fan would get pissed about the “Dave Who?” signs,(even though I believe a fan at the show made them.)
I mean, if when I saw VH tour with Cherone and someone threw a sign on stage that said “Sammy Who?” and Gary held it up I would have booed my head off and disliked Cherone a whole lot more than I already did. So I can see to a certain point How D.D. thought that was shitty.(Even though the departures of the two singers were under different circumstances) I mean, I loved Dave with VH too but he quit, he felt he was bigger than VH.
“Anytime you think you’re greater than the people that buy your records, that’s when you lose it.”-Albert King.
So some of those VH fans that were making those signs may have felt kinda betrayed or left in the dust by Roth too.

But as far as Sammy, you have to look at the big picture at the time. It was ’85-’86 Sammy was the new singer, focusing on his new material for the band, the guys in the band were telling him how Dave is a huge asshole, and some of the fans at the shows were throwing pro-Sammy signs and I guess “anti-Dave” signs. What was he supposed to do? Stick up for the last singer in the band. C’mon who would do that? Put yourself in his shoes. He was reacting to his bandmates/friends feelings who knew Dave and some of the fans. That’s all he was doing. I mean he never went on a long rant or tirade at a show about how much better he was than Dave. He just held up signs fans made and then did his job that he was hired to do. Rock out with Van Halen.
Hey Man, That Suit Is You!

Are we still debating this? Let it go… “what is understood, need not be discussed”.
Dooley

what is understood, need not be discussed”.

OK, help me out someone. I’ve seen that phrase pop
up several times on this forum but I can’t place it.
Maybe I should know it, but I have to reveal my
ignorance.

Is it a lyric from a VH tune? Educate me please.
Rick Pride

It was at the end of the Live Right Here Right Now Dvd.
http://none Dirty Duck

Anytime a man has style or good looks someone out there is gonna yell: homo. I never got why some people thought that dave was gay during one of the most flamboyent times for being a frontman. Steven tyler with all the scarves and makeup…jagger with the eye shadow….then the 80′s with all the glam. For the record, I never thought that dave was into guys. I just felt he was a very flamboyent outgoing funny guy who happend to be a great fromtman too. When I thought david lee roth, I think of girls and lots of em’!

Panama red,
As always your views are respected and you’re never one NOT to throw in a good point or two. But believe me sam MADE those signs. I remember an interview with dave saying how he cant believe someone was putting together these signs for each show and bragging about it. But whats done is done and rearview mirror. It’s a whole new year and im looking foward to the summer 2010 cause the weather out here is colder that a witches tit! 2 more months and I can start cranking some VH in my chevelle with ALL the windows down!
Dave Gunger

Nice rendition of a 1970 442 convertible.
Dooley

Thanks Rick Pride.
andym

Phillster, you forgot to take your medication again ya freak. I guess you didn’t go to the ’04 tour or the Balance Tour because Sammy did a few more Roth songs as he got older and grew up about it. You forgot to mention that he also did Unchained, Somebody Get Me a Doctor, and he actually did Mean Street one time when I saw him in ’04. And another thing smarty pants, how many of those obscure tracks did Eddie refuse to play with Dave in ’07??? Hell, it must have been real easy for you to sit in your mommy’s basement and pull out all of your vinyls or cassette tapes from high school as you made up that list of obscure songs they never really play in concert. And Tony is right, Dave will NEVER do a Sammy song in concert.

Duck – again you’re drinking the Dave Kool Aid so put it down and slowly step away. You seem to forget that Dave left VH ad back then just about EVERY true VH was bitter about it. It was VH fans throwing those “anti-Dave” signs on stage and I remember Eddie getting a really big kick out of it. Dave is no angel by the way. During the ’07 tour Dave made a few anti-Sammy slurs in Philly and Atlantic City during his saying things like “stay off the tequila…is that Sammy, get him out of here!”.

Dooley – don’t apologize. You actually have the story right on how things went down. And the “what is understood…” quote is from The Who.

Panama Red – you are correct with everything you said. It was the long version of what I’ve been trying to tell these guys that Roth brainwashed 25 years ago.