opinion of Van Halen

[freepcrusher]

I vote option 3. I like the song "Dance the Night Away" but at the same time they were the first in a long stage of the devolution of rock and roll.

[politicus]

Pretty awful.

[Goldwater]

FB!

[DemPGH]

Voted FB, but my issue with bands is that there are very few where I can honestly say, yeah, I like their work overall (I like the Stones overall, and I like Madonna overall, and after that I have to think about it). Van Halen would be another one where there are a couple of songs that I like, but beyond that, meh.

[angus]

One of the best performing groups of their time.  I like 'em both ways, incidentally, although as I understand it most folks don't.  I've seen them in concert several times in the 80s, both with Roth and Hagar.  Both are excellent showmen and their music is powerful and moving. 

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

They were great, LONG ago..........always douchebags though.

[This user has not been convicted of 34 felonies]

They were one of the first "real" bands I listened to, so FB for the nostalgia factor.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Trash, albeit enjoyable trash.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Ugh.  Total trash with the rest of their hair-metal brethren.  Go listen to Led Zeppelin, early Queen, Cream, Ozzy, Maiden, etc. if you want some good metal.  This cock-rock garbage is the worst. 

[Maxwell]

David Lee Roth era? FB

Anything else? HB

[Murica!]

Trash, albeit enjoyable trash.

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

Dad-Rock, if entertaining. I liked their first album and cover of "Oh, Pretty Woman".

[angus]

Dad-Rock, if entertaining.

Haha.  That's actually a good post.  I would say that about The Marcels' Blue Moon, for example, or Rickie Nelson or Buddy Holly, all of which are mildly entertaining.  That's alright.  Thirty years from now someone will refer to Hozier as Dad Rock and you'll appreciate how cute your post was.

[politicallefty]

FB, and I think one of the best of the '80s.

[ElectionsGuy]

FB!

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

It could be said that Van Halen's first album was the "seed" of hair metal.

[Badger]

FB.

By some happenstance I noted just today on Wikipedia that their 2012 album (with DLR back for vocals and Eddie's son Wolfgang replacing Michael Anthony on bass) actually got great critical reviews. Haven't heard a song off it to my memory, but maybe worth a listen?

[Jahnson]

One of my favorite bands. Love "Runnin' With the Devil", "Dance the Night Away", and "Panama" among others.

[anvi]

Meh, to me it was kind of '80's background noise.  But when I was first learning to play drums, I really loved Alex van Halen's set.  But when I thought about really playing on it, I just figured I'd get lost on it and went back to my tiny three-piece trap-set happily.