[L.N. Smithee]

Roth can SING circles around Hagar!

Oh, brother. I am having high school flashbacks.

Can you please tell me one Roth tune in which he comes close to Hagar's performance on "Remember The Heroes" (VOA album)?

Look, I am not putting Roth down because I don't think he can sing. Ozzy Osbourne can't sing either. Neither could Bon Scott, and Rod Stewart, who's been around for a period spanning five decades, only learned to sing well in the last fifteen years or so. Lemmy of Motorhead always sounds like he's trying to gargle and sing at the same time. Gary Cherone is a better singer than all of them, but, as I said earlier, the VH III CD was dreadful.

There was a manic energy to Van Halen was Roth was the front man that was lost when Sammy took over. But before you blame Sammy, remember that when Dave got his own all-star band, (Steve Vai from Zappa, Billy Sheehan from Talas, Gregg Bissonette from Count Basie's band) they didn't have any decent songs.

C'mon, be honest. What would you rather listen to if you were on a desert island and were only allowed one CD? For Unknown Carnal Knowledge, or Eat 'Em & Smile?

[sully777]

Isn't it "For UNLAWFUL Carnal Knowledge" ?

I choose Eat Em and Smile. IMO Tobacco Road was masterful. Honestly, VH songs historically have been knock-offs. Some of their best stuff is old R&B material. True, Hagar brought his song writing abilities to Van Hagar but what can you say about a song dedicated to aliens? 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!

[HonkyTonkMan]

I always thought Danny Joe Brown from Hatchet sounds like the alien from Bugs Bunny. (esp on Whiskey Man)

[discostu]

Which one would have bigger liner notes to help me start a fire? Both Carnal Knowledge and Eat Em are horrid albums. 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.

Probably the thing that loses the most points to me for Van Hagar is that we not only lost Van Halen, we also lost Sammy Hagar his stuff with them wasn't nearly as good as his solo efforts. I really wish Roth could sit on his ego long enough for a reunion tour of the real thing.

[Itzlzha]

There was a manic energy to Van Halen was Roth was the front man that was lost when Sammy took over. But before you blame Sammy, remember that when Dave got his own all-star band, (Steve Vai from Zappa, Billy Sheehan from Talas, Gregg Bissonette from Count Basie's band) they didn't have any decent songs.

WHAT?!?!

"Goin' Crazy"..."Elephant Gun"..."Ladies Night in Buffalo"...you say these aren't 'decent'?!?!

As a musician, may I say you are 180% off. If Dave's ego hadn't broken the Band's chemistry in the next album...if Dave could get beyond his overblown ego long enough to allow a band to mature...that band would have ruled as VH did!

[RockinRight]

Hagar is way better than Roth as a solo artist. Roth was much better matched to VH though, the chemistry (and music) was much better. Roth solo sucked.

[RockinRight]

Old thread...I know...but I was listening to Hagar's VOA last night...several songs on that album are very pro-America...not surprising as Hagar's a lifelong Republican.