The best of both worlds

Van Halen or Van Hagar? Rock fans, sound off. Our Stuck in the 80s cohort, Sean Daly, already polled his pop music followers on this question, but now it's time for the only votes that matter: the 80s crowd.

So tell us: Which Van Halen do you prefer -- the one with pretty boy David Lee Roth or tequila-crazed Sammy Hagar? Both have their hits and misses. For every epic "Runnin' With The Devil" or "Cradle Will Rock" by Roth, there's a pathetic "Pretty Woman" and "Dancing In the Streets." Sammy diluted his "Right Now" with "Why Can't This Be Love."

In a few weeks, we'll do a podcast featuring both versions of the band and feature your comments.

Personally, not to sit on the fence, but I enjoy both versions. Tie me up and force me to enjoy an umbrella drink, and I'll confess that it's hard to beat early Van Halen. Their debut album is - dare I say - classic. Too bad Roth got freaky later on, and tortured us with his lame solo efforts ("California Girls" is a roughly equivalent to a war crime).

  Both Sammy and Diamond Dave in the news...

By now, every knows Roth recently was fired as the radio replacement for Howard Stern. Did anyone think he'd really succeed in that job? Who wants to follow up a legend? Give him credit for taking on a no-win scenario like that. At least he got his name back in the papers.

Meanwhile, Sammy recently told Billboard.com that he won't tour again with Van Halen, mainly because of differences with Eddie Van Halen. "There were nights I didn't know what song Eddie was playing," Hagar said. "There were times I wanted to kill that guy for what he was playing. I would have left that tour in the middle of it if it wasn't for the professional aspect. He's never going to see my ass again unless he goes and gets himself some help."

Eddie's history with alcohol, coupled with the end of his marriage with Valerie Bertinelli, has certainly detoured one of America's greatest rock bands.

Cheers, Eddie. Here's our list of Top 5 favorite Van Halen albums:
5. 5150: Best of Both Worlds
4. Fair Warning: So This Is Love, Unchained
3. Women and Children First: And the Cradle Will Rock, Everybody Wants Some, Take Your Whiskey Home.
2. 1984: Jump, Panama, Hot for the Teacher.
1. Van Halen I: Runnin' With the Devil, Eruption, You Really Got Me.

Comments

[Anonymous]

No love for Van Halen II???? Steve, Steve, Steve.

[David P]

And no love for "OU812"? Come on, "Finish What Ya Started" is one of the better Van Hagar tunes.

[Mad Wolf]

I'm one of the few that loved them with either. Balance is probably my favorite album. I miss my VH :(

[Farkin F Fark]

fark hagarbeen to the edgestood and looked downlost a lot of friends thereno time to mess around

[Farky McFarkalot]

Van Halen all the way, Van Hagar was not edgey enough.

[Anonymous]

I personally know the band and if david hadn't left when he did, that would have been their last album. Sammy added a creative synergy to the group that transcended stage presence (that's all david contributed to the group besides a full blown case of god complex). David Lee Roth was nothing but a parody of himself. Sure he had a cool voice and a flamboyant style, but that is the superficial exterior of great music. The group became Van Halen when Sammy joined. Ask any member of the band about that. What destroyed the group was Eddie's alcohol then eventually meth addiction. It drove a wedge between he and Sammy. Sammy is a musical perfectionist and it just didn't jive with Sammy that Eddie was blitzed out of his mind so much that he'd play the wrong songs in concert.

[Anonymous]

Hey Poster...As someone who "knows" the band, do you think Eddie would appreciate the fact that you have now told the world that he is a meth addict as well? I have been a fan for years, and knew he had an alcohol problem. The man needs help, not people who expose his weaknes to the world.

[Anonymous]

I have always thought that if you looked it as two seperate bands, both were great but in two different ways, I just hope Eddie will get any helphe needs and one day soon we can enjoy more great music from Van Halen

[Anonymous]

actually it's very common knowledge that Eddie has a meth problem. Considering the fact that he shows up to red-carpet event with his teeth rotting out doesn't very well hide the fact. Many, many people have tried to intervene on eddie's behalf and the only thing that will help him is a dose of humility and to hit rock bottom. He's a musical genius and unfortunately for him, he knows this.

