***** Eddie Van Halen Repository Thread *****

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Auction link here....
https://www.backstageauctions.com/ca...hts/ac/0/2245/

Story below....


ALEX VAN HALEN’S INSTRUMENTS, AND GEAR, TO BE AUCTIONED OFF NEXT MONTH

Backstage Auctions, Inc. has announced The Alex Van Halen Collection, the auction house’s most anticipated and historical auction event of the year featuring the personal collection of legendary Van Halen drummer Alex Van Halen.

Backstage Auctions says, “It is an unbelievable honor to represent one of the greatest rock drummers of all time and we could not be any more excited. Alex is the reason why so many people picked up a pair of drumsticks and this auction is a fantastic opportunity to see so many of his instruments and gear go to new homes. All of these pieces have a thick layer of magic ‘Al‘ dust and we can only hope that it will bring boundless joy and thrills to their future owners.”

The collection features over 350 lots, with a wide array of memorabilia, such as drum kits, snare drums, kick drums, road cases, drumheads, cymbals, gongs, sticks and mallets, personal items, record awards, autographed pieces and so much more. The auction is definitely one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for fans and collectors to own a piece of van halen history. Each lot sold will come with a personally signed certificate of authenticity from Alex, which is a collectible in itself.

Alex says, “I always have pursued the best possible sound, which drove me every single day, every single album, and every single tour to be on top of my game. I hope that passing on all these pieces will inspire current and next generations to be the best they can be. Now, let’s have some fun — Van Halen style.”

Each piece featured in the auction is essentially a highlight item, but among the standouts is the legendary 5150 tour kit, the 2015 tour kit (and the last kit Alex ever used in concert),his personal collection of vintage RIAA(Recording Industry Association Of America) record awards, the exceptionally rare rosewood snare drums that helped define his signature sound, the eye-catching and iconic gongs, a kick drum from the early backyard party days, and even a piano from the Van Halen family home.

The auction is a celebration of a 40-year career that saw Van Halen sell nearly 100 million albums worldwide, making them one of the best-selling groups in the history of music. Alex Van Halen‘s place in the pantheon of rock ‘n’ roll drummers is legendary. The incredible body of work that he created alongside his brother Eddie is memorialized in Van Halen‘s historic catalog of genre-defining music.

“I kept all these drums, cymbals, heads, and all other kinds of gear, instruments, and road cases in my warehouse for decades and it will bring me great pleasure to see them end up in the hands of my fans and fellow drummers,” says Alex. “A portion of the proceeds will go to the Ride On Therapeutic Horsemanship charity to further support the services they provide to those in need.”

Alex and his wife have been longtime supporters of Ride On Therapeutic Horsemanship. The organization’s mission is to promote the welfare of at-risk youth and people with any type of physical, intellectual or cognitive disability by means of equine-assisted activities and therapies, and by providing instruction and education for all in equestrian-related social, vocational and recreational activities.

The auction will open up for bidding on June 1st and close on June 9th.

https://eddietrunk.com/alex-van-hale...ff-next-month/

[EPodolak]

Some EVH studio footage just posted on YT, rumor is it won't be up long.

https://youtu.be/GkAWbBsoi_g?si=bwtUWkDNu58UUnV0

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Originally Posted by EPodolak

Some EVH studio footage just posted on YT, rumor is it won't be up long.

https://youtu.be/GkAWbBsoi_g?si=bwtUWkDNu58UUnV0

Rumor is true. Gone. Damn!

[Stewie]

This is great. Could have better camera work.

Wolfie looks to be pretty young. Maybe 15.

I'm assuming Alex is playing on the other side of the mixing board.

I like just before Hot for Teacher, Eddie says to Alex, "Do your best Buddy Rich." Paraphrasing.

I like one of the comments:

"My dad is President of the United States."
Wolfie: "Pffft. My dad's Eddie Van Halen."

Just finished the whole video. Outstanding!

I hope it stays on YT for a while. I know people will really enjoy it.

Play through decent speakers.
.

[InChiefsHeaven]

Aaaand it's gone. Shit.

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Joe Satriani fears Eddie Van Halen will haunt him for what he’s done to his Frankenstein design

The hotly anticipated Best Of All Worlds tour is right around the corner, and Joe Satriani has given fans a closer look at some of the wild mods he’s made to an EVH Frankenstein electric guitar he'll be playing during the shows.

