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No Singer? No Problem! Van Halen

Van Halen

Old Singers: David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar
New Singer: Gary Cherone

Third time was decidedly not the charm when it came to Van Halen finding a replacement for a replacement. The nicknames of the respective frontmen should have been ample warning: Going from "Diamond Dave" to "The Red Rocker" to "That Guy From What Was That Band? Oh, Yeah, Extreme; No, Not the Guitarist -- Though He Was Pretty Good -- the Other Guy" is rock devolution in a nutshell.

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What is interesting about the Van Halen band is that it is just about the only example I can think of where a band remained just as popular after replacing its (very distinctive) lead singer. Even the R&R Hall of Fame agreed, "inducting" both Dave and Sammy. Seldom if ever done (the situation with Fleetwood Mac is more akin to inducting two totally separate bands).

October 25 2009 at 6:54 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Eddie

VH without Mike Anthony sucks regardless of the singer, but come on let's be realistic here. Sammy Hagar now sings and always has sung circles around David Lee Roth. Roth was a better poser, that's it.

September 20 2009 at 6:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
DARKDECLINE

WORD UP

July 26 2009 at 3:46 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
sshubey

Sammy is the only Red Hot Rocker...and he and Mike are so much better off without those deadbeats!

February 05 2009 at 12:36 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
carriecavagnaro

Hagar is just way to cool! Dave just thinks he is!

February 04 2009 at 10:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jamiedebi77

Harley or Honda............It's Harley and DLR !

February 04 2009 at 2:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Gen

Lol, David Lee Roth. I saw him in concert as a solo act a few years ago. And while he sounded great, he LOOKED terrible; he had his horribly-receding hair dyed like banana-yellow (it looked really, really awful) AND proceeded to drink an entire bottle of Jack Daniels throughout the show, which was barely an hour long (he was there with other bands). It's a shame how he turned out. He really was one of rock's great frontmen. Totally over-the-top just like he was supposed to be.

August 13 2008 at 10:04 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
brainyguy731

I'm going to agree with...Regina. Diamond Dave all the way!

June 01 2008 at 7:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
regina

i say bring back [diamond dave]david lee roth and michael anthony !!!!!!

April 03 2008 at 6:45 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Chelle as in C

Dave is a has been. His stage performance is non existant and he can't hit a note. Sammy rocked VH. He was the highlight of the Sammy and Dave tour. At the performance I went to EVERYONE left before Dave even hit his half way mark. GO AWAY DAVE. YOU SUCK

April 03 2008 at 1:57 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Chelle as in C's comment
Johnny

I totally disagree. I saw the Dave/Sammy show in Philly and Dave came out first. People were going CRAZY!! I liked both in Van Halen but Dave has better showman-ship. People were cheering for the first few songs (HIS Van Halen songs). But then he started to sing his Sammy & the Waboritas crap. People started to get up & leave. While some booed those songs & cheering seemed to stop. Dave was way better! Sammy seemed to bore the crowd to leave after a few songs!! I think you have your answer right there. Diamond Dave is the man!! I can't wait for there new album with Dave and Wolfie on bass!!

August 11 2009 at 10:05 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply