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Articles -> What's Wrong with Music? The Sam And Dave Tour

Introduction: In what promises to be an ongoing series, Billy Florio takes a look at what's wrong with the music industry. The first installment deals with the Sam and Dave tour, the former lead singers of Van Halen touring without their previous backing band.

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Article by: Billy Florio

Over the summer, Van Halen fans were "treated" to a kinda special tour. Two former front men that led one of the most popular bands of the 80's joined together on the same bill and tried to go one step further than the other. David Lee Roth (1973-1985, 1996) and Sammy Hagar (1986-1996) put aside any animosity towards each other (temporarily) and headlined together "The Sam and Dave tour" to try and regain some popularity using the songs of their former band mate, Eddie Van Halen.

Hagar and DLR have decided that to have a Van Halen reunion tour that they don't even need the guy whom the band is named after. You got to be kidding me; this is like having Thanksgiving Dinner without the Turkey! How do you have a Van Halen tour without the master guitarist Edward Van Halen? Well, they seemed to have figured it out. DLR and Hagar would rotate off every night to designate the main act (though their singing both took a backseat to the arguing). While up on stage they would perform Van Halen songs from their respective time periods. Apparently they don't believe anyone's gunna care that Old Eddie aint backing them up on guitar! This seems to be the same logic another fading 80's star, Axl Rose, is using. "Who cares if there's no Slash, or Duff or Iggy? It's me Axl, I'm all that matters, and whatever band I front is GNR!" I'm still trying to figure out how they can get away with singing Eddies songs...I mean shouldn't there be some conflict there...I don't believe Robert Plant sings the songs that Jimmy Paige wrote. It puzzles me how Mr. Van Halen allowed them to do it, but I mean it's not like DLR and Hagar had another choice, what were they gunna do, sing the songs from Sammy Hagar's great song book? I mean how many times can you sing "I can't drive 55"?

Now Hagar and Diamond Dave had only met for the first time earlier this year. At that meeting they decided that it would be fun, and profitable to tour together. And only after 3 months, they've decided never again. I guess now we must assume that Eddie was right...Dave and Sammy are asses. Now just to make this tour even more of a smack in Eddie's face, Van Halen's longtime bassist, Michael "The Traitor" Anthony is touring with Hagar. This now makes it officially Van Halen without the Van Halen brothers! Now while I call Mike Anthony's actions pure treason, and DLR and Hagar's purely deconstructive, they may have set the first stone for rebuilding the Van Halen legacy. Eddie and Alex might actually realize that this is what people want, and get their thumbs out of their asses, and try to reunite with the new Van Halen. But as that may be a positive, there is also a negative that may happen. This may lead the way for another Van Halen reunion with Van Halen's 3rd front man, Extreme's Gary Cherone (1998-1999)...oooo, can't wait for that one! At least Dave and Sammy can sing hits...Gary will be stuck with billowing "more than words" (Extreme's only hit) over and over. But I don't think we'll ever have to worry about that...what would they call it? The Sam, Dave, and Gary tour? It just doesn't flow right.

The flamboyant Diamond Dave and the low key Sammy Hagar have already decided that they wont tour again, that they've got other more important things to do...Like what? Does Sammy have to go back to bingeing on Cabo Wabo? Does Dave have to go back to doing nothing? C'mon! Sammy says he doesn't need DLR to sell out stadiums...BULL!!!! Sammy of all people needs Dave. Dave was the better and more popular front man, him and Eddie were awesome together. I think the success of this past tour was due to DLR. He was the quintessential front man. Sammy on the other hand, while he had good songs with them, he and Van Halen just didn't really click (and it took 10 years to find that out). Sammy has no desire to rejoin the band...DLR though is practically begging (But I don't think his constant complaining about "Howdy Duty mountain" is helping his chances). These two were practically nowhere without Van Halen, aside from a few solo hits (or covers in DLR's case). They were like Joe Piscopo without SNL...(Doing Frank Sinatra impressions on the corner don't get much money).