However, he’s worried about what the consequences of gutting the guitar will be, as he jokes: “It's my own mod on Frankenstein – Eddie's gonna come back and kill me!”

The upcoming tour will find Satch step into the sizable shoes of his hero Eddie Van Halen, as he performs both Hagar- and Roth-era Van Halen hits alongside Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, and Jason Bonham.

Satriani has been taking no shortcuts in his preparation for the tour, but in one of his most interesting revelations yet, he's revealed there’s nothing particularly special about the particular Frankenstein replica that acted as his blank canvas.

It is, in fact, a standard, off-the-shelf EVH Striped Series Frankenstein (circa $1,500) from Bananas At Large, and not some million-dollar one-off. Although he does add, with a wry smile, it will be worth a million dollars after the tour.

The virtuoso has already showcased another modded EVH guitar on his Instagram, and like that white-and-black Stripes Series, this too has a Sustainiac in the bridge.

Eddie was known for his experimentation with the Fernandes Sustainer pickups. However, those mods were typically made to his Peavey Wolfgang models rather than his Frankenstein, so it's interesting to see how Satch has accommodated both sounds in his tireless tone quest.

“I added a Sustainiac, a clear pickguard, [and] I removed the stuff that doesn't do anything,” he tells YouTuber Jeremy White.

“I also added a kill switch,” he goes on, confirming our suspicions concerning one extra mystery button that could be found on his other mod. It will be fascinating to hear how he uses it.

Satriani has credited “master luthier Gary Brawer” for the work. He also adds that, despite his ghostly Van Halen concerns, his modifications were made in the spirit of his idol.

“[Eddie] was a tinkerer and an inventor and thank god,” he says. “It sounds really good, [it’s a] fun guitar.”

With final tour preparations now well underway, the true extent of Satriani's gear tampering has been revealed.

Satch has already confirmed he's working with 3rd Power Amps for a custom-made tube amp to nail Eddie's 1986 guitar tone. Recently released rehearsal footage has also shown that his trusty Ibanez signature guitars will also play a part on the tour, alongside his EVH models.

In one of the more obscure ways to learn valuable information, he's also revealed how slipping up while playing Mean Street on Howard Stern taught him a lesson about Eddie's guitar tone.





https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/...155528335.html

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Book out tomorrow. Most under the spoiler for massive length for those who care.

‘If I Start Throwing Dirt, It’ll Never End’: Alex Van Halen on Why He Didn’t Want His ‘Brothers’ Book to Be a Tell-All

"Before I die I would like to at least partially set the record straight."

Alex Van Halen hopes that those coming to his new memoir, Brothers, for a tell-all will be disappointed.

“It’s not about the dirt,” Van Halen, older brother and bandmate of the late Eddie Van Halen, tells Billboard. “If I start throwing dirt, it’ll never end. I think some people would like that; that’s how projects are sold nowadays. I think it divides the audience, and we’re not here to divide. I think the tone of the book and how I want the book to be perceived is more on a spiritual and creative level. That’s why there’s very little, or any, dirt in there.

“The majority of things that were written about Ed were third party,” he continues. “They weren’t really there. I’m not degrading any of it, but it’s not accurate. I really felt like a lot of the stuff that was out there was incorrect, and it didn’t do justice to the more sensitive side of Ed. So before I die I would like to at least partially set the record straight.”

Spoiler!

Brothers, publishing Oct. 22 and written with New Yorker staff writer Ariel Levy, acknowledges the sex and drugs and rock n’ roll. But as the title indicates it’s primarily a chronicle of the drummer’s relationship with his guitar hero brother, who passed way during Oct. 2020 at the age of 65 after a long battle with cancer. The tome is undeniably emotional, with some passages written directly to his late brother. Van Halen acknowledges that the process “really took its toll on me.”

“You have to remember we were together for 65 years; that’s a lifetime, if not more,” explains Van Halen, who was born in Amsterdam and came to the United States with his family in 1962, eventually settling in Pasadena, Calif., where the Van Halen band was formed in 1974. “(Brothers) not only forced me to look at everything Ed and I had done in our lifetime, but also — and I should thank Ed for this — it forced me to look at me. What are my motivations? Why am I really doing this? Who does anybody do this? It took me a lot of places…very heavy.”

Throughout Brothers’ 231 pages, Van Halen discloses the tight bond between him and Eddie, personally and musically — and presents the connection between those two as one and the same thing. Van Halen offers a detailed account of the entire family dynamics, too, from the influence of their father, Jan, a jazz musician, and their more strict Dutch East Indies-born mother Eugenia, and the impact of immigrating to America and being treated as outsiders. The passion for music came early and was a constant, of course, and one can read in Brothers a kind of mission on Van Halen’s part to offer a more expansive and sophisticated view of his brother’s talents.

“There was more going on than most people recognize or realize, and it’s not our job to ‘teach’ people,” explains Van Halen, who also makes use in the book of a variety of other sources, including published interviews with his brother, books by original frontman David Lee Roth and producer Ted Templeman, and philosophers such as Friedrich Nietzsche. The brothers, who first learned to play piano, actually started out on each other’s instruments before switching as teenagers. “When Ed picked (the guitar) up he could make it sing. It was amazing. That sound, that intonation was phenomenal. You couldn’t express it in words. Everybody gets blinded by the fact Ed was such a phenomenal player (that) you’re not even understanding who the human being was. Maybe people don’t care, but I care. He’s my brother.”

Brothers of a Band
Writing about Van Halen the rock band in Brothers, Van Halen says that “me, Ed and Dave were very subversive in the way we looked at music and the political system and the way we looked at people in general…The band was dysfunctional. It was completely running on three wheels, if you will. I think Ed was quoted as saying ‘but we always played well,’ and that was ultimately what kept it together until it was no longer together. It was a very sad moment when that whole thing fell apart.” Van Halen, in fact, writes in Brothers that Van Halen’s 1985 split with Roth “was the most disappointing thing I’d experienced in my life, the thing that seemed the most wasteful and unjust. Until I lost my brother.”

Despite the acknowledged rancor with Roth over the years – and blaming Roth for the failure of a planned Eddie Van Halen tribute tour — Van Halen maintains that “I’m not angry at all with Dave. He was one of the three main components of the band. At the time we didn’t recognize it because we were constantly battling things out. That’s why I mentioned (in the book) that the first person I called when Ed died was Dave because I felt like I owed him that, to the work we had done together and the fact that our families knew each other and the fact that everybody was sort of on the same level, if you will, when we first started. I don’t know where things went wrong…I have nothing but the utmost respect for Dave and his work ethic. I just think some of his choices were really strange to me, but that’s not my job to figure it out.”

Other than his brother’s death, Van Halen chose to stop the story with the Roth split, leaving out subsequent runs with Sammy Hagar and Gary Cherone and even the reunion with Roth that started in 2007. (Roth and Hagar both wrote memoirs after their respective tenures with the band.) Van Halen cites “limitations to how big the book could be” but also says it the scope of the narrative made sense to him.

“What happened after Dave left is not the same band,” Van Halen explains. “I’m not saying it was better or worse or any of that. The fact is Ed and I did our best work whenever we played. We always gave it our best shot. But the magic was in the first years, when we didn’t know what we were doing, when we were willing to try anything.” Not surprisingly, Van Halen was not responsive, either, when Hagar and bassist Michael Anthony reached out about him taking part in some way in their Best of All Worlds tour celebrating Van Halen.

“I’m not interested,” he says. “They’re not doing the band justice. They can do what they want to do. That’s not my business.”

Everybody Wants Some
Van Halen does add, however, that his auction of drum equipment and other items in June “was misinterpreted” and simply clearing out a warehouse of gear that wasn’t being used.

“I’m not quitting. I don’t know where that came from,” Van Halen says. “I’ll die with sticks in my hand.” Spinal issues he’s been battling for decades are still present, he adds, including a recent injury during a trip to a shooting range in 2022. “But with modern technology we have now I should be OK in about five years,” he says.

Despite rumors of what the Van Halens were up to between the last tour with Roth (in 2015) and Eddie’s death, Alex maintains there was little to report. “We never really talked about it,” he says. “We prefer that things just happen by some kind of magic. The issue was Ed had been dealing with cancer for quite a number of years, and some of the stuff that he was doing out of the normal procedures, if you will, had side effects. Some of the stuff that was being said about Ed was completely wrong, and it was painful…. He was fighting cancer. It’s as simple as that.”

Fans are certainly excited about the presence of a new instrumental track, “Unfinished,” that’s part of the audio version of Brothers. It hails from a trove of ideas the brothers recorded at Eddie’s 5150 studio and stashed away, and Alex anticipates releasing more of that material “when it feels right.”

