The Good, The Bad and The David Lee Roth (MSN Article)

[hey man]

Here is an article I saw about artists that go solo and it was called The Good, The Bad and The David Lee Roth.

http://music.msn.com/music/artistoft...osolo?GT1=8341

[voivod]

... AND FIVE LEAD SINGER SOLO PROJECTS THAT SUCKED:

David Lee Roth
Pretty much the boilerplate cautionary tale for what happens when lead singers get too big for their (admittedly skin-tight) britches. Roth was the lead singer and unqualified star of Van Halen from the band's inception to its (then-) biggest success, the album "1984," which featured "Jump," "Panama" and "Hot For Teacher." The videos for these songs featured indelible images of Roth jumping, dancing and otherwise mugging for any camera that cared to watch him. He was a rock god, too big for any band that couldn't be bothered to use his name. So solo he went, and scored a couple of hits with novelty covers ("California Girls," "Just a Gigolo") whose videos made quick work of his now familiar TV persona, Diamond Dave. Then he made a proper record, then he made another and another and maybe even another. They all tanked, while Van Halen went on, with a mediocre replacement singer (Sammy Hagar) in tow, to bigger and -- well, if not better, then certainly bigger -- things (read about Sammy Hagar and other replacement lead singers). Roth was last seen flailing as a NYC radio host and desperately trying to recapture some of the old Van Halen mojo with a bluegrass band on "The Tonight Show." He was right about one thing: in a situation like that, you really might as well jump.

[VAREB]

Here's the link to aritcle about biggest flop replacements.
http://music.msn.com/music/thismonth...c/replacements

It lists Sam as number 5 flop. Wow! you may not like Sam, but I sure wouldn't call his tenure as the VH lead singer a flop!

[the_atomic_punks_rule]

4. Sammy Hagar replaces David Lee Roth in Van Halen (1985)
The band was named Van Halen after brothers, guitarist Eddie and drummer Alex, but while their pop-friendly rock hooks might have been the heart of the group, the hyperactive, narcissistic and self-mockingly sexy Roth was Van Halen's soul. When the long-building ego explosions necessitated Diamond Dave's departure, Hagar was brought in and everything changed. Yes, they had plenty of success. Yes, they had tons of enthusiastic fans. Yes, they sold a lot of records. But Hagar's one-note sing-screeching on tunes like "Right Now" was bland and a little depressing compared to irreverent Roth numbers like "Hot for Teacher" and "Running with the Devil." It was like that guy you knew in college who would stay up partying all night but then got a job in a brokerage firm, switched to light beer and went home by midnight. He might have had more money, but you just didn't want to hang out with him anymore.


Wow...too funny!

[Nickdfresh]

Here's the link to aritcle about biggest flop replacements.
http://music.msn.com/music/thismonth...c/replacements

It lists Sam as number 5 flop. Wow! you may not like Sam, but I sure wouldn't call his tenure as the VH lead singer a flop!

And you might not have thought much of Roth's solo career, but many artists would have sold their souls to have it...

[Brett]

These writers are just all jealous cocksuckers IMO.

Dave and Sam have both had careers these word barf jackasses would give their left nuts for.

I certainly would have liked to do what both of them have been able to do for 30 years and NOT have to go to my 9-5 job everyday.

[Nickdfresh]

These writers are just all jealous cocksuckers IMO.

Dave and Sam have both had careers these word barf jackasses would give their left nuts for.

I certainly would have liked to do what both of them have been able to do for 30 years and NOT have to go to my 9-5 job everyday.

You know, I just looked at the "failed singer" list, and none of those people sold anywhere near DLR's first three albums. Lindsey Buckingham, and maybe Brian Ferry, achieved some kind of cult-following/artistic relevance. But WTF???

And yes, though I'm not much for Van Hagar, they just as easily could have tanked than continued to sell and record hits. So they did something right...

[te5150]

This is what passes for humor writing these days. Nothing but snide swipes and bitter tones.

The dude needs to pick up anything by Mark Twain and see how a master of words molded humor. Dave Barry works as a modern-day example, too. Their humor is self-depricating and when it's not, it's done without malice. Nifty trick if you work at it.

[hey man]

Listen I feel the same way that all of you do - but for a second can we be objective and try to understand why people outside of the Van Halen bubble think DLR is a loser. Go anywhere unrelated to Van Halen and Roth is thought of as a fucking joke. While those opinions may be hard to hear (or read), there may be SOME validity to those opinions to someone that doesn't still have a DLR poster in their bedroom.

