10 Bands That Got Over Losing A Lead Singer
4. Van Halen
As much as Van Halen's world seemed like a non-stop party in the '80s, there's comes a point when you want the party side of things to end. Aside from just the amped up energy behind his delivery whenever he took to the stage, I also imagine that anyone who hangs out with David Lee Roth for the better part of a decade would probably get a little fed up too. Then again, no one expected a split to be this dire after 1984.
Once the keyboards of Jump started to become a prominent part of the mix, the lines were drawn between Roth and Eddie, after which Roth decided to leave for a solo career. Roth was certainly no slouch either, being the primary reason why songs like Runnin with the Devil are the classics they are. As with anything, life goes on, and Van Halen were brought off life support by Sammy Hagar.
Although the idea of the Red Rocker mixing with Van Halen seemed like a weird fit at first, the chemistry on the record 5150 was undeniable, as Hagar put his pipes to good use on tracks like Why Can't This Be Love and Dreams. Though their lyrical style got a little more dopey later down the line, Van Halen were always in it for the long haul rather than the flash in the pan career.