I've started a number of threads about Van Halen, but I thought it was time to create a thread for VH's second (and best) lead singer...Mr. Sammy Hagar! Sammy was the lead singer of Van Halen during it's greatest period beginning in 1985 and ending in 1996. Sure, the band made some really great music with original lead singer David Lee Roth (especially 1981's Fair Warning and 1984's 1984.), but they really hit their peak with Sammy. Sammy was not only a much better singer than Roth, but he knew how to write about more than just partying and grils. And, of course, Sammy still could write great lyrics about girls.:lol:

This thread is not for the music that Sam created with Michael Anthony and the Van Halen brothers, but the music he has made as a solo artist. Anyone who hasn't bought Sammy's new album Livin' It Up (which I'm guessing is 99% of the people here at SO), you should because it rocks. :rock: This year has had some great albums from veteran artists like Prince and Elton John, but it is Sammy's new album that I've played more than any other new album this year.

During his long career, Sammy has recorded quite a few classic rock n' roll albums like 1981's Standing Hampton (featuring the classic "There's Only One Way To Rock"), 1983's Three Lock Box (featuring "You're Love Is Driving Me Crazy" and a duet with Journey's Jonathan Cain called "Remember The Heros"), 1984's VOA (with the rock anthem "I Can't Drive 55" and the beautiful ballad "Two Sides Of Love"). Sammy's greatest solo album was the one he released only a year after leaving Van Halen, Marching To Mars.

Well, D.L. Roth was more of a frontman and he DID create the original DNA of Van Halen, but I like Sammy's way of singing too!!! Let's not forget Sammy's great work with HSAS!!

I liked Sammy's work with Montrose back in the 70's, as well as songs like "Red", "Reckless", early 80's stuff like "Trans-Am (Highway Wonderland)",
"Heavy Metal", "I'll Fall In Love Again", etc. When I first heard about Sammy Hagar, I heard he was a real acrobat and totally wild in concert!! This was around 1978. I didn't know he was the former lead singer for Montrose until later.

Yes, that's true.....I didn't remember about his connerction with Montrose either!

Wow...cool thread. Sammy Hagar was the first concert I ever saw back on March 12, 1983 (I was 12 years old!) and I saw him the year after that (Oct 1984) but believe it or not, I NEVER saw him with VH. Always been a fan of his though. :D

Wow...cool thread. Sammy Hagar was the first concert I ever saw back on March 12, 1983 (I was 12 years old!) and I saw him the year after that (Oct 1984) but believe it or not, I NEVER saw him with VH. Always been a fan of his though. :D

I saw Sammy with Van Halen in 1993, twice in 1995 and on the reunion tour in 2004. However, I've only had a chance to see him live as a solo act once, which was in 1997. He is an amazing performer with so much energy. I can never unserstand why some people would perfer a VH reunion with David Lee Roth over Sammy when Sammy i8s still going strong as a rock musician at nearly 60 years of age and Roth is doing talk radio. Roth made great music with Van Halen but he is a has been where as Sammy is still a vital musician.

The first Montrose album is one of the best records ever made, and they took all of six days recording it.

Those were other times!