[vhwithroth05]

Here's the link to aritcle about biggest flop replacements.
http://music.msn.com/music/thismonth...c/replacements

It lists Sam as number 5 flop. Wow! you may not like Sam, but I sure wouldn't call his tenure as the VH lead singer a flop!

VH is certainly not the VH of the dave era. They just arent the same magical band. There music has become stale under sammy/ Like it or hate it,,,the music is stale. Especially the lyrics. U ever watch those shows they have on mtv or vh1? They all talk about how influential VH was WITH DAVE. And how up and coming groups all tried to copy the style of the Dave era. Motley Crue,Ratt,Poison etc. Im not saying those were great bands,but im just proving a point. They were succesful,nonetheless,coping the Dave era VH. And on the 96 mtv awards,did u see the standing ovation they got when Dave came out with VH? Chris Rock,leading the way in the audiance,on its feet. When sam had his reunion in 04,,,,,there wasnt much of a clamor. Arenas werent even filled. Sam is a mediocre talent,at best.and has ruined VH with his "up for breakfast" bullshit!

[dirtymovies]

... AND FIVE LEAD SINGER SOLO PROJECTS THAT SUCKED:

David Lee Roth
Pretty much the boilerplate cautionary tale for what happens when lead singers get too big for their (admittedly skin-tight) britches. Roth was the lead singer and unqualified star of Van Halen from the band's inception to its (then-) biggest success, the album "1984," which featured "Jump," "Panama" and "Hot For Teacher." The videos for these songs featured indelible images of Roth jumping, dancing and otherwise mugging for any camera that cared to watch him. He was a rock god, too big for any band that couldn't be bothered to use his name. So solo he went, and scored a couple of hits with novelty covers ("California Girls," "Just a Gigolo") whose videos made quick work of his now familiar TV persona, Diamond Dave. Then he made a proper record, then he made another and another and maybe even another. They all tanked, while Van Halen went on, with a mediocre replacement singer (Sammy Hagar) in tow, to bigger and -- well, if not better, then certainly bigger -- things (read about Sammy Hagar and other replacement lead singers). Roth was last seen flailing as a NYC radio host and desperately trying to recapture some of the old Van Halen mojo with a bluegrass band on "The Tonight Show." He was right about one thing: in a situation like that, you really might as well jump.

http://www.vhlinks.com/vbforums/showthread.php?t=16443

[sixstring]

These writers are just all jealous cocksuckers IMO.

Dave and Sam have both had careers these word barf jackasses would give their left nuts for.

I certainly would have liked to do what both of them have been able to do for 30 years and NOT have to go to my 9-5 job everyday.

[mrfibb]

What's funny about this article is that they have the number 1 worst replacement as Gary replacing Sammy. I just don't get the logic there. This guy must just hate Van Halen or have a secret crush on DLR... I bet there's an assless chaps poster hanging in his bathroom.

I do like the Maiden mention in the best replacements list... Dickensen took that band to a new level and I loved the first two albums.

[Nickdfresh]

Listen I feel the same way that all of you do - but for a second can we be objective and try to understand why people outside of the Van Halen bubble think DLR is a loser. Go anywhere unrelated to Van Halen and Roth is thought of as a fucking joke. While those opinions may be hard to hear (or read), there may be SOME validity to those opinions to someone that doesn't still have a DLR poster in their bedroom.

People outside the Van Halen bubble just as likely think Van Hagar, and Sammy Hagar, are losers as well... Few think highly of Jimmy Buffet, fewer still have much respect for a second-rate Jimmy Buffet knockoff. Nor do they think highly of an enigmatic, waster-guitarist that pissed away the twilight years of his talents...

Ever wonder why he's not even in the Rollingstone top 50 guitarists anymore?

[broken9500]

VH is certainly not the VH of the dave era. They just arent the same magical band. There music has become stale under sammy/ Like it or hate it,,,the music is stale. Especially the lyrics. U ever watch those shows they have on mtv or vh1? They all talk about how influential VH was WITH DAVE. And how up and coming groups all tried to copy the style of the Dave era. Motley Crue,Ratt,Poison etc. Im not saying those were great bands,but im just proving a point. They were succesful,nonetheless,coping the Dave era VH. And on the 96 mtv awards,did u see the standing ovation they got when Dave came out with VH? Chris Rock,leading the way in the audiance,on its feet. When sam had his reunion in 04,,,,,there wasnt much of a clamor. Arenas werent even filled. Sam is a mediocre talent,at best.and has ruined VH with his "up for breakfast" bullshit!

well said.