It's 5150 Time!!!! Sammy Hagar Re-Joins Van Halen

Melodicrock.com ^ | 11-20-03 | my favorite headache

[BOBWADE]

Standing Hampton was my favorite.

[Blue Jays]

Good Evening All-

Saw a Van Halen concert in 1986 just after David Lee Roth left the band and Sammy Hagar had joined. He was wearing an absurd tee-shirt with "Dave Who?" emblazoned on the chest. Even then I found it completely childish. I longed for David Lee Roth during that show.

Sammy Hagar is clearly competent, but he will never capture the magical showmanship of David Lee Roth.

In other excellent music news, Rob Halford has rejoined Judas Priest with tour dates being announced soon. These guys took the time to properly resolve their differences and you know Rob, Glenn Tipton, K.K. Downing, Ian Hill, and Scott Travis are going to seriously rock out.

What a fantastic nostalgia trip this upcoming summer might become. My (considerably) younger staff will never figure me out. Ha!

~ Blue Jays ~

[sully777]

LOL. I remember using "sit-shiation" in literature discussions and public speaking at college. Forgot myself completely.

It's been a long time since I heard Nugent, except radio play. I heard him on Radio Hannidy and it sounded like Sean was overwhelmed by Nugent and wife.

[spodefly]

MFH: I got the "Rush in Rio" DVD today and have had a run thru. Incredible. I had seen them on the tour last year (the tour this show was from) and left the concert thinking that it was the best Rush show I had ever seen. They were tighter than ever, and yet totally relaxed in front of an incredibly energetic Atlanta crowd. But later, I convinced myself that it couldn't have been that good ... maybe I was just exagerating based on the fact that I hadn't seen them since the TFE tour, and had come to believe, based on the tragedies that Peart had gone thru, that I would never see them again.

But after seeing this DVD, it is clear that my initial impression was right. They are playing better than ever, and the show had a wonderful energy that I remember from all Rush shows, but especially that last tour. An incredible show, and the crowd in Rio is unbelievable. Anyone that is even a passing Rush fan needs to get this DVD.

Maybe this needs its own thread ... ;)

[L.N. Smithee]

And speaking of Hagar taking a musical que from others, will someone tell me why Hagar hasn't been sued by Gary Glitter's people for stealing Rock And Roll for Hagar's Mash Tequila? Same music!

I have to concede you that point. "Mas Tequilas" is a straight rip-off of Gary Glitter's "Rock & Roll Part I."

[L.N. Smithee]

VH was a better band with Dave, more fun and the sound worked better with his crappy voice; much like how Black Sabbath was a better band with Ozzy than with Dio.

That's a perfect analogy. Ronnie James Dio is an outstanding rock vocalist, and Ozzy is barely one, but Ozzy's comparably weak and whiny voice was the one that everyone heard when they became fans of the band.

Unless you're AC/DC, when you change the singer, you completely change the group. Look at Motley Crue (who cut one forgotten LP without Vince Neil), Audioslave (formerly known as Rage Against The Machine, minus rapper/lyricist Zack De La Rocha and plus former Soundgarden lead singer Chris Cornell), Genesis (who went from progressive rock to power pop when Phil Collins took over lead vocals from Peter Gabriel) and Fleetwood Mac (ditto, when Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks were signed up).

[geege]

Of all concerts I've seen during the heavy metal 80's....Priest's music was the only one that mad me go deaf for a few hours.......I loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BethWoodfin]

Thanks for the info B-Jays....and since we're talking the "old school", how about Bob Seger???? Any news on his whereabouts and uptoo's?

Usurper, maybe you'll find this "old school" music talk stimulating.

Rock-on Gentlemen :)

[TomHarkinIsNotFromIowa]

Last I saw Bob was racing boats on the Great Lakes.

[sully777]

I haven't actively listened to Shmuel Hagar since he was a cantor at his father Rabbi Shlomo Hagar's Reformed Temple Beth Shalom Shwartz straight out of Compton--just kidding (See David Lee Roth's Jewish heritage).

