They, as I understand it, have been one of the most consistently popular American rock groups since forming in 1974. I myself was a latecomer to their music. A few years ago I finally made a compilation CD of my favorite songs from the David Lee Roth years, as well as my favorites from when Sammy Hagar sang lead. I actually do like both Roth and Hagar and I dont participate in that whole debate about how one was better than the other. Just like Star Trek and Star Wars, I like them both, for different reasons.

Roth sang lead until leaving in 1985. Hagar was in the group Montrose before joining VH and was the frontman from 1985 to 1996. After Hagar left over a dispute with the Van Halen brothers regarding a flight to and from Hawaii, Roth temporarily came back to the band in 1996 to promote their "Best Of Volume I" album and had recorded a few new songs for it. Later that year, former Extreme frontman Gary Cherone joined the band to sing lead for one album called "Van Halen III". I've never heard it, and I believe that it was included in the "Worst Albums By Top Bands" thread that Rodney H. wrote about back in the last decade. I read what he said, and I will gladly take his word for it!

Anyway, Cherone left in 1999, and the group went on hiatus. In 2003 Hagar returned and contributed vocals to some new tracks that would be included on the new hits collection "The Best Of Both Worlds". The band went on tour, which apparently did not go well and Hagar left the band for the second and final time in 2005.

The next year there were rumors that Roth would be returning. He was indeed invited to rejoin the band, and they were inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007. Then then commenced touring once again.

The most surprising thing that happened, to me, was the release of a new Van Halen album this year, called "A Different Kind Of Truth". This is their first album of new material in 12 years, and I think that I will buy it at some point.

It is interesting to note that the one album VH did with Gary Cherone bombed, and he would then go back to Extreme for a new CD in 2008. Last year he formed a new band called Hurtsmile and released their first album. Whoopty-doo.

As for Hagar, apparently he left the band on bad terms after their unsuccessful tour between 2003-2005, and he will definetly not be coming back. That's OK with me, I think he's proved himself as a major prescence in rock music at this point. He would go on to form the supergroup Chickenfoot in 2008, but I have not yet heard them.

So, in conclusion, I like this group. And I shall pick up their new CD later this year. I wonder how it compares to their 80s heyday...