Van Hagar haters

[japetus]

For some reason St Louis likes Sammy Hagar more than any other human who ever lived and more than any other city in the world.

Absolutely, I am from STL and everytime he came here, KSHE 95 radio promoted it like the Pope was coming.

 

[JonPearson1994]

Right. I remember all the magazines and critics saying over and over and over, the new songs are better, the songwriting is so much better. Yes, the songs are so much better that no one likes them more and none of them are considered classics. Classic rock radio station in LA plays a Sammy era VH song once for every 100x they play a Roth era one. Probably because the Roth songs aren't as good. Was nonsense in 1986 when those simps were writing it and remains nonsense 40 years later.

Probably Eddie's fault. Roth with Eddie had some nuts to the music. Hagar with Eddie was as smooth as a Ken doll.

You're right, we should definitely base our opinions on songwriting on what gets played on classic rock radio. Millions of dead and dying boomers can't be wrong.

 

[Chubtone]

You're right, we should definitely base our opinions on songwriting on what gets played on classic rock radio. Millions of dead and dying boomers can't be wrong.

People who experienced things chronologically have a much better perspective on their impact. To just declare something is "better songwriting" is completely subjective. Subjectively, Van Hagar was a good mid to late 80's pop/rock band following the same formula as everyone else. Early Van Halen was a musical revolution with in my opinion way better songwriting.

 

[JonPearson1994]

People who experienced things chronologically have a much better perspective on their impact. To just declare something is "better songwriting" is completely subjective. Subjectively, Van Hagar was a good mid to late 80's pop/rock band following the same formula as everyone else. Early Van Halen was a musical revolution with in my opinion way better songwriting.

I can respect that. I definitely wasn't there, but I can appreciate that nothing sounding even remotely like Van Halen before, even amongst hard rock bands.

 

[Alpha Stryke]

People who experienced things chronologically have a much better perspective on their impact. To just declare something is "better songwriting" is completely subjective. Subjectively, Van Hagar was a good mid to late 80's pop/rock band following the same formula as everyone else. Early Van Halen was a musical revolution with in my opinion way better songwriting.

Zactly. Kinda hard to have a 2026 VH show with nobody named Van Halen on the bill.

 

[Chubtone]

I can respect that. I definitely wasn't there, but I can appreciate that nothing sounding even remotely like Van Halen before, even amongst hard rock bands.

Damn it! That's too reasonable of a response. What are we gonna do now? Just go play our guitars?

 

[Alpha Stryke]

You're right, we should definitely base our opinions on songwriting on what gets played on classic rock radio. Millions of dead and dying boomers can't be wrong.

No flesh n blood gets outta this world alive.

 

[JonPearson1994]

Damn it! That's too reasonable of a response. What are we gonna do now? Just go play our guitars?

That's what I'M gonna do at least, highly recommended

 

[SgtThump]

You’re lying if you say this song sucks or not have great meaning
Yiu can not deny this one

I don't remember that guitar solo being soo weird. Like he was tired of trying to come up with stuff and just went with that to get it over.

 

[SgtThump]

I was at the Sammy Hagar show a month or so ago here in St Louis. I only went, because I was playing in the VIP tent off to the side before the show and they gave us free lawn tickets.

To be honest, it was a snoozefest. I've never liked Satriani's playing and I can't explain why. It was just a boring show with mostly Hagar-era VH songs.

Eh...

 

[VonBonfire]

I was at the Sammy Hagar show a month or so ago here in St Louis. I only went, because I was playing in the VIP tent off to the side before the show and they gave us free lawn tickets.

Yeah, but did you drive 55? I bet not.

 

[Techdeth]

Yes.

When I bought 1984 the day it came out and listened to the cassette in my Walkman, I almost puked when I heard the keyboards.

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Van Hagar is 1000 times more keyboard/ radio orientated. Not a fan of the sappy songs. I agree that there are a few rockers, and Eddie was still a monster on the geetar.

