Tweet
News article from the Grand Rapids Press, Grand Rapids, MI. Kind of humorous.
Frontman rock roulette: Why not another change?
Thursday, July 08, 2004
No major band has had a more famous revolving door of lead singers than Van Halen.
When Sammy Hagar replaced original frontman David Lee Roth in the mid-1980s, it only made sense to affectionately dub Van Halen Mark II as "Van Hagar." It was a natural of a nickname.
And in retrospect, it makes sense that Gary Cherone didn't stick. "Van Cherone" just doesn't flow off the tongue, now does it?
Anyway, if the buzz about VH's current tour is any inclination, fans are happy to see Van Hagar return.
Knowing the history of the band, though ... how long will it last? Just in case the relationship does disintegrate, we've come up with a few what-if scenarios for potential lead singers.
Read on:
Van Stapp -- Now that Creed has split up, frontman Scott Stapp is a free agent presumably collecting unemployment checks. It would be quite a strange dichotomy to see the dour singer fronting the World's Greatest Party Band, no?
Odds of success: 4:1
Van Weiland -- Yeah, ex-Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland is in Velvet Revolver with Slash and Duff from Guns 'n' Roses, but take everybody's past history into account, odds are Velvet will stay together for about another two weeks. However, the clean-and-sober Eddie Van Halen probably wouldn't get along with struggling druggie Weiland.
Odds of success: 5:1
Van Axl -- On the flipside is crazy Axl Rose, who really could use some external motivation (the new Guns record has been promised for what, five years now?). But again, the guy is so volatile, he makes David Lee Roth look rock-steady.
Odds of success: 3:1
Van Stefani -- Gwen Stefani is working on a solo album, which leaves No Doubt's future a bit, well, in doubt. But how spectacular would it be to see VH fronted by a woman? The negative: No female could ever be more flamboyant than Roth.
Odds of success: 15:1
Van Manson -- Marilyn Manson's career is kind of in the dumper, and his band has a revolving door on it lately, so he could boost his career by singing "Jump" and "When It's Love." It would be a match made in Hell, don't you think?
Odds of success: 20:1
Van de la Rocha -- Teaming up with the pretty much MIA ex-Rage Against the Machine frontman Zack de la Rocha would result in the World's Greatest Political Party Band (groan).
Odds of success: 25:1
Van Courtney -- Ugh. In a moment of desparation, VH might recruit Courtney Love -- whose solo album is flopping hard -- as a publicity stunt. And she's so hungry for exposure (and a paycheck, if rumors are true), she wouldn't turn it down. As usual, stability is an issue; in comparison, she makes Axl Rose look like the Rock of Gibraltar.
Odds of success: 50:1
Van Andel -- I couldn't resist. Who knows if local businessman and Amway founder Jay Van Andel has any singing ability -- but the name change would be perfect, don't you think?
Odds of success: A billionaire to 1
Frontman rock roulette: Why not another change?
Thursday, July 08, 2004
No major band has had a more famous revolving door of lead singers than Van Halen.
When Sammy Hagar replaced original frontman David Lee Roth in the mid-1980s, it only made sense to affectionately dub Van Halen Mark II as "Van Hagar." It was a natural of a nickname.
And in retrospect, it makes sense that Gary Cherone didn't stick. "Van Cherone" just doesn't flow off the tongue, now does it?
Anyway, if the buzz about VH's current tour is any inclination, fans are happy to see Van Hagar return.
Knowing the history of the band, though ... how long will it last? Just in case the relationship does disintegrate, we've come up with a few what-if scenarios for potential lead singers.
Read on:
Van Stapp -- Now that Creed has split up, frontman Scott Stapp is a free agent presumably collecting unemployment checks. It would be quite a strange dichotomy to see the dour singer fronting the World's Greatest Party Band, no?
Odds of success: 4:1
Van Weiland -- Yeah, ex-Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland is in Velvet Revolver with Slash and Duff from Guns 'n' Roses, but take everybody's past history into account, odds are Velvet will stay together for about another two weeks. However, the clean-and-sober Eddie Van Halen probably wouldn't get along with struggling druggie Weiland.
Odds of success: 5:1
Van Axl -- On the flipside is crazy Axl Rose, who really could use some external motivation (the new Guns record has been promised for what, five years now?). But again, the guy is so volatile, he makes David Lee Roth look rock-steady.
Odds of success: 3:1
Van Stefani -- Gwen Stefani is working on a solo album, which leaves No Doubt's future a bit, well, in doubt. But how spectacular would it be to see VH fronted by a woman? The negative: No female could ever be more flamboyant than Roth.
Odds of success: 15:1
Van Manson -- Marilyn Manson's career is kind of in the dumper, and his band has a revolving door on it lately, so he could boost his career by singing "Jump" and "When It's Love." It would be a match made in Hell, don't you think?
Odds of success: 20:1
Van de la Rocha -- Teaming up with the pretty much MIA ex-Rage Against the Machine frontman Zack de la Rocha would result in the World's Greatest Political Party Band (groan).
Odds of success: 25:1
Van Courtney -- Ugh. In a moment of desparation, VH might recruit Courtney Love -- whose solo album is flopping hard -- as a publicity stunt. And she's so hungry for exposure (and a paycheck, if rumors are true), she wouldn't turn it down. As usual, stability is an issue; in comparison, she makes Axl Rose look like the Rock of Gibraltar.
Odds of success: 50:1
Van Andel -- I couldn't resist. Who knows if local businessman and Amway founder Jay Van Andel has any singing ability -- but the name change would be perfect, don't you think?
Odds of success: A billionaire to 1
Comment