Hagar's songs just appear unannounced like so many bimonthly Rock Line appearances. I hear this song that sounds like mash tequila and like a dope I think that's the title. Mas-Mash: who knew? But it is definitely Gary Glitter's Rock and Roll song.

I'll gladly listen to Hagar if that means one less song from Creed played on the radio. Agreed? Agreed!

[discostu]

I always think of the Ozzy/ Dio change because of how it evolved. Heaven and Hell is one of the best heavy metal albums in my collection, but I never listen to it when I'm in a Black Sabbath mood and I rarely listen to it when I'm in a Dio mood, H&H has it's own specific mood because it has it's own specific sound. And then Mob Rules the sound has changed even further and it's functionally Dio's first solo album (has nearly an identical sound to Holy Diver and Last in Line).

The only reason AC/DC pulled it off is that Brian Johnson basically immitates Bon Scott, if you've ever listened to interviews with him you'll know immediately his singing voice shouldn't be that high and scratchy (well maybe now after tearing his vocal chords to pieces, back then no). But he seemed to understand that AC/DC had built a sound around Scott's voice and changing the voice would require changing the sound. Changing vocalists, unless the new guy sounds nearly identical, is the equivalent to trading the lead guitar for a balalaika, the band might still make good music but it's not gonna sound the same.

And it got worse with VH because then Eddie got to monkey with his keyboards. I'm all for artisitic freedom but Dave was right when he would remind Eddie that he was a Guitar God and shouldn't be toying with keyboards. Sammy's not nearly as good a player as Eddie (which really isn't a hit on Sammy, Eddie is damn good) and the band lost a lot of oomph with the down grade in guitars and developing more of a keyboard focus. Musically probably a better band, but not the same and not as much raw fun.

[Charles Martel]

Unless you're AC/DC, when you change the singer, you completely change the group.

AC/DC's situation was unique, but other bands that are not reliant upon *one* signature voice have pulled off the vocalist switcheroo. Styx got away with it two or three years ago - but the guy who replaced Dennis DeYoung can't measure up. Fortunately, the band has also relied heavily on lead vocals from Tommy Shaw and James Young (JY is now effectively the only remaining member of the "original" band), who have steered the band away from the power ballad stuff towards a harder rock sound. Only Dennis can sing Suite Madame Blue, though.

[L.N. Smithee]

Styx got away with it two or three years ago - but the guy who replaced Dennis DeYoung can't measure up.

When I saw the Styx episode of VH1's Behind The Music I was shocked at how much infighting there was in the band. Apparently, Dennis was yanking the group in a smooth pop/ballad direction, while James Young and Tommy Shaw wanted to keep the focus on rock and roll. When you're a young and unworldly fan, you assume musicians you admire as a group like each other as much as you like them. It hurts a little the first time you discover that in reality, they were constantly at each other's throats.

Glen Burtnik was an able replacement for Tommy Shaw. I thought Edge of The Century was a pretty good album, and loved JY's song "Homewrecker". I often recalled that tune when reading accounts of Monica Lewinsky and Andy Bleiler, with whom she carried on an affair while being nanny to his and his wife's children. It was to the Bleilers that Monica made her infamous comment about going to D.C. to earn her her "presidential kneepads."

[gawatchman]

He may have already started his slide then, but that song appeared on the Piper album when he was really creative, and I think that whole album was a masterpiece. I think those sounds at the end of Bike were supposed to be the gears in his mind turning while coming up with new music and/or lyrics. My take anyway. To me the lyrics on the Jug Band Blues song showed that he was losing it.

Esp the 2 lines:

"It's awfully considerate of you to think of me here, and I am most obliged to you for making it clear that I'm not here."

"And I'm wondering who could be writing this song."