Some of the gay songs I can appreciate what Ed does . But Mine all Mine . The keyboards ruined a rock in song

 

[Techdeth]

I don't remember that guitar solo being soo weird. Like he was tired of trying to come up with stuff and just went with that to get it over.

See I love the solo . It’s like one note thst keeps going up and up and with the bend and open string . The effect is really cool imo
He plays like that a lot on Don’t tell me . He was getting ethereal lol
But I get it . It’s not flashy and everyone us different

 

[BenoA]

See I love the solo . It’s like one note thst keeps going up and up and with the bend and open string . The effect is really cool imo
He plays like that a lot on Don’t tell me . He was getting ethereal lol
But I get it . It’s not flashy and everyone us different

That's a cool one from the Hagar era! Thanks for the reminder! Balance is probably my fav from Van-Hagar. As is 1984 for the Van-Roth period. The good thing is we have access to all that great music.

 

[Techdeth]

That's a cool one from the Hagar era! Thanks for the reminder! Balance is probably my fav from Van-Hagar. As is 1984 for the Van-Roth period. The good thing is we have access to all that great music.

I agree . I like it all . Ed’s playing is always so good you end up liking it all eventually
This song was so good live
I was front row in from of Eddie’s . 3 feet away . At times in my face. I almost can’t believe I had that experience . And Sammy just killed it live on this .
Sammy stole my hat though lol

 

[BenoA]

@Techdeth funny story, thanks for sharing! On my side, I saw them in 1991. I had not seen many shows in my life at that time as I was living a bit far from where you could see all those arena bands from the era. My expectations were very high but went out a bit disappointed from the show as that night, they felt like not having fun being on stage. They were solid but without the "rock" energy I was hoping for. Probably it was that time Eddie was sober

 

[Geo]

Sammy said "you are invited to my party" and DLR said "I am the fucking party"

 

[Alpha Stryke]

This 1993 video @ 5150 studios popped up on my youtube last week. I had seen a couple before @ 5150 but not this one.
There is a weird dynamic going on between Sam & Ed's people like Sam is trying way too hard to be cool & fit in with Ed
and his studio staff almost as if Ed is just "tolerating" Sam as a "hired gun".
It must have been very difficult for Hagar.
I really don't understand what the payoff was for Sammy. The side effects vs benefits of the VH Bros doesn't seem worth it.
I saw Sam & his band open for Black Sabbath w/ Dio Heaven n Hell 1980 and Sammy was HOF type shit.
Thats what i'll always remeber about Sam. Seems he sold his soul to the Van Halaen Bros. just to exist.

 

[Techdeth]

This 1993 video @ 5150 studios popped up on my youtube last week. I had seen a couple before @ 5150 but not this one.
There is a weird dynamic going on between Sam & Ed's people like Sam is trying way too hard to be cool & fit in with Ed
and his studio staff almost as if Ed is just "tolerating" Sam as a "hired gun".
It must have been very difficult for Hagar.
I really don't understand what the payoff was for Sammy. The side effects vs benefits of the VH Bros doesn't seem worth it.
I saw Sam & his band open for Black Sabbath w/ Dio Heaven n Hell 1980 and Sammy was HOF type shit.
Thats what i'll always remeber about Sam. Seems he sold his soul to the Van Halaen Bros. just to exist.

I just think Sammy knew they wrote shit together
He saw the chemistry of the songs and lived it . There was mass talk by managers at that time to get Roth Back
Balance was a tough make I hear

 

[marvcus]

You know, it’s actually ok to like both eras.

That whole 1995-6 time was amazing. Humans Being came out first with Twister, the the Respect the Wind sustain-y solo. The tone was HUGE! First official sighting with the Peavey Wolfgang.

Then, soon after, the break up and the two new songs with Roth. Those songs still hold up! Me Wise Magic is just killer. That outro….

Was an exciting time before the debacle that followed.