Van Halen (Roth) VS. Van Halen (Hagar)

[SanguineRemedy]

For me, Van Halen with Roth. I really never have been a fan of the "Red Rocker" and in comparison to the scope of work Roth did with Van Halen, I see Hagar really outclassed. Didn't like the transitions and change of sound with Hagar's arrival. I feel Roth is an all around better frontman, singer, and songwriter than Hagar.

Little known fact is that Roth is pretty decent on guitar himself, as well.

Van Halen I, 1984, Fair Warning... can they really be contested by Hagar's Van Halen?

 

[That 70s Guy]

Van Hagar

 

[Hydrazoic Acid]

Van Hagar, undoubtedly. Roth isn't a singer, he's just a showman, and his "singing" always was a pathetic sight.

 

[Texas King]

Van Halen by a mile.
Run of first 4 VH albums is one of my fave runs of albums in hard rock. No Hagar-era album can come close to any of them.
Diver Down and 1984 are weaker albums though.

Hagar is a way better vocalist, but DLR is a way better frontman of this band.

 

[Abraxas]

Van Hagar

 

[SanguineRemedy]

Van Halen by a mile.
Run of first 4 VH albums is one of my fave runs of albums in hard rock. No Hagar-era album can come close to any of them.
Diver Down and 1984 are weaker albums though.

Hagar is a way better vocalist, but DLR is a way better frontman of this band.

I wholeheartedly agree. I guess I will rephrase what I mean by Roth being the better singer...

... by saying his vocal skills are... intriguing and unique. He can definitely get down like sparky, though. Hagar has the better singing voice, yeah, but something about Roth's voice just catches more of me more so than that of Hagar.

If you ever listen to any of Roth's solo work, it's very good stuff.

 

[LOU/REALM]

Van Halen with Dave Lee Roth for me . I don't dislike Hagar he was brill with Montrose...both great rock stars in their own right

 

[Sharp Dressed Man]

Van Halen by a mile.
Run of first 4 VH albums is one of my fave runs of albums in hard rock. No Hagar-era album can come close to any of them.

Hagar is a way better vocalist, but DLR is a way better frontman of this band.

This!

 

[Vader]

Van Halen by a mile.
Run of first 4 VH albums is one of my fave runs of albums in hard rock. No Hagar-era album can come close to any of them.
Diver Down and 1984 are weaker albums though.

Hagar is a way better vocalist, but DLR is a way better frontman of this band.

Same.

 

[Riff Raff]

Found myself enjoying several Hagar albums more than the first two with Roth and the last album overall.