Hoyo...I agree.
When Dave left/got fired (which ever account you want to believe) I followed Dave's solo career.
Van Hagar was cheesy limp-wristed music that satisfied pop radio stations.
The Gary Halen was an abortion to the entire world. At least Gary tried to do some of the Dave songs that Sammy couldn't hit the notes on.
Dave's solo material didn't catch on with radio. Not really sure why. He's always had a stellar band and live on stage respected the Van Halen tunes with soilid performances.
I've seen Hagar on the Monsters of Rock tour for 5150 and just laughed at this buffoon. The guy oozes cheese from every pore and sappy assed lyrics abound from almost every song. He can only sing in 2 fashions...soft and scream. He has no real range and is a hack on guitar as well.
Now that Dave is back with Van Halen I'm a happy camper. The night I went to see them Eddie was back on the sauce (before the mass cancellations) and it was a terrible experience, but Alex, Dave and Wolfgang cannot be held accountable for what Eddie did onstage that night. I have bootlegs from other nights and he was on fire.
I only hope and pray that going forward that Eddie can maintain some sort of sobriety that will enable Van Halen 4.0 to record and hit the arenas again.
Van Hagar goofed all over Dave for playing smaller clubs once the arenas couldn't sell out. Then they goofed on him for playing state fairs. Then it was his Vegas act. Then it was his radio gig. Whatever it is Dave is 110% a pure showman. The guy has NEVER turned in a bad performance whenever I've seen him. Even when Dave was on the Dave/Sam tour he had the class not to crap where he eats by performing with either Sammy or Michael Anthony.
For whatever reason that only Eddie knows, Van Halen is left to be a dysfunctional band. It's high octane when Dave is in the mix. Sammy was and in a replacement singer in a band that he didn't help found. Each album sold less and less until they booted him out and brought in Gary Cherone. The band took a major turn with Gary that nobody could grasp on to, but at least they were playing stuff from the original 6 pack (VH, VHII, WACF, FW, DD and 1984) and for that the live shows were somewhat well recieved.
The band made over 93 million in ticket sales last year proving that Diamond Dave IS Van Halen as they hadn't made that much on a tour since 1984!
All in all, I can't fault the guy. Lead singer, author, showman, DJ, it doesn't matter the guy is just one of the most endearing Rock Gods to me and what I think of when it comes to Rock N Roll "attitude". There aren't many like him, and the guy will have ya smiling with his lyrics and performances.
....and I say "Roth On"!..."Roth On!"..."Have you seen Junior's grades???"