[Anonymous]

"musical genius" ?? the man's talented, I'll give him that... but genius? no.

[Anonymous]

Diamond Dave was Van Halen. Nuff said.

[Anonymous]

Sammy was great but not with Van Halen. The asshole Van Halen brothers owe David Lee Roth for every bit of their success.

[Anonymous]

Eddie not a genius. You're sadly mistaken. He basically created modern rock guitar. He was smart enough to realize that a guitar neck's design is flawed and that major thirds were not perfect when played in different octaves. So he tuned his B string slightly flat so that the dissonant beating of a major third did not happen when a power chord was struck. When he played all other chords he would bend the string ever so slightly. Eddie was a virtuoso on electric guitar. Anybody who knows shit about guitar knows that he was a once-in-a-lifetime player. He is to modern guitar what Chopin was to Romantic piano. Eddie not a genius...that is a flat-out absurd and ignorant statement.

[Lavid Dee Roth]

Van Halen ruled. Van Hagar didn't. A couple of good songs doesn't make a great band. Van Halen took a step back after Diamond Dave left.

[Anonymous]

You forgot about Gary Cherone, who kicks both Hagar's and Roth's asses.

[Stewber]

I have to agree with looking at them as 2 different bands. They were part of 2 different times. Early Van Halen was saving us from the disco '70's and helped with the new MTV. Van Hagar kept the energy of the 80's & 90's going. My personal vote is for Dave.

[Anonymous]

Sammy all the way! Did you happen to catch the tour with both David & Sammy? I did...thank god Sammy played first and rocked the house. When Dave came on and started singing, it was horrible. In fact... 2 songs in, people started leaving. Sammy's a true showman and he's good to his fans. Has Dave ever been?

[Valerie B]

The shoulda transformed themselves into the rockinest instrumental power trio in the universe after Sam left the first time. Go out with some dignity. You know they could pull it off.

[JackyPaper]

You can sum it all up in one movie quote."Now why don't you take off my Van Halen t-shirt before you jinx the band & they break up?"-Wedding Singer-

[Steve Spears]

The Wedding Singer quote is truly a classic. One of my favorite jokes of the movie. That, and anything involving Billy Idol.

[Steve Spears]

Hey there, just saw the first response -- the one about Van Halen II. NO, that's an AWFUL album. Go look at the tracks again. I remember buying it when I was a kid, and then wishing I hadn't blown my entire allowance on such a piece of trash.

[Anonymous]

Thanks to Eddie I think we have seen the last of anything worth being called Van Halen. I had my reservations at first, but turned out to love the Van Hagar era.

[jctmom]

david lee all the way...

[Steve Spears]

I'm heading out later today to buy the "Best of Both Worlds" album. Since all my previous VH albums were on vinyl. I won't be surprised if I pick up the first album and 1984 while I'm at it.

[Thisisme]

If you look Roth had nothing after he left. He rode the Ex-Van Halen thing for maybe a year.Hagar on the other hand was a hit maker before Van Halen on his own and now after as well. So in my opinion Hagar has alot more talent musically as he adds vocals, another guitar and song writing to the mix.Both Cherone and Roth added what besides vocals? Possibly song writing, but in the case of Diamond Dave that was all caberet stuff at best.

[Dave's Mom]

"Cabaret stuff at best?" What? Jamie's Cryin'! Somebody Get Me A Doctor! Everybody Wants Some! PUHLEEZ! They went from "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" to "How Do I Know When It's Love". I definitely see some musical erectile dysfunction during the Sam years...

[Anonymous]

DLR is a homo.

[Anonymous]

early van halen was all about rockin out and havin fun, after DLR left they got too serious

[Eagleman]

I saw both versions of the band.....The Roth Era was a much better show....They had added too much other crap by the time I saw them again with Sammy. I remember my buddy commented during the Sammy show.."Hey who is playing keyboards??" They had the guy in the wings in the dark. When I saw the Dave version Eddie would play both keys and guitar......But both shows had the too long MA bass solo.....

