[My Favorite Headache]

[BlueNgold]

I have been told that one of the greatest concert moments one could hope to enjoy are the times when Sammy goes back stage and returns with the (in)famous Red Rocker Flying V ... and he and Eddie start to duel. Two of the greatest guitarists in rock history whaling away... I can't even imagine the energy that must create. Just one more reason I hope they get it worked out and tour again ... commitments in the Arabian Gulf kept me from seeing the last tour, I won't miss the next one ...

[Ben Bolt]

I liked Sammy with Van Halen .. I wish I could find some of his solo / Montrose work again .

[spodefly]

Cool Thread. Any thread that mentions Van Halen/Hagar, Steve Vai, Pink Floyd, Rush, Dream Theater, et al, is a good thread.

BTW, the first VH concert I saw was on a tour with Journey and Ronnie Montrose. VH had the opening slot and only about 30 minutes to play. This was in 78 or so. Dave introduced Eddie for the 'Eruption' solo by saying "Ladies and Gentlemen, THE guitar player of the 80's -- Eddie Van Halen". Best Rock show I ever saw ... Journey and Montrose were great, but after VH, they were an anticlimax.

[HolgerDansk]

I liked both versions of Van Halen for different reasons. The brothers Van Halen always maintained a decent quality standard. No whiny woe-is-me 90s Rock, you could always count on Van Halen for a party mood. And even if you think they're "old", they certainly fit into the current back-to-metal roots trend in Rock that includes groups such as Creed and Staind.

As far as Sammy goes, I still think his best work was Three Lock Box...

[Dan from Michigan]

Arlight. It's not DLR, but I happened to like "Van Hagar" stuff as well. Poundcake(great video too), Best of Both Worlds, Cabo Wabo.

[mtbrandon49]

Everybody wants some!

[StriperSniper]

Hmmm...I wonder if he needs someone to look after his interests in Cabo. I could be persuaded to relocate for a while. ;-)

[StoneColdGOP]

Again?

What the hell was that tour last year (or was it early this year?) that had both Sammy AND David trading off frontman roles?

[BethWoodfin]

Rock-on Boyzzzzzzzzzzzz....I could use a little "Ice-Cream-Man", or can Sammy even sing that one? Doesn't matter the music is where it's at anyway :)

[muleskinner]

ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.........

[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 ... ;)

[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.