“I’m not in a hurry,” he says. “I do have a certain obligation to keep it to Ed’s standards. He was meticulous and he was a pain in the ass…and I need to have access to the right takes, ’cause not every day did we play at our best. But we always had the tape recorders running. We didn’t go in the studio like, ‘Yeah, we’re gonna make a record from beginning to end.’ We had little pieces here, little pieces there, you put ’em away until the time comes and you go, ‘Hey, I think I like that piece…’ and then go back to it and build something from there.” He told Rolling Stone that he’s approached OpenAI about using its technology to help turn some of the material into songs.

“I know people want to hear it,” Van Halen adds, before cautioning that, “the other side of the coin is this doesn’t sound like Van Halen. You’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t.” He says that for future releases he’s also “looking forward to getting some people involved…other musicians and producers. You have to have the right team, because not everybody can do everything. So we’ll see.”

For the time being Van Halen is focused on promoting Brothers, which he’d also like to turn into a movie — though he notes that, “I learned a long time ago not to put your hope in things that don’t exist yet. I know people who would be willing to participate, but it’s a very complex fabric of things that need to happen.” Meanwhile Van Halen has three book events lined up — signings at Barnes & Noble in New York on Oct. 21 and at Books & Greetings in Northvale, N.J., the following day, and a live conversation on Oct. 24 at the Frost Auditorium in Culver City, Calif.

“People can ask whatever they like — that’s their prerogative,” Van Halen says. “It’s my prerogative to answer. Or not answer.”

One thing Van Halen will make clear, however, is that his brother is still a strong presence in his life.

“He’s not gone for me,” Van Halen says, citing the “island voodoo” of their mother’s upbringing and the Spooky Action at a Distance concept of quantum physics. “He’s still there. His spirit’s here, and it’s not something you can grab or touch. There’s something between us that’s just connected on a level that is beyond explanation. Scientists will tell you that you cannot destroy energy, it just takes different shapes, and that’s kind of how it is for me with Ed.

“I really had a tough time when Ed passed — full of rage, for a number of reasons. I heard this thing by Billy Bob Thornton; he just said basically when his brother died he didn’t know how to deal with it, and he basically said that you’re not running away from the fact that you’re not together anymore. You accept it for what it is and then the pain will slowly diminish, but it’ll never go away. That’s why i said (in the book), ‘When I see you again, I’m gonna kick yo’ ass…’”

https://www.billboard.com/music/rock...ew-1235804745/

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Spoiler for way too long, but it is a fun Roth vs. Hagar analysis....

The Van Halen conundrum

Spoiler!

Surely you’re familiar with Van Halen, one of America’s greatest and most tumultuous rock and roll offerings. Whether you’ve been caught driving a little too fast to “Panama,” basked in the synth-oriented goodness of “Jump,” or found just enough midday motivation from a quick listen to “Dreams,” or “Right Now,” the Pasadena-born supergroup has undoubtedly made some sort of impression on everyone, for better or worse. However, among many others, there’s a very strong point of contention among Van Halen fandom that’s left an indelible impression on the band’s legacy throughout the years.

It was in 1974 when the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted band was formed by brothers Eddie and Alex Van Halen, whose family had immigrated to Southern California from the Netherlands 12 years prior. Alongside Michael Anthony, the band’s longtime bass player and notable backing vocalist, and David Lee Roth, their semi-maniacal front man, the brothers had created a fearsome foursome that broke the mold of rock and roll and took the world by storm via their world tours of insanity and 6 landmark studio albums between 1978 and 1984. Even upon their debut self-titled album, it wouldn’t take very long for the band to become a household name, much to the begrudgement of the likes of Tipper Gore and the late Sen. Paula Hawkins.

While each member of the group had a gargantuan sense of notoriety and respect of the rock and roll variety, it became clear that the benchmark of the band’s legacy was and always will be the boundless, virtuoso talents of the late Eddie Van Halen. The fusing of his groundbreaking technique and superior songwriting ability undoubtedly earns him the title of the greatest guitar player of all time. Read it and weep, Rolling Stone. While EVH certainly became a rock and roll hero to millions, if not billions of fans worldwide, it would be David Lee Roth, the band’s first lead singer, who commanded the spotlight throughout the band’s initial heyday and is the highly distinctive voice behind hits like “Dance the Night Away,” “I’ll Wait,” and “Runnin’ with the Devil.” Roth became such an entity of rock and roll and 1980’s pop culture that many dub him the premiere front man of the decade, surpassing the likes of his Sunset Strip contemporaries.

