You Know What's Funny: Van Halen
But Not 'Ha Ha' Funny
by Trent McMartin

How much more can Van Halen fans take? First David Lee Roth was out,
though red rocker Sammy Hagar turned out to be more than a suitable
replacement. Then Hagar leaves (or was fired) and the band brings back
Diamond Dave for a doomed brief stint before settling on Gary Cherone,
who lasted one unsuccessful album, 1998's Van Halen III - the album
for which longtime bassist Michael Anthony reportedly played on only
three tracks. It's enough to make you ask, "Where have all the good
times gone."

I remember seeing that MTV awards ceremony back in '97 with Roth and
Van Halen and it reeked of nothing more than a cash grab. The nineties
were the golden age of reunions, with many groups like the Eagles,
Fleetwood Mac, Jane's Addiction and KISS getting their classic line ups
back together. The tours and coinciding greatest hits compilations
brought in a lot of money and proved that dinosaurs of rock could
reclaim their past glory, though if only for a brief time. Nostalgia
can only take you so far.