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From the Minneapolis Star Tribune
Readers: Who's better, Dave or Sammy?
July 16, 2004 VANHALEN0716.BAR
Readers of startribune.com have spoken. In an informal survey, they overwhelmingly prefer David Lee Roth over Sammy Hagar as Van Halen's lead singer.
Here is what some of the the band's fans had to say via e-mail.
Van Halen quite simply rocked with every part of its anatomy while Van Hagar sounded a bit more like a neutered Ken doll trying to play at rock.
Jason Nagel, St. Paul
The chemistry of the Diamond Dave era was so different than Sammy -- so much friction, so much tension and all moving at light speed, which created some very volatile and emotion-packed music. During Sammy's era they were all too buddy-buddy to really create any serious heat.
Carter S. Kohlmeyer,
Associated PressSan Francisco
David Lee Roth by far. Yes, Sammy Hagar did give Van Halen a deeper meaning in lyrics, but that was never what the original Van Halen was about. The true Van Halen was about rock 'n' roll.
Melissa Stewart Plymouth
Sammy Hagar is a horrible lyricist and a very annoying singer. There is only one Van Halen. It's like comparing Ozzy Osbourne to Ronnie James Dio.
Erik Aivazian, Toronto
Roth brought the band to the top, Sammy kept it there. Sammy was a better songwriter, Dave more of an attraction. I'm guessing that Sammy has more money from royalties, and Dave will be known much longer. And, frankly, he's more fun, period.
Carlos GonzalezStar TribuneJohn Kerns, Minneapolis
When you went to a Van Halen show it was like New Year's Eve every night. They made the party happen. Dave is "out there," but that's why I love the guy. You go to a Van Hagar concert to enjoy the music and hear Eddie do "Eruption." Sammy is boring.
Tom Mitchell Minneapolis
With David Lee Roth, the music rocked. Now it's flat and generic.
Laura Deangelis Hamden, Conn.
Diamond Dave is a rock god, among the greatest; Sammy is Sammy, that's all -- he is what he is. David Lee Roth climbs mountains, goes on safaris, kayaks, and he is a martial-arts expert, a pilot, EMT, fluent in Spanish, etc. Sammy sells tequila to his red heads; he is a bad imitation of Jimmy Buffett. Dave is, was and will always be the storm, the ferocity that was Van Halen.
Readers: Who's better, Dave or Sammy?
July 16, 2004 VANHALEN0716.BAR
Readers of startribune.com have spoken. In an informal survey, they overwhelmingly prefer David Lee Roth over Sammy Hagar as Van Halen's lead singer.
Here is what some of the the band's fans had to say via e-mail.
Van Halen quite simply rocked with every part of its anatomy while Van Hagar sounded a bit more like a neutered Ken doll trying to play at rock.
Jason Nagel, St. Paul
The chemistry of the Diamond Dave era was so different than Sammy -- so much friction, so much tension and all moving at light speed, which created some very volatile and emotion-packed music. During Sammy's era they were all too buddy-buddy to really create any serious heat.
Carter S. Kohlmeyer,
Associated PressSan Francisco
David Lee Roth by far. Yes, Sammy Hagar did give Van Halen a deeper meaning in lyrics, but that was never what the original Van Halen was about. The true Van Halen was about rock 'n' roll.
Melissa Stewart Plymouth
Sammy Hagar is a horrible lyricist and a very annoying singer. There is only one Van Halen. It's like comparing Ozzy Osbourne to Ronnie James Dio.
Erik Aivazian, Toronto
Roth brought the band to the top, Sammy kept it there. Sammy was a better songwriter, Dave more of an attraction. I'm guessing that Sammy has more money from royalties, and Dave will be known much longer. And, frankly, he's more fun, period.
Carlos GonzalezStar TribuneJohn Kerns, Minneapolis
When you went to a Van Halen show it was like New Year's Eve every night. They made the party happen. Dave is "out there," but that's why I love the guy. You go to a Van Hagar concert to enjoy the music and hear Eddie do "Eruption." Sammy is boring.
Tom Mitchell Minneapolis
With David Lee Roth, the music rocked. Now it's flat and generic.
Laura Deangelis Hamden, Conn.
Diamond Dave is a rock god, among the greatest; Sammy is Sammy, that's all -- he is what he is. David Lee Roth climbs mountains, goes on safaris, kayaks, and he is a martial-arts expert, a pilot, EMT, fluent in Spanish, etc. Sammy sells tequila to his red heads; he is a bad imitation of Jimmy Buffett. Dave is, was and will always be the storm, the ferocity that was Van Halen.
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