Not to start anything, but...

[SuckaInA3Piece]

I'm the last guy to encourage a Sam vs Dave argument, but I gotta get this out.

I'm chillin out at work when my friend Paul walks by my area. He's a huge rock fan. Is friends with Michael Stipe from REM, and has some connections in the biz. He's also a VH fan, and has seen the a few times. Last time being on the MOR tour.

So he's lookin at my EVH posters and going on and on about VH when he asks me who I prefer. DLR of course, but I told him how much I dig Sam as well and his era in the band. He says to me, "well I always thought Sam gave the band more edge. They sounded more rock 'n roll with Hagar, more hard rock."

I sat there in disbelief for a solid minute, just staring at him. I wondered to myself, how many people actually feel this way? So that's why I started this thread. If you feel the same way my friend does, please, please explain why?

I can see not liking Roth, cuz he may be a bit flamboyant for some folks. But to say the band was more hard edge with Hagar just baffles me.

[sixstring]

Sounds like, to me, he just doesn't 'get it'...

Moe SLICK with Sam, yes. More HARD ROCK, wtf...

[vistadelrey]

hard edge?

No.

Not at all.

softer. yes.

[hatchetforce]

Nuthin's harder than a diamond

[broken9500]

That's an interesting outlook your buddy has. It's funny you start this thread because I was considering starting one based on a couple of similar conversations I had over the years. Growing up a lot of the people around me felt this way : With Roth VH was more about pure rock and roll. With Sammy they had more artistic credibility. Now that is something I've never understood. They would tell me that because Sammy was a "real musician" VH with Hagar resonated more with musicians and artists, where as with Roth, they resonated more with the party rock fans. Like somehow, the Red Rocker made them more "intelligient" or "high brow."

I think they were basically them same band...the only thing different was with Roth they had this arrogant, sweaty, do-you-know-who-we-are swagger about them. With Sammy they were more relaxed. That's always been my take on the differences between the two.

[RKVH5150]

While I think Sammy has more of the hard rock voice than Dave, I would disagree that the band had more of an edge with Sammy. Forget the vocals, the music had more of an edge with Dave. As Eddie matured more as a player his style of play became more varied which is why by the time Sammy joined the band there were some new sounds from the band.

The music had more of an edge with Dave.

[SuckaInA3Piece]

While I think Sammy has more of the hard rock voice than Dave, I would disagree that the band had more of an edge with Sammy. Forget the vocals, the music had more of an edge with Dave. As Eddie matured more as a player his style of play became more varied which is why by the time Sammy joined the band there were some new sounds from the band.

The music had more of an edge with Dave.

Basically how I feel.

Had he said that he preferred the Sam era, I would have been ok with that. A person has that right to their opinion. But I couldn't agree that the band was more hard edge with Hagar fronting. It's just not even close.

Both era's had their share of sappy stuff, but clearly the band was more hard rock with Roth.

[KarenCarpenter]

With Sammy, Van Halen was more straight rock. They were the best band at that kind of music..., but with Dave, they were more distant from other Rock bands. They were definitely more of a "one of a kind" musical experience. Dave was kind of a cartoon singing in a Metal/Hard Rock band..., and Eddie was at his peak of creativity/innovation and energy.

[Model Citizen]

Hard to say really..For me anyway. I prefer CVH albums moreso than the Sammy era. I think the songs stand the test of time. I can listen to Fair Warning any day of the week and never really tire of it. Can't say the same for Hagar-era.


As for harder rocking..Poundcake,Judgement Day, and Human's Being rock pretty darn hard. Going by guitar work alone..Those three songs rock harder than anything else, IMO.

[Wickett]

While I think Sammy has more of the hard rock voice than Dave, I would disagree that the band had more of an edge with Sammy. Forget the vocals, the music had more of an edge with Dave. As Eddie matured more as a player his style of play became more varied which is why by the time Sammy joined the band there were some new sounds from the band.

The music had more of an edge with Dave.

What HE said...


I love both era's, but listen to Fair Warning beginning to end, and it's clear the harder edge was with Roth.

[Van Squalen]

While I don't think the hard stuff within the Sam era is cotton candy - Don't Tell Me, Humans Being, 5150, Mine all Mine, Judgment Day...when Ed starting writing ballads, he ran the risk of softening Van Halen to an extent.

But as we all know, the harder stuff is most prominent when Ed and (insert lead singer here) are rubbing elbows....Fair Warning, 1984, Balance, Humans Being, Me Wise Magic being exemplary forms of Van Halen Edge.

However, once and for all time....there never was, and will never be, an edgier, harder Van Halen album than Fair Fucking Warning.

[perticelli]

However, once and for all time....there never was, and will never be, an edgier, harder Van Halen album than Fair Fucking Warning.

Say it isnt so...agreement..2 in 2 days

[Van Squalen]

Say it isnt so...agreement..2 in 2 days

Who'da thunk it.

I also like beautiful women too.

And then there were three.

[fast98dodge]

Hey Sucka...

You mentioned your friend is friends with Michael Stipe... Then you mention his thoughts about Dave vs. Sam in VH... He may be a "huge rock fan" as you put it, but I believe he doesn't have a clue about VH...

BTW, I agree with your last statement about Fair Warning, VS...

[broken9500]

However, once and for all time....there never was, and will never be, an edgier, harder Van Halen album than Fair Fucking Warning.

Hard to deny this!