[rockgimp]

Both bands had stand out rock tunes.DOA Mean StreetTake your Whiskey HomeSomebody get me a DrBest of both worldscabo wabo's intro is top notchpoundcakeAftershockDon't tell me what love can do

[Anonymous]

You forgot VH III... with Gary Cherone... Oh wait... nevermind! We're all trying to forget that!!!

[Leo]

Love Sammy, but Dave WAS the man.The whole situation makes me want to puke. Get off the snort, Ed.

[Anonymous]

Van Hagar (N) a vulgar term to describe post Roth era Van Halan.When anyone tells me that they prefer Hagar era VH I know then that I should terminate the conversation because I'm speaking with a moron."If the whole world is a stage then I want better lighting." -DLR

[Anonymous]

I saw them with Dave At the US festival in southern California in Early Eighty's ..Dave was drunk and being a fool ...but it was still far better then the Monster of rock concert we went to in 1990 in San Francisco

[Anonymous]

Roth didn't "have nothing" after he left VH. Roth was lucky enough to jump from playing with Eddie to playing with Vai and Sheehan to playing with Jason Becker./likes both eras of VH for what they are.//the less said about Cherone's VHIII the better.///get Extreme II: Pornograffitti instead.

[Anonymous]

Van Hagar is NOT Van Halen. Van Halen was the best band on the planet when DLR was with them. They were at the height of their popularity in the early 80s. When Sammy joined, the music got diluted and a little too sappy sweet for my liking. I've been, and always will be, a huge fan and admirer of Eddie Van Halen and that's why I've continued to support VH during the Hagar era. But if VH could manage to do ONE reunion show with DLR, I promise you that it would be HUGE! So many people I've talked to have said that they were Van Halen fans, in the DLR era, not in the Sammy era. Those are just casual fans, not fanatics like myself! Those are the fans who tell the true tale....Van Halen and Van Hager are not the same. Van Halen is the king! I can only hope that the king will rise again to retake his kingdom!

[Wek]

Van Halen has been broken up since 1985. Eddie and his sister, Alex, are two gutless weasels that destroyed the greatest rock band of the 80's. You folks (especially the dudes) that are pro-Hagar were probably the same sissys that wore Bon Jovi T-shirts.

[Anonymous]

RJARA.=I LOVE BOTH BANDS, DAVE WAS KILLER FOR WHAT HE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE, GREAT SOUND GREAT STAGE PRESENCE, AND ONE HELL OF A ROCK STAR. SAMMY BRINGS A BIT MORE OF A MUSICIANS SKILL AND STILL SENDS A KILLER SOUND WITH SOME MATURITY, WE ALL ARE GROWING OLDER AND SAMMYS SONGS ARE FOR ALL OF US GROWING UP. WE SHOULD JUST LOVE ALL THE MUSIC THE BAND HAS GIVEN TO THE WORLD, VAN HALEN FOREVER.

[Anonymous]

Having seen Sammy Hagar 3 times last year in one week in Cabo I can say he puts on a great show. I went into these shows thinking Sammy was washed up. Being with friends & family of the band, I held back my critisism and was pleasently surprised. Sammy's shows were a lot of fun and he really cares a lot about his fans. He'll go out of his way to sign autographs and take requests. He enjoys being on stage. Dave during his prime will always be a better showman but at least fans have something to grasp onto that is good. Dave was great but short lived and not dependable. Sammy on the other hand is professional. He puts out CD's and still tours. His Cabo Wabo franchise is expanding to other major cities. Sammy is older and you can't help but like how he lives his life. He just seems like a fun guy and his shows are a lot of fun too.

[M]

Daves 'Eat em and Smile' was better than anything Sam Halen ever did, Eddie rules, Alex is possibly the ugliest man in music, and that stupid Jack Daniels bass was gay.