So what's happening on "Howdy Duty Mountain"? Why don't the Van Halens care? Hasn't Eddie's cancer receded? When's there gunna be a new album? Is Michael Anthony a Traitor? With Anthony's side switching is there still a real Van Halen? Should we ever trust people with two first names? Are Eddie and Axl friends? We hear absolutely nothing from them, (But we never heard anything from Alex anyway). People are yearning for a revival of the Van Halen of the 70's and 80's. They want a real reunion, they want another great album, they want another 1984.

In the early 80's Van Halen were awesome. David Lee Roth was the man, the best front man out there. Then they broke up. Roth stormed out after being kicked out, and the former Montrose front man, Sammy Hagar took his place. After I think 3 albums, differences within the band forced Hagar out and Roth came back in 1996 for a very short time. Roth was gone again and in 1998 Gary Cherone took over, but he was gone a year later, then after that, there were rumors that Roth would be back again, but unfortunately Eddie was hit with tongue cancer. Van Halen was starting to turn into the New York Yankees of the 70's and 80's, with Eddie as Steinbrenner, and The front men as the managers. Roth was back and fired more times than Billy Martin. But the Yankees recovered in 1996 (after like 15 manager changes), so maybe Van Halen can too. Maybe they can have a platinum album again. Maybe Eddie and Dave can reconcile, or if they don't, maybe Eddie will get Joe Torre to sing lead on their next album, anyway the fans want a real reunion. I love Van Halen, I think they were awesome, I think DLR was one of the greatest; Eddie Van Halen is one of the best guitarist. They have so many great songs from "Dance the night away", to "Hot for teacher", to "When it's love" to "eruption" but if they don't get their act together soon, I don't think they're gunna have another hit...ever.

Rock on Gary!

PS: Look for another one when I get the time, and read my parodies, lol.

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The next article is: "Three Simple Steps for Writing Song Parodies"

The last article was: "Parody Song Writing Tips"

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Ben Southall - October 01, 2003 - Report this comment

Although everyone is entitled to their opinion, I feel that you haven't researched the facts. Eddie Van Halen DID NOT write every single song with Roth and Hagar, in fact Dave was the one who wrote the melodies, the lyrics, he designed the concert t-shirts, he was the mastermind behind the image of Van Halen. "I designed the show and told you to show up!" (Roth - from his 1997 book 'Crazy from the heat') A thanksgiving dinner without the turkey?? Edward may well be the greatest guitarist ever but to say this is a kick in the guts to Dave and Sammy. It's as if they were pawns with no creative control when they were in the band. The band is not named after Eddie (although he treats it like it is), and your rash assumptions and quick-fire opinions have no merit amongst 'real' fans. Even though this article is taking the piss, I'm sure a little research may have helped your sorry article. And you call yourself a fan!!

rob - February 20, 2004 - Report this comment

That's Howdy D o o d y, kid. Did you even exist when DLR was the lead singer of Van Halen ? When Sammy was the lead singer of Montrose ?

Brian - June 27, 2004 - Report this comment

Who cares at this point in time. VH and bands like them are long gone. There will never be a day when they will truly see the "top" again. As an aging rock band, it really sucks to have to be relegated to playing 3,000 to 5,000 seat houses. They can justify it by saying "we still get paid and we can get a closer connection to the audience and so on", but the fact remains that they were once the kings of the rock world and will never be again.

pete frazer - September 24, 2004 - Report this comment

VAN HALEN RIP!!!! What disappointment hagar rejoins, even though sam hagar is a great singer, we all true vh fans want Roth back!!! perhaps the time has now past, but what a reunion tour that would of been!!!

DAN - May 06, 2005 - Report this comment

Sammy wrote all the songs for van halen when he was with them!!!!!!!!!!!!

