Sammy or Diamond Dave ?

[fastfredracing]

I'm poking at my old neighbor that I grew up with on FB . Total Van Halen nut, always was since were were teeny boppers . He loves the red rocker.
Me. eh... Van Halen died for me once Dave left .
I wanna know who you really are . Dave, or Sammy VH?

[Rickysa]

Van Halen died for me once Dave left .

yep....VanHagar? pfffffttttttttt


I believe Dave is an EMT nowadays

[Rick Lee]

I love both eras. Dave hasn't been an EMT in about 20 years. He's about to start a solo residency in Vegas. VH is done. Eddie is ailing.

[JavaBrewer]

To me VH is an entirely different band with lead singers DLR and SH. I grew up loving the early days with Dave - he was a great showman, ok singer, and the music was raw and new. Sammy brought a new level of polish, not as flamboyant as Dave, but much better vocal. Many of my favorite VH songs came from that era.

When they dropped Mike for Wolfgang I pretty much walked away. I still have many of their songs on my playlists and last saw them in concert in San Diego when Sammy and Mike were still in the band. Will never pay to see them play again.

[IROC]

Dave.

I'm a Bon Scott fan, too, if that says anything.

[fastfredracing]

Originally Posted by IROC

Dave.

I'm a Bon Scott fan, too, if that says anything.

My son just posed the Bon or Brian question to me this week. That is a tough one. Back in Black, Highway to hell... but then all the early stuff... I can't call that one .

[Rick Lee]

Angus's guitar tone was better with Bon, as was EVH's with DLR. That guitar tone contributed greatly to the music.

[Eric 951]

Diamond Dave all the way.

Sammy is a better vocalist, and defiantly more polished. He was a great fit for the direction Van Halen was moving in at that time (more keyboards, more polished, studio sound), but Dave is the consummate frontman.

To me, Dave-era Van Halen was the greatest rock band to ever come out of the US.

[Rick Lee]

This is pretty raw an unpolished, but the energy in this place is just amazing. Can't imagine anything like it these days.

[Rick Lee]

And this was a pretty good one from the first tour with Sammy.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I always thought SH was a poser wannabe and David Lee Roth the real deal.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by IROC

Dave.

I'm a Bon Scott fan, too, if that says anything.

Obviously both bands were better with their real lead singer. Both were riveting front men, commanded attention. Saw Bon Scott dive off the stage at the Oakland Coliseum into the crown. Stage was above the outfield wall, so quite a drop. Crowd caught him, passed him around some then tossed him back up there.

[craigster59]

Well first off Sammy is no poser wannabe, he’s got the pipes. Liked him in Montrose and solo, VH not so much.

As far as Bon/ Brian, I’ve seen them both in action, Bon hands down with the stage presence ( just like Diamond Dave).

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Sometimes pipes should stay piled up in the back corner of the basement.

[craigster59]

https://youtu.be/OOdpp5EiV04

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Craig, you were trying to show SH sucks but his fans have great taste in art? Mission accomplished.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

I always thought SH was a poser wannabe and David Lee Roth the real deal.

Yeah, retreads are never as good as the real thing. I was never a huge fan, but I turned them off after DLR.

[scotricker]

these guys

Originally Posted by Sarc

[LWJ]

Dave.

Just don't DON'T watch the video he did of "Jump" with a bluegrass band. The bottom of his career.

[ckelly78z]

I loved Sammy on his "Three Lock Box" album, and played it loud in my 240Z in 1985. I also like Van Halen before Diamond Dave left.