“Diamond Dave” was a force to be reckoned with, doing for Van Halen what, arguably, not only the sheer Herculean musical ability of his 3 bandmates could do. That is, in regard to his presence. DLR is many things, but I personally believe that his biggest attribute is his vision. Roth, in his infamous eccentricity, gave the band a vibe and spirit that designated the band’s image from day one. His colorful lyrics ranged from ambiguous to painfully on the nose, perfectly complementing the greatness of his instrumentalist bandmates. After reading Alex Van Halen’s 2024 memoir, Brothers, it’s clear that while the brothers essentially ran the ship, Roth’s vision is what made way for Van Halen to have the platform to catapult into the mainstream. Roth, in his fractured genius, also saw a prime opportunity in a then-fledgling empire known as MTV. While many bands begrudgingly acquiesced to their label’s demands that their newest single must now see music video treatment for more promotion via the MTV airwaves, Roth corralled the brothers and Anthony in an effort to take full advantage of this newfound practice and ride those waves straight to the top. This is widely the case regarding the videos for songs off of Roth’s last studio album with the band, 1984, which features many of Van Halen’s biggest hits. DLR, often receiving a directing credit, was one of the visionaries behind the iconic videos for “Jump,” “Panama,” and “Hot for Teacher,” which would go on to become mainstays of MTV. His flashy antics and impressive physical stunts were even more in effect during the band’s live performances, many of which have become the stuff of rock and roll legend. These many factors, as stated previously, made Roth the ultimate front man.

Between 1978 and 1984, fans couldn’t get enough Van Halen, as the band’s seemingly endless assembly line of then-new rock classics built and cemented their legacy as heroes and pioneers of the genre. Although, in 1985, David Lee Roth shocked everyone who wasn’t living under a rock at the time by announcing his departure from Van Halen in pursuit of a just-as-lucrative solo career in both music and acting. Many wondered if this would mean the end of the band. Their superstar front man had left the camp at the height of its initial heyday, as tensions within the group and differing opinions of musical direction led DLR to believe that the grass was greener elsewhere. While fans assumed all was lost, Eddie Van Halen went shopping for a new singer. In recent years, it’s come out that he approached the likes of Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates, Patty Smyth of Scandal, and Steve Perry of Journey to replace Diamond Dave, all of which declined for one reason or another. Enter the Red Rocker.

Sammy Hagar, one of rock’s biggest figures, was already well established as a mainstay of the genre before Van Halen even formed. Fronting the early 70’s band, Montrose, Hagar’s voice became a prevalent force on rock radio, especially on hits like “Rock Candy.” Hagar fronted the band for their first two albums, leaving in 1975 to pursue a solo career. Hagar would release 8 studio albums before embarking on his Van Halen tenure, three of which predate his future bandmates’ recording career, not to mention his two with Montrose. Between 1975 and 1983, these studio albums would skyrocket Sammy Hagar into status of rock royalty, spawning inescapable hits like “Heavy Metal,” “I Can’t Drive 55,” “I’ll Fall In Love Again,” “Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy,” “There’s Only One Way To Rock,” and several others. Hagar also had hit songs from legendary soundtracks for films like Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Footloose. How did a full-fledged rockstar make his way into the Van Halen camp? It was, in fact, by way of recommendation of Sammy Hagar and Eddie Van Halen’s shared luxury auto mechanic. That simple suggestion led to EVH immediately reaching out to Hagar, and I’m sure you can guess what transpired.

