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Van Halen - David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar?

posted 4 years ago by Artisan (3464)
14 replies | jump to latest

I know they had another singer but he didn't last long enough to mention.

I think the songwriting was better with Hagar plus he has a better voice.

[–] TexasJack (12515) 4 years ago

I like both eras of Van Halen. Great songs from both.

Sammy definitely had a better voice. Dave's singing could barely cut it in the studio and it was just awful live. But he was a great showman. It's impressive how far he went just on attitude/style.

[–] Artisan (3464) 4 years ago

He was a great showman but a terrible singer. I think he could have only made it in the 80's.

[–] ShogunofYonkers (71662) 4 years ago

Out of pure nostalgia I'd say Roth but that's nothing against 'Van Hagar,' they had huge hits and fun music too

[–] 000 (449) 4 years ago

dlr or nothing

[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 4 years ago

The best and my favorite songs are with DLR. But Diamond Dave was not really a very good singer. Unique sound and style all to his credit and to the perfect chemistry that was VH but sometimes he was just sour-talking.

The Hagar stuff was probably better produced and had a better average of good vs bad. However, I still have to vote for the classic DLR era. I love both but only one is real VH to me.

Gary Cherone? Extreme has some great songs (Waiting for the Punchline is a good album) but he was a terrible choice for replacement. Other singers that were offered/auditioned for singer include:

Patty Smyth
Daryl Hall
Phil Collins
Brian May

[–] Artisan (3464) 4 years ago

Aussie singer Jimmy Barnes was also offered the position. Jimmy has a very strong raspy voice and straight up style which would have been interesting with American audiences.

I like the band Extreme as well but I think Cherone was also a poor choice, almost like the ones they really did want turned them down.

[–] Otter (24464) 4 years ago

Brian May???

[–] csweetleaf2 (3537) 4 years ago

easily David Lee Roth because he made the songs fun and exciting.

[–] Mrmojo4700 (20440) 4 years ago

Hell yeah 👍

[–] Otter (24464) 4 years ago

Agreed! He's an okay singer, but what made him stand out was that he was so much fun! One of the few guys who can be sexy and funny at the same time.

It's actually one of the things that made Van Halen stand out, in the early days of videos. Because of Roth, some of their videos were funny, that's pretty damn rare in rock.

[–] NotoriousRio (12927) 4 years ago

Is this another of those fight topics? 🤔

DAVID LEE ROTH

[–] Stratego (29242) 4 years ago

Roth. He's not a great singer, but as a little kid I found him entertaining because he was kind of like a clown. Now I realize he's a total cokehead.

Besides, Jump is the only Van Halen song I like.

[–] Kowalski (57908) 4 years ago

ROTH...BUT I DISLIKE VAN HALEN EITHER WAY.