Paul - May 19, 2005 - Report this comment

I think if KISS can rejoin with Ace and Peter, Van Halen can get back with David lee Roth. Gene and Paul fought for years with Ace and Peter and settled their differences for a couple tours. Recently Joey Belladonna rejoined Anthrax who said they would never let Joey back in the band for anything. Vince Neil got back with Motley Crue years ago after they too, said they would never let Vince Neil back in the band. If enough money gets flaunted in Alex and Eddie's faces they will do a reunion tour with Roth. Plus, maybe Alex and Eddie are planning on ending the band the way they started the band.. With David Lee Roth

Kenny - November 11, 2005 - Report this comment

If Van Halen really cares about the fans let them set up a survey on their home web site and take a poll. Make it simple... Do you want to see a tour with David Lee Roth...Yes__ No __ If the results are an over-whelming "Yes" then give the fans what they want.

Duffy Moon - November 28, 2005 - Report this comment

Wouldn't it be great if they all got back together for free? That they all decided to give the fans what they want for OUR sakes and not their pocket books? Like they all decided to rock the world once more before the big war comes(The war of everybody against everybody-and you know its coming) Isn't that the van halen attitude right there?

Kit Rumprawstein - November 28, 2005 - Report this comment

Anybody here see Van Halen is Seattle sept.2 1982? Do you think they could rock like that again? Fan sites say this was the best ever concert.I was there and can tell you all about it if need be.You all missed out big time! NEVER have I seen girls go out of control like that!!! What's wrong with the wimpy fans nowday?

mooboo - January 02, 2006 - Report this comment

Van Halen missed their chance to tour with Dave again in '96/'97...a let-down for all true VH fans....what can I say other than seeing Van Hagar live holds zero interest for me and that even Hagar is not thrilled with the way the 2004 tour went by his interviews and comments. Unfortunately, Dave is 10 years older now so him going out with VH now wouldn't be as good, although I suppose the music might rejuvinate.

Chris - April 23, 2006 - Report this comment

Now that Roth's radio show is over (2 days ago), he will be available for a full-scale reunion with Eddie and Alex.Mike is playing upcoming dates with Hagar as "The Other Half" so I don't know if Mikey will be involved but it sure would be a more authentic reunion if he was. I think a 2007 Van Halen reunion tour featuring Roth is finally possible!....time to rejeuvinate, Dave!!...(and Eddie!)

Yaha - May 29, 2006 - Report this comment

Bring On a Van Halen Reunion With Dave!!!...It is 10 years or more overdue....hurry up guys, you are getting old!

Luke - May 30, 2006 - Report this comment

I�'m from Germany and I never saw and heard the musically talented guys rockin�'live. So I think, the reunion of Van Halen would be the biggest surprise for all the true VH Fans in Germany. Come on Guys....ya know how it is to stay in front of a crowd of the best fans everthe come back would be unbelievabel....Let�'s get rocked. Luke. PS: Eddie, the whole world is missing your sound. Play for us and heal us ;-)

van hagar - June 18, 2006 - Report this comment

you are a bunch of dopes to think dlr is better than HAGAR. Sammy had a career before and after vh. david has done nothing before or after vh worth even talking about. Sammy had the title cut from a sound track, i cant drive 55 and a very successful tequila business and millions of fans. Thats why dlr has to beg for days gone by. PS anybody see Sammy begging NOPE.

Just Jim - August 21, 2006 - Report this comment

....I've been around since before ALL this David lee Roth/Sammy Hagar nonsense. You kids need to stop fighting, before somebody get's hurt...! Shit, ME:?! Who would be MY line-up of CRAZY MUSICIANS?!?!? Steve Perry and Jimi Hendrix, THAT would be a stellar line-up! There is truth to all opinions expressed here on this matter---or wherever. EVERYBODY HERE IS RIGHT!!! ----------------And wrong, all depends on your views as to (A) History, and (B) General Psychology...............'Won't elaborate on that except to ask: Who's really getting hurt out of all this attention---Dave, Sam, the Van Halen boys--------or all the Money People careening around them? Put another way, as we're all meaninglessly arguing this bullshit, who's coffers are steadily being filled? JUST SOME THOUGHTS