This new era of the band with Sammy Hagar at the helm, often dubbed “Van Hagar,” was destined for greatness. Released in 1986, Hagar’s first album with the band, 5150, was an immediate success, responsible for several hits like “Why Can’t This Be Love,” “Dreams,” “Love Walks In,” and more. Whatever legacy Van Halen had created for themselves with Roth in the years before, Sammy Hagar quickly cemented it in just one album. Fans noticed a shift in the band’s output, however, as with Hagar writing most of the lyrics, a former responsibility of DLR, it was evident that a different vibe had been brought to the table. Van Hagar was still exponentially fun, for lack of better words, and was not slow to release plenty of the band’s classic party songs, like “Summer Nights,” or “Poundcake.” Although, a more nuanced approach was apparent, as there was a stronger focus on topics like relationships, world events, and life in general, a stark contrast to DLR’s innuendo filled party anthems. The band shifted gears musically too, as new producers and a stronger emphasis on EVH’s synthesizer-led tracks marked a new chapter for the band that went far beyond the hiring of a different singer. Under this new lineup, the band largely avoided traditional music videos like they were used to, instead supplying MTV with concert footage. Hagar fronted the band between 1986 and 1996, adding another 4 widely successful studio albums to the Van Halen catalog. His departure from the group was messy, as was the majority of the rest of the band’s career. Addiction issues and bitter feuds made for a rocky several years for the band. They did release Van Halen III in 1998 with another new lead singer, Gary Cherone, of the band Extreme. However, this album is often considered a stain on the band’s catalog and personally, I’ve yet to meet anyone who has anything nice to say about it. The band reunited with Hagar for an infamous reunion tour in 2004, which further soured the band’s relationship with the Red Rocker. The brothers, by this point, had also turned their backs on Michael Anthony, who had remained friends with Hagar after his departure, forcing him to take a serious pay cut and relinquish any rights he had in the business side of the band. When the band reunited again in 2007 for a tour, this time with David Lee Roth, EVH’s son, Wolfgang Van Halen, assumed the role of the bass player. How did Michael Anthony find out? The internet. The infamous mistreatment of Michael Anthony, one of the nicest guys in the scene and often regarded as Van Halen’s secret weapon, is criminal. I digress. This new lineup of the three Van Halens and Diamond Dave back at the mic continued to tour until their last show in 2015, and even made one last studio album, A Different Kind of Truth, in 2012.

I felt it was important to provide enough background information so I can lead into the point of this article, so with all of this context being taken care of, we can now pivot towards the real discussion. It’s a conversation that has polarized the music community for decades now… Who is better, David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar? This argument is pertaining to, but not limited to their time in Van Halen, and really more so begs the question of what era of the band is better.

This is what I’ve come to find…

Those that say Roth is better are purists. They’re always quick to praise his Van Halen catalog over anything else the band ever did, with plenty saying the band might as well have stopped after he left. Alex Van Halen makes a similar, yet less direct statement in his book, much to the chagrin of Van Hagar fans and to Sammy Hagar himself. Those that solely choose Roth are always quick to point out how bad the band became with Hagar at the helm. They should be aware that album sales don’t match their claims. Those that say Hagar is better, I often find, are still very much fans of Van Halen’s Roth catalog. They typically support both camps, but opt for Sammy Hagar’s era, simply because of the fact that he’s more talented.

What do I think?

I personally believe that you have to look at it almost like two different bands. Sure, the musicianship is essentially the same with the brothers and Anthony remaining consistent, but it’s a very noticeable difference between Hagar and Roth fronting the effort. They’re both amazing, but for their own reasons. Roth made his bones with Van Halen, leaving for an initially successful solo career. Hagar left a widely-successful solo career to join Van Halen, then returned to it after he was let go. That is, when he’s not counting his millions from his lucrative Tequila empire. Regardless, there’s more maturity in Hagar’s era in almost all ways, as if the group had simply leveled up. I’ll put it like this… Roth’s era is like high school, while Hagar’s era is like a really great college. I really only want to listen to Roth’s era if I’m in the mood for it, feeling joyful, energetic, and ready for a good time. If things are even remotely less than stellar in your life, you’re probably not in the mood to hear “Romeo Delight,” or one of the godforsaken covers from Diver Down. Although, there are still plenty of those high energy, lively party songs in the Van Hagar catalog, as well as songs that speak on topics of love, social issues, religion, and life in general. If I had to pick a Van Halen song to play during my wedding, I’d much rather choose “When It’s Love,” than “So This Is Love?“. Van Hagar’s catalog is much more universal and fit for the ups and downs of everyday life.