[BADROTOFINGER]

Dude, you cant tease me like that. I have looked on the net for any mention of a new Rush tour, but have found nothing. Where did you hear about the April start date, or any other info about the tour? Just wondering...JFK

[My Favorite Headache]

It is not a tease....it is being planned out right now. Tour starts in Europe in April and will continue worldwide through October. Trust me..it is going to happen. Neil's new drums are being made as we speak.

[My Favorite Headache]

Good idea...lol..start that thread! And watch everyone come in and say Limbaugh played Brazil?

You should have seen Rush In Rio when it was in theaters...amazing. But yes..everyone should pick up this DVD..it is incredible.

[grant101]

Heh, me and my dad were having a talk about how rock and roll was going to die, which made me miserable thinking of the fate...

So, I went on wb.com email EVH and told him... Im really depressed about the music today and that Van Halen fans are tired of waiting for a new Van Halen CD. I gave him my birthdate- November 20th.

And this is how he replied me... Amazing on rumor mail... This is going to rock the whole world and as Steve Vai says it Van Halen will sell out the Sahara Desert.

And if you guys look at the New songs on Greatest Hits by DLR, you can see that hes so friggin wasted he cant do one more decent piece.

If you bitch about it... Look around... Limp Biskit, Blink 182, WS? Lalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalala... I consider that shite at the third degree and I want people to be happy.
"Look at all these little kids
takin' care of the music biz
Don't their business take good care of me?
Honey! I'm the one, the one you love
Come on baby show your love"

Van Halen will be back... With 4 years on licks by EVH on the guitar, cello, and piano. With Sammy Hagar's latest CDs shows HE CAN DO IT! His lyrics will pierce your heart. Eddie will play his peak... And Van Halen will never be any better.

I can tell you that the next album if it comes out it will sell at least 12 Million. For all people who are musically disabled keep on fussing about this reunion. But for Hi Qual- Rockers and Real Van Halen Fans this is our time to see rock and roll on for another decade and the death of rap.

Love to see DLR sing Dreams when it goes "Higher and HIGHA!" One word for this- Meltdown. So get ready for the CD of the century.

Yeah, we'll get higher and higher
Straight up we'll climb
Higher and higher
Leave it all behind
Oh, we'll get higher and higher
Who knows what we'll find?

VAN HALEN- FOR NOW FOREVER!

[RightOnline]

What a great thread. Have read most of the way through, so thought I'd add the thoughts / observations of an old rocker: rock guitarist since '68; rock music fan for even longer. Think that qualifies me to have an opinion. :)

I ask each of you to think hard.........about how many times you have actually been stopped dead in your tracks by a piece of music. Walking through the house while the stereo (record player?) was playing; driving down the road......and hearing one of those songs that just floors you.

Few have done that to me. The Beatles......Gary Moore.........Eddie Van Halen. Vai may have more training; may even have more skill. I take nothing away from his playing.........but he has never moved me like Eddie has. As has been pointed out above, Eddie Van Halen almost single-handedly revived the rock genre.

Sammy Hagar........hell, I've followed his career since his early work with Montrose. He's twice the singer David Lee Roth is. Roth has talent, but he's the perpetual rowdy teenager. Hagar brought a sense of maturity to the band's music.......and some balls to their vocals. Roth preened; Hagar just rocked. The differences in their music with Hagar were profound, and their CD's / records were far less schlocky than with Roth. Face it; listen now to some early Van Halen stuff.........take out Eddie's incredibly game guitar work........and you have a lot of dreck.

No, this is a damned fine lineup of musicians, and I'm glad they're going to go at it again.

[Uncle Meat]

I always think of the Ozzy/ Dio change because of how it evolved. Heaven and Hell is one of the best heavy metal albums in my collection, but I never listen to it when I'm in a Black Sabbath mood and I rarely listen to it when I'm in a Dio mood

I read that Jim Dandy Mangrum of Black Oak Arkansas was considered to take Ozzy's place in the band.That would have been interesting.He had the long blonde mane and strutted the stage like a rooster long before David Lee came along.He was once quoted "He done me proud"speaking of Dave of course.Been a long time fan of BOA myself.