eddie - September 13, 2006 - Report this comment

sammy hagar made van halen what it is 2day

atomic5150punk - October 27, 2006 - Report this comment

look. Classic Van Halen was the best. As good as Led Zeppelin or The Who or Sabbath. They were incredible. Van Hagar was good and to say the Sam and Dave tour sold because of Roth is crazy. Dave is nothing without Van Halen except for brief sucess with 2 solo album like 10 frickin years ago. not to say he is not entertaining as hell but sam is a real singer and dave is well dave. He however would be fun to see with the boys and hopefully with mikey. Sammy's new post van halen albums are good and real music. Dave makes crooner shit like "diamond dave" and sings bluegrass which is all good but old same old classic van halen. so what its good but not much for him as an aritist. sammy could give a shit as he is still an artist and can still sell out stadiums without roth or van halen. VH 2004 was a sucess but a reunion in 2007 with classic lineup would be great. can they live up to the legend? Classic black sabbath did. with roth i dont know since he is nuts and didnt sing well live with the band the first time. id rather have a new van hagar album then anything but i think sammy will never do anything with ed again after him acting like a nut on acid on the last tour. Both roth and ed are insane nut jobs. ed has lots of talent and i give dave credit for what he did in van halen. who is the kid writing the first review? thats 4 albums with sam you dumb ass... and sam wrote all the lyrics for the van hagar albums... summer nights and poundcake ring a bell. dumb ass. ed is a greater player but totally insane like dave. thats why they never got a long. sam is too nice. and mike is a nice drunk and al always sides with his nut job bro. bring on the reunion anyway before roth cant sing anymore. id love to see the classic line up no matter how bad. new material good luck...

John J. - October 28, 2006 - Report this comment

Van Halen is coming back in 2007 WITH DAVE!!!!!!! Now, that's a treat man =)

STEVE TYLER - December 06, 2006 - Report this comment

VAN HALEN ARE THE BEST BAND OF ALL TIME PERIOD

TC - December 24, 2006 - Report this comment

Look...Roth (who was excellent on the Dave and Sam tour) has to be the front man if the 07 reunion is to be done right and this is why... There are many Rock bands that have been great throughout history. Being great is one thing, but being special is another and not all bands are special. But bands like the Beatles, the Stones, the Doors, U2, Led Zep, Sabbath, AC/DC and Judas Priest to name a few all had and have there own "special" sound. Fan of these bands or not (I am not here to make comparisons between any of these bands as they are all incredibly different) The point is...is that all these bands, whether you are a fan or not have put their own "special" mark on music because all have/had a sound that no other band had and no other band can or has been able to duplicate. In the case of Van Halen, the Roth years were "special". The original VH had a unique chemistry and sound that no one else had. They had an edge of uniqueness that could only be created and produced with the original 4 members. When Roth left, the band lost something. They lost their identity as well as their edginess. It was as if the energy that created and surrounded that sound had disapeared. With Hagar, the band made good music (and why wouldn't they produce good music? All 3 original members are incredible, technically sound musicians + Hagar; who we all know can sing)...but that's all it was...good music. A great portion of the music (although technically sound) was top 40 production Rock. Much of the lyrics were sub-par at best and as the Hagar years went on, Eddie rarely deviated from his comfort zone on guitar (this is not to say that he didn't have some great work with Hagar or that the guy still isn't one of the very, best, if not the best at his trade, but listen...I mean really listen to the Roth albums and you decide) The Van Hagar albums just didn't have the same energy. Look...No argument, 5150 was a great album, but NONE of the Hagar albums can compare with the Roth years. So what's the point? The point is this...The original Van Halen is more than just four great musicians...they're "special"...and there is only one way that they can ever be "special" again...Roth.

bob bush - December 25, 2006 - Report this comment

They both kick butt, but sammy is way more talented than dave, period. Dave was awesome with his unique sound, but sammy's voice is like no other. I would love to see them do a tour with both.... dave doing the old and sammy the new stuff. Fans would eat it up!!