David Lee Roth

David Lee Roth’s era of the band, at least in terms of their recorded works, is very solid. Roth brings stuff to the table that nobody else does, making his catalog the epitome of classic Van Halen. His tongue in cheek songwriting, incredible stage presence, and creative vision, especially paired with the pioneering musicianship of his bandmates, makes him one of the greats. It’s just that simple. Despite all of EVH’s talents, I’m not sure if Van Halen would’ve gotten nearly as far if it weren’t for David Lee Roth. He was just an indelible, integral part of what makes Van Halen great. However, for all of his talents, David Lee Roth is not nearly as much of a singer as he is an entertainer. His vocals aren’t as melodic as they are energetic and chant-like, not to mention his signature screams and indescribable noises that accentuate many of the Van Halen hits. With the production technique of Ted Templeman, it works in the studio. Live, it was somewhat passable, at least in his youth. He made up for his less than stellar live vocals with his signature high jumps and stage antics. Without the tremendous backing vocals of Michael Anthony, Roth would’ve been in deep trouble, especially in a live setting. Nowadays, all of these quips and setbacks are only more apparent, as Roth seems to have become a caricature of himself that leaves you pleading with him to hang it up for good and not tarnish the legacy of those Van Halen hits we know and love. Just listen to 2015’s Tokyo Dome in Concert… yikes. It should also be mentioned that the big solo career that Roth left Van Halen for barely outlasted the rest of the decade, releasing only a few albums with most of the bigger hits being covers. He was brave enough to tackle The Beach Boys classic “California Girls,” but not without plenty, and I do mean plenty of vocal assistance from session guys, which became common practice for him. With his antics becoming old news and his bandmates soaring to new heights with Sammy Hagar, you have to wonder if he regretted letting his ego get the best of him.

Sammy Hagar

Sammy Hagar is, in fact, a singer. Not only is he a singer, but he’s one of the most beloved vocalists in rock and roll history. His ability to not simply have to make jungle noises throughout a song to give it enough energy, like his predecessor, but lay down vocals that are almost unachievable for a lot of singers obviously helps him come out on top. I’ll put it this way… if they were to switch, there’s not a Roth song that Hagar couldn’t handle, but Roth couldn’t handle the majority of Hagar’s songs. He’s simply in a different league. This point is based on vocals alone. Another overlooked skill of Hagar’s is his guitar playing. While he’s certainly no Eddie Van Halen, Hagar has considerable guitar chops. This improved the band’s live show considerably for two reasons…

Many Van Halen songs have lead and rhythm guitar lines. EVH can obviously only do one in a live performance, which with Roth, could make certain songs sound a bit empty on stage. Hagar could tackle those rhythm lines while EVH handled lead, contributing to a fuller sound that’s more accurate to what’s heard on the records.
EVH chose to make songs like “Jump,” “Love Walks In,” “Dreams,” and others more keyboard driven, showing off his chops on yet another instrument. Although, these songs still have guitar parts. Hagar could play said parts while EVH played keys, who still had his guitar on his back so he could nail the solos.
Roth does play guitar, but very minimally, and it is more of a gimmick for songs like “Ice Cream Man.” While Roth is certainly more of a showman, Hagar contributes far more to the band’s musical quality and integrity—all while still putting on a great show himself. Also, Michael Anthony’s backing vocals are essential in making Roth sound better, while with Hagar, they simply serve as the perfect compliment. I should mention that EVH also sang backing vocals, but it was Anthony who did the bulk of the work.

Other factors

While it doesn’t have much to do with us as the fans, personality should be taken into account as well. I personally feel like it would be an absolute blast to hang out with David Lee Roth… for about half an hour or so. Anything longer than that would have me reaching for the Advil pretty quickly. Even Joe Rogan couldn’t keep up with the guy on his own podcast. In the broad spectrum of what he says, you only catch little glimpses of what he actually means. Are we just a bit too dense to understand the genius of David Lee Roth? Doubtful. It’s also just known at this point that Roth is a difficult person to get along with anyway, as he’s quick to turn everything into a competition and shield his frail, yet huge ego from anyone he may see as a threat with cruelty. He verbally attacks anyone and everyone he can, sometimes out of nowhere, further tarnishing his reputation. Even recently, he randomly started making public jabs at Wolfgang Van Halen, as well as making claims that are certainly distasteful in regards to EVH’s passing. It was even revealed by Alex Van Halen last year that a supposed reunion tour in tribute to Eddie Van Halen didn’t happen because Roth wanted to make it all about him and essentially refused to have a moment in the show that would specifically honor their late guitarist, ridiculing AVH for even suggesting they do so. When I see someone like Roth in interviews today, I see someone scared to come to terms with the fact that it’s no longer 1985, insecure in their self-made obscurity. Then you have Sammy Hagar, someone who seems like he’s nothing BUT sure of himself and also seems like a lot of fun to be around for much longer than 30 minutes. Having been in a band… with my brother, mind you, for 10 years now, I know who I’d rather play with every weekend. While Hagar isn’t innocent in regards to trading public blows with the brothers and certainly Roth over the last 3 decades, he did in fact make amends with EVH before his passing and has exhaustively tried to reach out to Alex Van Halen in recent years. He’s even tried to be civil with Roth and certain points, but the rivalry between the two is not only amidst the fans, but among the rockers themselves. It’s proven to be one of the most bitter feuds in rock history, which is why their joint tour in 2002, fueled by a shared spite for the Van Halen brothers, was such a shocking announcement. However, even within the press junkets before the tour even began, it was clear that this air of friendly rivalry that they were advertising was already showing cracks and that the two of them, more so Sammy Hagar, would be in for a grueling slew of concert dates.

