As part of the original “Youth Gone Wild” of 80’s, I was a devout fan of Heavy Metal and Hard Rock. As I got older I’d learn that there was a distinction between Heavy Metal and Hard Rock and ultimately other branch out genres such as Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Speed Metal, Stoner Metal, Glam Metal, Medium Alloy, etc, etc but that’s another story but not matter what kind of “metal” you were into, you were into Van Halen.
1984 was THE Van Halen album to have when I was kid. Panama, Jump and low and behold HOT FOR TEACHER made up one of the ultimate albums of my youth but it only got better. Thanks to a friend’s older brother, I learned that there was so much more out there from these awesome dudes. Women & Children First, Diver Down and look out… VAN HALEN I. What a monsterous album that was. How could you get any cooler than Ice Cream Man? How could you get any more explosive than “Eruption” and how could you get any more intense than “Aint Talkin’ ‘Bout Love”? David Lee Roth was the fucking coolest. Eddie Van Halen might have ripped the shit out his guitar but damn, Dave was doing more girls at one time in one night than I’ve done in 35 years of living and on top of that, he could sing his ass off but… but… something was about to happen.
So this was before the internet where you can hear of a band member getting fired before they even know it. Back then it was all about Hit Parader, Circus, Creem, Faces magazines. These were my newspapers and this is where I remember hearing that David Lee Roth had been kicked out of Van Halen and that he was replaced by The Red Rocker himself, Sammy Hagar. Really? The “I Can’t Drive 55” guy? Well, he’s no David Lee Roth but he’s pretty cool. He’s not Dave cool but he’s ok. The first song I heard was the first single from their 5150 album called “Why Can’t This Be Love”. Really? Is this a joke? Where’s the kick ass guitar and drums? Instead, it’s synthesizers and electronic drums but ya know? I was a dumb kid and I totally bought into it. Over the years, I would see Van “Hagar” a total of 3 times and ya know, it really wasn’t that bad. I never got to see Van Halen w/ Roth but I did see Roth solo three times and ya know, each time he made Van Hagar look like a fucking boy band. Even after all that, I STILL tried to give Van Hagar my support and bought their crappy albums.
Go to just about ANY music message board and I guarantee you there’s a “who’s better, Hagar or Roth” thread. Many praise the godliness of Roth
and others praise the fun and carefree Hagar years. I’ve seen both sides of it and I can tell you this right now. David Lee Roth can sing and write circles around Hagar. Don’t get me wrong, I love Hagar and I’m a HUGE fan of his mediocrity. He’s amazing at being a horrible songwriter, a great singer and totally underrated guitarist.
Now here I am, 35 years old and listening back over Van Halen’s catalog, I can’t help but say that David Lee Roth is the fucking man. It’s like putting a mouse in a room full of cats, it’s a no win situation. Hagar brought some fun to Van Halen that could’ve been missing but that’s about it. No really great songs.
So there you have it, my latest equation:
DAVID LEE ROTH > SAMMY HAGAR
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