[Mirrorball Man]

Van Halen.What can be said about this whole mess that hasnt been said already.Personally, I dont think you can top the original line up. David Lee Roth is a completely different creature from Sammy Hagar.Honestly, both version of VH have qualities of their own that make them more pleasing than the other but I dont think its fair to really comapre the two. It's as they say comparing apples to oranges. Theyre really tow seperate entities in my mind.As for the what happened and what now question..Diamond dave doesnt have egg on his hface for being fired from the radio show and dave DOES NOT need the money. Hes just keeping himself entertained in the meantime until the one day which may certainly never come when Eddie finally gets his head out of his ass and his body in a clinci and cleans his life up.He is the reason Van Halen is no longer anything today. dave in all this time has released records toured (made more money)became a certified Abulance technician (hey he was bored),amoung other things.Every years he goes to VH's management (which is different every year) and asks if they are ready to get things going again. The reply is always the same ..We'll get back with you...Sad.Sammy's still releasing solo material ,touring, and..still making money.Noone should feel sorry for Eddie Van Halen this situaion is of his own making. If he wants to sit in his house,all alone, and drink himself to death or die of an overdose of meth,where noone will find him till people begin complaining about the smell, so be it. He has the chance to make the band something great again and hes pissing it away on his own pity party.If Areosmith, Kiss, and the Rolling Stones are still touring and raking it in Vh should and could be doing the same,it is unfortante that we all lose when Van Halen releases nothing.Eddie: Heres a tip, pray real hard at the alter of Dave for a miracle.and once again stop wearing your ass as a hat.MM

[Mirrorball Man]

Van Halen.What can be said about this whole mess that hasnt been said already.Personally, I dont think you can top the original line up. David Lee Roth is a completely different creature from Sammy Hagar.Honestly, both version of VH have qualities of their own that make them more pleasing than the other but I dont think its fair to really comapre the two. It's as they say comparing apples to oranges. Theyre really tow seperate entities in my mind.As for the what happened and what now question..Diamond dave doesnt have egg on his hface for being fired from the radio show and dave DOES NOT need the money. Hes just keeping himself entertained in the meantime until the one day which may certainly never come when Eddie finally gets his head out of his ass and his body in a clinci and cleans his life up.He is the reason Van Halen is no longer anything today. dave in all this time has released records toured (made more money)became a certified Abulance technician (hey he was bored),amoung other things.Every years he goes to VH's management (which is different every year) and asks if they are ready to get things going again. The reply is always the same ..We'll get back with you...Sad.Sammy's still releasing solo material ,touring, and..still making money.Noone should feel sorry for Eddie Van Halen this situaion is of his own making. If he wants to sit in his house,all alone, and drink himself to death or die of an overdose of meth,where noone will find him till people begin complaining about the smell, so be it. He has the chance to make the band something great again and hes pissing it away on his own pity party.If Areosmith, Kiss, and the Rolling Stones are still touring and raking it in Vh should and could be doing the same,it is unfortante that we all lose when Van Halen releases nothing.Eddie: Heres a tip, pray real hard at the alter of Dave for a miracle.and once again stop wearing your ass as a hat.MM

[weege]

yo fo shizzle, my nizzle... hagar was hagarlizious and dave was dcredible.. blow me, bite me and beer me..

[Anonymous]

The Sammy vs Dave crap will never end.. It's tiresome & old.The band is named Van Halen for a reason.. Alex & Eddie. Regardless of Eddie's problems, he is in the top 5 all-time of greatest guitarists.I'll be seeing "The Other Half" in a few months when Sammy & Michael Anthony tour. It will be interesting to see how the replacements for the brothers do..Also, does anyone realize that VH is not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? A band like Blondie is in the HOF, but VH is not? I won't be setting foot in the place until that is rectified.

[Anonymous]

You're all wrong. The true musical genius behind Van Halen was Michael Anthony.And Ice Cream Man is the greatest love ballad ever penned.

[Anonymous]

i have to wonder about the ages of those who are pro-hagar vs. those who are pro-roth. i think the younger folk will probably go with hagar cause thats what they knew first. i tend to lean towards hagar and i know that plays into it. i do agree that the bands are practically two different bands with the different front men. i can't see sammy singing running with the devil and i can't see dave singing right now.