David Lee Roth is a difficult person. Most rock stars can be, but DLR takes it to another level. It personally baffles me that after everything he’s put his Van Halen bandmates through and having all but spit on the grave of Eddie Van Halen, not to mention attacking Wolfgang Van Halen via Instagram after not having even worked with him for almost a decade, Alex Van Halen still makes excuses for the guy. Not only does he excuse his behavior, but he still champions Roth as the only real lead singer of the band, as AVH’s book barely even references Sammy Hagar or his decade in Van Halen. “Big Al” won’t speak to the Red Rocker to this day, despite Hagar having nothing but nice things to say about his former drummer and making public pleas for him to reach out to him in recent years. Even if AVH is upset for what Hagar wrote about his late brother in his 2011 memoir, the two, like I mentioned previously, made amends before EVH’s passing. Since then, Hagar has had nothing but praise for his late bandmate and songwriting partner, while Roth continues to make jabs. I sure do love Alex Van Halen, but his reasoning and motivations are a complete anomaly when you take all of this into consideration.

Let it also be known that the only two members of the band to show up to Van Halen’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2007 were Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony, who still play together to this day. EVH was in rehab and AVH was supporting his brother. Roth, reportedly unhappy with he and Hagar getting one song each to perform instead of him getting both, declined the invitation altogether.

Closing Thoughts

I took a poll among my musician friends to see who they prefer, Roth or Hagar. The results were surprisingly pretty equal, with neither really leading over the other. Again, I think the healthiest way to look at it is that they’re two different bands.

Although, breaking it down to provide a final opinion, I’ll choose one or the other based on the category…

Best Songwriter: Hagar

Best Stage Presence: Roth

Best Musicianship: Hagar

Stronger Vision and Creativity: Roth

Stronger Vocal Ability: Hagar

Arguably More Beloved in the VH Camp: Roth

More Classic Hits: Roth

Stronger Legacy: Hagar

Better Personality: Hagar

Stronger Ego: Both

Bonus Point – Treated Michael Anthony with the respect he deserved: Hagar

Sammy Hagar comes out on top.

Why anyone could ever say that Hagar’s Van Halen catalog is anything less than musical excellence is beyond me. It’s certainly made an irreversible impression on me, and in my opinion, it’s what any rock musician should aspire to. Regardless, Van Halen with David Lee Roth and Van Halen with Sammy Hagar are two essentially different bands and should be treated as such. Both lineups are legendary in their own right. These guys are the epitome of everything you could ever want in a music career. Their songs go beyond music—each one is an experience in and of itself. Long live the mighty Van Halen, for there will never be another.
https://www.obusignal.com/the-van-halen-conundrum/

[ping2000]

Song reminds me of the Cult Firewoman.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

[C-Mac]

Enjoyed the song as a whole.
The song writing and singing was OK, but Joe definitely brought back Eddies sound and rhythms, which gave it the old Van Halen(ish) feel, especially with Michael added in.

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by C-Mac

Enjoyed the song as a whole.
The song writing and singing was OK, but Joe definitely brought back Eddies sound and rhythms, which gave it the old Van Halen(ish) feel, especially with Michael added in.

Hey, now, don't be forgetting Kenny.

He pulled in heavyweights.

[Bowser]

Would've been cool to see Wolf in on that collab.

Going to see Sammy and those guys at their residency in a couple of weeks in Vegas. Quite looking forward to it, especially with Sammy saying he might be done with touring after these shows. Even at 78 the guy can still put on a show.

[alpha_omega]

Originally Posted by Bowser

.....Going to see Sammy and those guys at their residency in a couple of weeks in Vegas....

If not too much of a hassle; we'd (well at least I would) love to read your brief concert review after attending.

[T-post Tom]

For me, that was perfect. VH was a huge part of the soundtrack of my youth. Feeling a little sad right now.