David Lee Roth走后,人们对乐队的前途开始议论纷纷。随后Sammy Hagar担任Van Halen第二任主唱,Sammy Hagar虽然长David Lee Roth7岁,但他的演唱丝毫不弱于David Lee Roth,而且两人的嗓音和演唱风格都有很多想象之处,Sammy Hagar的吉他演奏水平也很出色,但他与Eddie Van Halen之间能够达成良好的平衡,各司其职,谁也不会喧宾夺主。由Sammy Hagar担任主音的Van Halen的于1986年推出新专辑《5150》,专辑标题“5150 ”取自Eddie Van Halen在好莱坞的录音室的名字,与New York警队精神犯罪代码一样。总体来说,《5150》比Van Halen以前的专辑更够劲,吉他更狠,更来得刺激。专辑最终的销售数字很好,《5150》专辑打消了所有对Van Halen不利的谣言,Van Hale的地位依然巩固。
1985年,Van Halen乐队主唱罗思离队进行个人发展。萨米·黑格(Sammy Hagar,1947年10月13日生于美国加利福尼亚的蒙特雷)填补了主唱空缺。1984年6月,发行了专辑《5150》,专辑的名称取自精神病犯罪科警察的代码,同时这也是埃迪·范海伦录音室的号码。单曲《这为什么不能是爱》(Why Can’t This Be Love)在排行榜上名列第3,《5150》专辑使乐队第一次名列榜首,并成为他们销量最大的一张唱片。
Amazon.com essential recording
As original Van Halen vocalist David Lee Roth quit the band to pursue a solo career, or was fired (depending on who you believe), Eddie and Alex Van Halen and Michael Anthony carried on by hiring Sammy Hagar. Hagar was a middling artist on his own, but he proved to be a powerhouse when placed in front of hard rock’s most muscular and innovative instrumental unit. On 5150--the title is police code for "escaped lunatic"--you can hear the band’s excitement at having struck a winning combination. Songs such as "Why Can’t This Be Love," "Dreams," "Best of Both Worlds," and "Love Walks In" combine to make this the early high-watermark of the Van Hagar era. --Daniel Durchholz |