In 1985, Who did you originally take over for Roth?

**Edeble Ed** · 10.28.01, 03:42 PM

I was only two years old at the time. But i was wondering what singer you wanted after the split between roth and vh.

**Edeble Ed** · 10.28.01, 03:45 PM

Sorry for the incorrect title. I meant to write "In 1985, who did you want to take over for Roth"

**billy007** · 10.28.01, 04:13 PM

I didn't want anyone to take over. I wanted Edward and Dave to work stuff out and get back together. Still do.

**Bob_R** · 10.28.01, 04:41 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by billy007:
I didn't want anyone to take over. I wanted Edward and Dave to work stuff out and get back together. Still do.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Ditto! [img]smilies/thumb.gif[/img] [img]smilies/bounce.gif[/img] [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]smilies/cool.gif[/img] [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

**Mikey Metalhead** · 10.28.01, 05:47 PM

I was in denial until it was official, I couldn't imagine any singer fitting, then when I heard it was sammy, I thought hmmm that would be a pretty cool combo. to me it wasnt really van halen any more, but it was a great band, and they fit great together.

**79th and Sunset** · 10.28.01, 05:52 PM

I also did not want anyone to take the mic for VH.

I am still in denial [img]smilies/cry.gif[/img]

**Cabo Kid** · 10.28.01, 06:04 PM

In 1985, I was "on top of the world" (no pun intended [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] ) with Van Halen! They'd just come thru Chicago (although I didn't get to go, I did hear about it for weeks on end), I'd collected all their tapes (yes, you youngins...we had cassettes back in the day) and had been 1 1/2 years removed from breaking my wrist imitating DLR at a high school dance.

I was in utter shock that DLR had left. To be real honest with you, it was my first experience with being that close to a band then having them lose a member. I couldn't imagine them working with ANYONE else.

Then word came they were going to hire Sammy Hagar. I was a bit skeptical at first. Then I heard "Why Can't This Be Love" for the first time on WLS and I freaked out. My first reaction was...

"Sammy, shut the hell up!"

It was sacrelige! [img]smilies/mad.gif[/img] He was "skatting" all over Ed's solo. How could anyone do that?

In time though, around 1992, I began to accept him as the singer of VH. I hated OU812, was lukewarm to 5150 but really liked For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge.

Today, I expect it to either be...dare I say it...

"Dave or the grave".

[img]smilies/bounce.gif[/img]

**Wolfman** · 10.28.01, 08:48 PM

I was the same way - I never, ever would have imagined them breaking up - I was shocked to death. I didn't want anybody to take over either - just for them to work things out. I still to this day refuse to take sides over who was responsible for the split - I think there's valid arguments from both sides.

I did like Sammy as a choice, though - I thought 5150 was one of their best albums. Unfortunately, F.U.C.K. was the only other Sammy album I really liked. I enjoyed songs off of OU812 and Balance, but I never felt the same way I did about the Roth albums, where I could listen to every song on the album and like them.

I remember after, EEAS I didn't care for much of Roth's solo work, although after getting his "Best" collection, I've gone back and appreciated a lot of it.

I have yet to listen to any of Sammy's solo work post-VH. The few songs I've heard on the radio did nothing for me. I still like his pre-VH work, though.

**rockmenow** · 10.28.01, 10:35 PM

I too wanted DLR to man the mike, but when it was looking unlikely, I thought they'd probably get a fairly unknown singer.

I was (still am) a fan of Sammy solo stuff. I would never have guessed that he'd join VH. He had a great gig going. In hindsight, it was a brilliant career move. I mean, let's pretend for a moment that DLR was replaced by someone else. I could fathom Sammy's popularity right up there with Warrant. He wouldn't be the draw he is today had he not spent a decade-plus in VH.

Right about now I wish they's stick a monkey on the stage and just jam! Shit, Mike can sing...he proved that on the III tour. Just do something!!!

**Fat Tone** · 10.29.01, 04:50 AM

I was praying that it would be Patti Smythe from Scandal.
I was just dying to hear VH play "The Warrior" live.(hopefully you realize that I am seriously kidding)
I was way bummed that DLR left because I never got to see them as a group.
But Sammy was just fine with me because I was such a huge Eddie fan above and beyond the actual band itself.
So I then got to see them on the 5150 tour for the first time. [img]smilies/cool.gif[/img]

[ October 29, 2001 at 04:51 AM: Message edited by: Fat Tone ]

[ October 29, 2001 at 04:53 AM: Message edited by: Fat Tone ]

**Jape Man** · 10.29.01, 05:42 AM

I totally agree (once again) with Fat Tone. I was such a huge Eddie fan at that time that it didn't matter who took Roth's place. I loved 5150.

By the way, Fat Tone, I hear you're coming back to the Beach soon. Give me a call.

**jaybird** · 10.29.01, 07:00 AM

I was a big Hagar fan already, so when they made the announcement that Sammy was the man, I was freaking out! I don't think they could have made a better choice. [img]smilies/thumb.gif[/img]

Then I heard 5150, and it was like, "YEAH baby! A new VH, a new direction, I can dig this!" But the real kicker was the live show--Dave pretty much slurred his way through the 1984 show I saw, while Ed looked like he had just woke up. Fun, but a little disappointing. Yeah, great, you're gonna F*** his girlfriend, haha, that's really funny, Dave. How about remembering some lyrics? [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Then I saw the 5150 show with Hagar and it was like night and day--the energy level was multiplied 100 times over, Samy was all over the place, Eddie looked and played like he was 18 again, it was magnificent. [img]smilies/cool.gif[/img]

**FORD** · 10.29.01, 08:53 AM

The Van Hagar energy level was 100 times more than Van HALEN???

And which parallel universe did you see that concert in?

If Van Hagar had never made a single cheese ballad, they still would not possibly ever matched Van HALEN live.

I was initially optimistic about Van Hagar, having been a fan of Sammy's in the old days, but I lost that optimism the minute I heard "Cheese Walks In" [img]smilies/sleep.gif[/img]

Maybe they should have gone with this guy....

**paradiddle** · 10.29.01, 09:19 AM

I've always been loyal to Dave! Always will be. To be honest, at the time, I harbored a slight grudge against the brothers, and I got heavily into Dave's new band. I kinda put VH asided for a while after Dave left.

But once I heard 5150 I was hooked like a brook trout again. It's that brown sound I tell you. I'm and addict.

**Edeble Ed** · 10.29.01, 09:21 AM

FORD - having never seen either incarnation live, i cant make a comment. But i would imagine them coming out strong on the 5150 tour. especially sammy, who wanted to win over those not yet convinced of his replacing roth. both appear to be different kinds of shows. so its all about perception, or what you felt when you left the show. BTW, have u ever seen VH with Hagar live?