Re-live The Dinosaurus - December 27, 2006 - Report this comment

God what an awful predicament EVH has gotten himself into, he didn't even come up with the name, if Dave was not in the original line up they would still be called "Mammoth" as in dinosaur or history? (lame name...the quality of of an uninspired masterbater) whats funny if you watch the live performances of both eras it is clearly obvious the DAVE era was much more entertaianing than the Sam era ! ..Sam is boring and a little insecure (he should have never left Montrose) seems Eddy can't get along with anyone, he boots Dave and claimes his name and that is it, Dave still is as smart and witty as ever and not a push over too boot, Eddy boots Sam forwhat ever reason, jealous of his Tequilla line? ..what a child & alcoholic, then assigns the siger from Extream (probably trying to get another #1 hit that Gary is capable of but not with Eddy) who knows what happened their but I bet you Eddy had him on considerably less than salary than the VH Brother pigs, and then Valerie his wife of how many years, also one can only imagine what she had to put up with, and then Sam Back ...god is EVH a complete freak? we should put him on the Dr Phil show and let it all out...well it is coming out in the form of cancer and drug and Alcohol addiction... then Michael Anthony ...who mind you stuck through all of this imature horseshit, Eddy brought on by himself, honestly they should all get back together Sam,Dave,Michael, Alex, and Eddy, do a tour and at the end of the tour everyone of them should beat the living shit out of Eddy and break his other hip, for the nonsense he has put everyone through for his selfish, money hungry ego that has no place on this planet...I really think he is caught in a time warp and we could really do without someone like this taking up so much of everyones time and energy... EVH you are washed up and have been since you took on the role of spokesman for Van Halen...karma will pay you count on it....

VAN SKWAILIN - December 27, 2006 - Report this comment

holly shit !! someone hit it right on the head, finally The Bastard VanHalen Bros. Inc. got hit right between the eyes ...kudos Dino

HOB NOB - December 27, 2006 - Report this comment

Well, are we not a little tee'd off? only if Eddy could still play have you heard the crap he is putting out on The Gathering, "Rise" & "Cathedral" what a bunch of mindless self absorbed crap Please Radiohead save us from a life of VH reunion

TC - January 10, 2007 - Report this comment

VH in the Hall of Fame! That's fantastic, but who the hell is gonna show up to play in the March ceromony besides Eddie and Alex? Sam is going to go purely for self amusement. I wonder if Dave even shows (although he does love the spotlight?) Back in December...Eddie publicly responded to Dave and the potential reunion and basically asked him to come back to the band for the reunion tour, but Dave has been quiet and has yet to respond??? This whole thing just sucks for the fans who want to see a reuinion...and it's Eddie's ego that made it this way...(we all know that Roth is an ego maniac as well) but the real Van Halen fans can remember how this whole thing started in the 80's...please recall that every time the media reffered to the band, Roth usually got first mention, was the more popular of the 2 and most of the critical acclaim went to him and he let it all go to his head. Eddie could never stand being second and hated the fact that Roth was always in the spotlight. I'm sure Roth(the prick that he is) rubbed it in his face out of spite. I wish for the reunion...but I feel that this reunion is never going to happen as Eddie has pissed off everyone...1st Dave, then Sam and now Michael Anthony. Alex, Michael, Dave and Sam should replace Eddie!!!!

Matthew Broome - January 16, 2007 - Report this comment

Dear god, get off your asses and bring the people (your fans) some more ass kicking music! Everyone in VH should be ASHAMED!(with the exception of Alex and Michael). Get off your asses, play some music and TOUR. Bring it to the folks that LOVE VH and the music! WE made you guys! Please Eddie, wake up and see what your fans want!

stevens - January 29, 2007 - Report this comment

I think everyone would forgive and forget all evil done with a little live van halen

jimmy - March 15, 2016 - Report this comment

sam hagar wasn't known until he was with van halen he made lot of money and then stabs eddie right in the back!! what a moron yes Sam Hagar we can live without listening to like you were the GOD of music and that you made the Van Halen Group.........sorry you aren't as great as you might think you are, or will ever be.

Gregory - March 15, 2016 - Report this comment

It's Van Halen, not Van Hagar! Sammy sucked big time!

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