Originally Posted by: KerryInHollandVH was my first ever concert (Diver Down). Imo, their music began to slide downward after that album. Then...with Hagar taking over I never was a fan again of VH. Just didn't like that combo.

I've heard rumor on why their sound changed so much when Dave Left. What I heard was that Dave was always on Eddie about what he was playing. Dave would dismiss some of the things Eddie would come up with and kept him leaning towards harder rock. Enter Sammy. Sammy didn't have the clout that Dave had which allowed Eddie to be much more experimental. Not sure how accurate this to be, just posting what I had been told. The story seems to fit the reality of their change in music.

I never faulted Sammy for the change in Van Halen's sound. Always felt he was a perfect replacement for Dave. But, there clearly is two Van Halens.