[Anonymous]

Edward is the most influential guitarist since Hendrix - it doesn't matter who's singing or what kind of personal problems he has (who doesn't). He's still the best and there hasn't been anyone since he came along in 1978 that has had as big an impact on guitar playing and technique. I'd go see him even if he was playing Himalyan polkas at the Holiday Inn.

[Anonymous]

Van Halen WAS a good band. Eddie has become a GIANT *sshole! Reaching for straws with Cherone...begging Hagar back...what next? Dave was always kind of an abrasive idiot, but he and Eddie and Alex and Mike WERE the REAL Van Halen. I think the 2nd lineup should have been called Van Hagar. Better yet, they should have done what Bettie Page did, and disappear leaving fans with an untainted memory. I have learned not to see bands I used to like (with the exception of Def Leppard) because it really ruins your memories to see the deterioration. Of course, American bands usually go on "Star Trips" which is why the get in trouble, were as Brit bands usually see it as a job like being a plumber or carpenter. C'mon Eddie, become a producer!

[Anonymous]

"And Ice Cream Man is the greatest love ballad ever penned."Uh,Ok. But it was written before any of the VH boys were born.My vote is for Dave in a landslide.Note: I was a Sammy fan long before Van Halen. He was real big in the midwest (St. Louis,specifically) in the mid 70's.

[Anonymous]

Roth era Van Halen is what yo u play when your hangin with your buddies having a blast. Van Hagar is what you play when your taking some fresh beaver out on a date, ready for some action.

[Anonymous]

Beaver??! Yeah, that'll peel the panties. SYKE!

[Bassnote]

I like both versions of VH (completely disregarding VH3), but I would have to lean more toward the David Lee Roth era. Dave era VH just rocked a lot harder.Both versions had albums that were terrible: Roth era - Diver Down, Sammy Era - Balance. Both Dave and Sammy had solo material that I liked. It's to bad Eddie had to go off the deep end.

[eagelman]

All I know is when I first heard Eddie play about 79'/80' I was blown away and wanted to hear anything he did...His guitar sounded nothing like AC/DC..REO...whatever crap was playing on AM and the up and comming FM...I honestly think he did change the sound of music in his own lil' way...My friends and I could not wiat for the "new" albums...ha that sounds funny.. albums....to come out. Hell...I even listened to Wacko Jacko just because Eddie had the solo in "Beat It"....Seems like yesterday I was searchin' all the record stores for a VH poster nobody else had...was it really over 25 yrs????Holy crap...All I can say is I hope Eddie gets better...Eagle...b.t.w. You have been Farked...That is how I found this messageboard...

[Six]

Come on, man! It's a no-brainer. Diamond Dave rocked the free world on tunes like "Runnin' With the Devil" and "Panama", and a bunch of others. No contest as far as I'm concerned.Hey, I love the Red Rocker, too, but not in Van Halen. Sorry. And yes, you a-holes, Eddie Van Halen IS a musical genius. When he was at the top of his game, nobody could touch him... except maybe Malmsteen, but that's another fight for another post.

[Yngvai Malmsteve]

Yngwie! Yngwie! Yngwie!Way to bring up the master, six.

[beach mom]

absolutely the first album is and always will be their best, i saw them at curtis hixon in 1978 when they opened up for journey and DLR opened w/ hello tampabay we are gonna rock your socks off and by golly they did!!!! i have an old cassette taping of the show!!! my first bootlegg!!!

[Anonymous]

VH's 1st album was, IMHO, their best. Windows down, radio loud, and Eddie's solo on Ice Cream Man blaring away. It's pure summertime.Tone Loc owes half of his career to VH for sampling the Jamie's Crying riff for Wild Thing.And, while the Viking Chief Yngwie F*cking Malmsteen does indeed rule, you should check out the twin attack of Sam Totman and Herman Li in Dragonforce

[Anonymous]

The David Lee Roth years have more classic songs, though, now in 2006, Sammy still can rock with the best of them and David Lee Roth is just sad. I would rather see Sammy anyday.