I remember hearing the first single “Why Can’t This Be Love” off Van Halen’s ‘5150’ album.
I was the lone underclassman (sophomore) in a vehicle filled with seniors and juniors. It was winter of 1986 (February). We were traversing the greater Omro area countryside in Todd Gumz’s Trans Am (or Z-28?) either way, it was white, fast, had a spoiler and almost no room for the number of people contained within (5). We were traveling at a relatively high rate of speed which is what high school-ers do in a souped-up muscle car. Being raised on Van Halen albums from the ’78 debut to just a couple years prior’s ‘1984’, I was, and am on Team Dave.
He was the flash, the funk the energy – a maniacal, sexually-potent, hard-partying rock god that all rock bands wish they has and at the same time wish they didn’t. The video of Dave being limply dragged out of someplace by police wrapped in nothing but a towel always comes to mind when I think about David Lee Roth.
Back to the car.
I distinctly remember fearing for my life at some point in the evening and requesting that we not crash (or die) due to the fact I hadn’t gotten laid yet. I have since. Thanks for the concern. But all of a sudden over the 100-thousand watt airwaves of 105.7 WAPL – which was our temple of rock worship at the time – the DJ at the time (Wayne Shane or Shane Reno) came on and said he has the new single from Van Halen featuring Sammy Hagar as lead singer. Now, Sammy Hagar was a fine performer in his own right. The ‘Red Rocker‘ had carved out a great career in rock with stints in Montrose and solo work – including 80’s era soundtrack work on ‘Heavy Metal’ and ‘Footloose’. ‘Standing Hampton‘ being a particular favorite Hagar album of mine.
But as lead singer of my beloved Van Halen? This would take some convincing.
So over the next 3:47 on Todd’s sweet Kenwood system – we actually parked the car on the side of some country back road and drank in the next era of Van Halen along with some purloined parental beverages – it was high school after all. The consensus was… not bad. Not Dave… but not bad. I bought the album/CD next time I was in Oshkosh at The Exclusive Company and really fell in love with it. “Why Can’t This Be Love” would rise to #3 on the Billboard Charts ‘5150’ the album would reach the lofty height of #1 – a first for the band. Their previous album ‘1984’ only hit #2 – thanks to Michael Jackson and a little album named ‘Thriller‘ – yeah, I never heard of it either. But at least Eddie had a part on that album too.
So Van Hagar wasn’t my Van Halen and that was okay. I have a deep love of the David Lee Roth era that will never fade but also a fond affection for the Van Hagar/Sam Halen era of the band also. Sometimes these things don’t work out this well for fans (see Garry Cherone and ‘Van Halen III’) but in this case they did.
Van Halen fans will continue to debate Dave vs Sammy for eternity. But it is possible to love two different things for two completely separate reasons “Why Can’t This Be Love” indeed. Why not?
> John
