one of my friends who is a huge Van Halen fan told me that after Roth left in 1985 and they were auditioning new lead singers (which eventually went to Hagar), that Eddie and Alex were seriously considering Michael Bolton as the lead singer. It's not as strange as it sounds because at the time, Bolton was a hard-rock singer... but know how his career turned out, it sounds very twisted.

I've never heard this rumor. I always figured that they wanted Sammy from day one because they had tried to convince Sam to join the band before they even had a record contract (cir.1977), because there was already conflict with Dave. Where did your friend hear this?

one of my friends who is a huge Van Halen fan told me that after Roth left in 1985 and they were auditioning new lead singers (which eventually went to Hagar), that Eddie and Alex were seriously considering Michael Bolton as the lead singer. It's not as strange as it sounds because at the time, Bolton was a hard-rock singer... but know how his career turned out, it sounds very twisted.


:eek2: :spit: :spit: :spit: :crazy: :crazy:

I can't even imagine it.

:eek2: :spit: :spit: :spit: :crazy: :crazy:

I can't even imagine it.

you can't imagine "Right Now" with a special sax solo by Kenny G? lol

I've never heard this rumor. I always figured that they wanted Sammy from day one because they had tried to convince Sam to join the band before they even had a record contract (cir.1977), because there was already conflict with Dave. Where did your friend hear this?I also read that Sammy Hagar was considered in the late 70's. Both Montrose and Van Halen had the same management (Ted Templeman?). I see his name on both the first Montrose album and on Van Halen's albums. They always had problems with David Lee Roth even before they got signed, the record companies always thought Roth was a ham, plus the band thought that he did have a tremendous ego problem. It's strange, I read that when Gene Simmons from KISS tried to get Van Halen signed, Van Halen was afraid that Gene was trying to steal Eddie Van Halen to replace Ace Frehley, who was having his own nutty problems.

I have to say that I am glad Van Halen lasted as long as they did with Roth, instead of having Sammy all along.

As far as I'm concerned, Van Halen broke up after 1984 outside of a few months of sunshine in 1996.

It's not that Van Hagar were a bad band, but it wasn't Van Halen IMO. They sounded more like REO Speedwagon and Journey with 5150 than anything VH had done before (not saying anything against Journey, since I know Jrnygirl is a big fan... but their brand of music was far different than Van Halen). DLR's Eat Em And Smile was much better IMO.

I did like For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge though, and Balance had it's moments, but Hagar had been in VH for a long time by then. Knowledge was the closest thing to a Roth album that Sammy did.

I have to say that I am glad Van Halen lasted as long as they did with Roth, instead of having Sammy all along.

As far as I'm concerned, Van Halen broke up after 1984 outside of a few months of sunshine in 1996.

It's not that Van Hagar were a bad band, but it wasn't Van Halen IMO. They sounded more like REO Speedwagon and Journey with 5150 than anything VH had done before (not saying anything against Journey, since I know Jrnygirl is a big fan... but their brand of music was far different than Van Halen). DLR's Eat Em And Smile was much better IMO.

I did like For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge though, and Balance had it's moments, but Hagar had been in VH for a long time by then. Knowledge was the closest thing to a Roth album that Sammy did.


BuffySlayer, I agree, at one point Van Halen did sound like all the other Journey type bands. Remember Van Halen opened for Journey on one of their tours, and because Van Halen kicked ass when they open, Journey was not pleased and rumor has it that the Journey roadies screwed around with the VH set up a few times. So to retaliate, VH had 200 copies of Journey backstage passes made, and while Journey was on stage passed them out to people in the audience. LOL!!!!

If you read my post about who was better Eddie VH or Neal Schon, by far Eddie is the better guitar player. Remember VH was an L.A. band, and Sammy was from the bay area, so that may have had an influence in the bands sound after he joined. Any way you look at it DLR was a major part of what made VH unique.

BuffySlayer, I agree, at one point Van Halen did sound like all the other Journey type bands.

some of Journey's hits, you could easily see Van Hagar doing. I could definately see VH doing Seperate Ways circa 5150.

Any way you look at it DLR was a major part of what made VH unique.

it's too bad there's too much ego there. Roth has the show, but Eddie has the skills... and when the two of them are put together, it's incredible. Except you just can't put the two in a room together, there's too much ego. I would've liked "Van Hagar" better if it had been a different named group and let "Van Halen"'s swansong be 1984.

I loved Roth's "Eat Em And Smile", and Skyscraper had it's share of good songs too, but he got weaker and weaker after he lost Vai and some of his other solo musicians. By "She's My Machine", I was all wondering why he hadn't retired yet.

I have to say that I am glad Van Halen lasted as long as they did with Roth, instead of having Sammy all along.

As far as I'm concerned, Van Halen broke up after 1984 outside of a few months of sunshine in 1996.

It's not that Van Hagar were a bad band, but it wasn't Van Halen IMO. They sounded more like REO Speedwagon and Journey with 5150 than anything VH had done before (not saying anything against Journey, since I know Jrnygirl is a big fan... but their brand of music was far different than Van Halen). DLR's Eat Em And Smile was much better IMO.

I did like For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge though, and Balance had it's moments, but Hagar had been in VH for a long time by then. Knowledge was the closest thing to a Roth album that Sammy did.


Oh, wow. How can you compare Sammy Hagar era Van Halen to REO Speedwagon? I know that Van Roth fans often feel that Van Hagar was too commercial, but REO Speedwagon!!!!

Oh, wow. How can you compare Sammy Hagar era Van Halen to REO Speedwagon? I know that Van Roth fans often feel that Van Hagar was too commercial, but REO Speedwagon!!!!

for me it's easy... I don't like Van Hagar, at least not the 80's stuff. If you think I'm hard on them, check out http://www.classicvanhalen.com.

for me it's easy... I don't like Van Hagar, at least not the 80's stuff. If you think I'm hard on them, check out http://www.classicvanhalen.com.

As I mentioned many Roth era fans do not like the Hagar era music...but REO Speedwagon!!!!!!!!!!!That would be like comparing Elton John with Barry Manilow or The Beatles with The Monkees!

Michael Bolton....Van Halen....(Head explodes)