Album Review: AT THE GATES - At War With Reality

It's been awhile since I wrote a review of anything. The only thing I was writing as of late was my resume and a grocery list..but I'm back, still writing my resume, and that damn grocery list. Ugh,  but I digress...

If your a fan of melodic speeding guitar riffs, screaming angry vocals that make King Diamond look like a pre teen and thundering drums..then have I got the BAND FOR YOU...

At War With Reality is the tenth album released by Swedish death metal band At The Gates, and the first album they released in 19 years...

Now I am not a fan of 'death metal'. So, when I picked this, I was a little skeptical..But this album is PURE RAW SLIT YOUR THROAT AND LEAVE NO TRACES, BURN YA HOUSE AN TAKE YA DOG DEATH METAL...to put it in three words "SHIT GETS REAL!!"

The album opens with "El Altar Del Dios Desconocido". Not sure what it meant,but I liked it. It had that horror movie start, like your being lead to some form of death March or satanic ritual. Yeah, it got me feelin like that.  It actually did give the album a good build up...and out of nowhere...BAM!!!!  

"Death and the Labyrinth" kick in with ear bleeding bass, drums and guitars. The vocals are dark, coarse and gritty. Nothing pretty here...just pure unfiltered rage, testosterone tingling in your ears. Then you get a BRIEF break and BOOM!!! It starts again.

The title track, "At War With Reality"is a melodic Headbanger's delight. The guitar playing of Anders Bjorler and Martin Larsson are powerful and have no mercy. These guys are literally playing like their life depends on it. Jonas Bjorler(bass), and drummer Adrian Erlandsson keep everyone on pace and have set the tone for this album.

Favorite song has got to be "The Circular Ruins". The guitar playing on this song by far was the best for me. The drumming was clean, the bass was neat and precise. The vocals were on point. These guys aren't here to make music your mom would listen to.

Like I said, I'm not a fan of Death Metal, and I don't knock anyone who is...but I can say that I liked this album, and it is worth every Penny you'll spend on it. If we had the mikes system like Rolling Stone, I would give this album 4 out of 5 mikes. Or was that Circus that had the mikes thing? Hell, I don't remember,but this album is really worth a listen if your a fan of Swedish Death Metal.

Be sure to pick this up and catch At The Gates on their US tour starting in 2015...

HAPPY LISTENING!!!

Hardcore Superstar...Fetish Music For The Masses...

Many of the bands that came out in the late 80s to mid 90s are either not together anymore or have wasted away into the land of "classic" rock land. We all know that place. That's the place where we flip in the TV and hear "Here I Go" on Glee, or some other preppy style TV show. I recently started a music list of what I call "Fetish Music". Yes, Fetish Music.

Fetish music is a playlist of songs I came up with. These songs are gritty, guitar driven tracks that put so much dirt in your ear, you gotta clean your ears like every five minutes. These are songs that make you bang your head and scream. And now added to the collection of "Fetish Music" is Hardcore Superstar.

Not sure how these guys got past me, but I'm kicking myself for not copping ANY groups releases sooner. This band is a mixture of classic Ratt, Hanoi Rocks with some Faster Pussycat, the glam of New York Dolls and black garb glitz of the Ramones. Yeah, they are that FUCKIN GOOD!!!!

The guys recently returned back on the scene with their new song,"Above the Law", off their new release "C'mon Take On Me", released back in Februrary of this year.  And this song KICKS ASS!!!! This is not a song you play for just mere enjoyment, YOU CRANK THIS S.O.B UP LOUD AND BANG YOUR HEAD TO THE BEAT!!! The guitar work of Vic Zino is quite impressive. Zinos playing on this song is reminiscent of late RATT N ROLLER Robin Crosby (RIP) with a touch of Slash thrown in for good measure. Joke Berg (vocals) is on fire. He's got the flair of a young Tamie Down, only he doesn't have the blonde hair(and neither does Tamie anymore). Bassist Martin Sandvic and drummer Adde definitely get the job done with their rhythm tag team section.

This song is definitely going to introduce the band to new fans like myself, and make the ears of die hard fans bleed with shivering, orgasmic ear shattering pleasure. These guys are pretty popular in Europe and Japan, and have a growing following here, but it should be bigger. If the rest of this album sounds like the first single, there's gonna be a ton of ears turned out,trust me on this...I know what my next iTunes purchase is going to be....

Sinister Realm:Bringing MORE METAL To The Children

In the days of boy bands reuniting, Miley trying to twerk, and Lil Wayne disrespecting the American flag in the name of album sales, it's nice to see something be whop up on the scene. Problem is, the breath of air is PURE 100000% AMERICAN METAL. So metal, it's like Rob Halford had a baby, locked away until the age of five, then released and given vocal lessons by Bruce Dickinson. Yes folks, British Steel Royalty...but its AMERICANIZED.

The idea of Sinister Realm was formed in 2008 when former Pale Devine bandmates John Gaffeny(bass) and Darren McCloskey(guitar) got together. Influenced by the versions of Ozzy Osbourne and the late great Ronnie James Dio versions of Black Sabbath, it was this mold that the guys worked in and around. As songs started forming and taking shape, the guys figured they should form an actual band. Enter Alex Kristof. Now that the guys have a singer, they just need to complete the band. Eventually the guys recruit John Kantner (guitar), John Risko (guitar) and Chris Metzger (drums). Sinister Realm was complete and ready to forge their path to metal stardom.

"World of Evil" is the latest offering from this Allentown,Pa band, who already have two other albums under their belt. This new album is pretty melodic, you can hear a Priest and Black Sabbath influence on title track "World of Evil",sort of a theme song with the current events going on right now. The guitar work is clean and ties together great with the lyrics. The ending howl is classic Halford with a mix of Geoff Tate (the old Tate). 

"The Ghosts of NeverMore" has a Dio meets Savatage feel to it. Sadly, the lyrics fall flat on what could be a potential hit. Risko and Kantner play with soul and conviction on the track, and the bass lows in and out, but the vocals are flat. This is that one song you gotta play a few times to get the proper feel for it, at a loud level. "Prophets of War" is also a song that speaks of the events current, but the lyrics are a tad flat, however, it is a song worth listening to.

While Sinister Realm junior effort, this is a band not to be counted out. These guys got talent, and they can play damn good. This is an album I would buy, and listen to. The one thing I can say is that vocalist Alex Kristof is a voice force to be reckoned with. He has a power of a young Dio, Osbourne, Halford and Tate. These guys have a strong foundation and they are building their own pathway to the top. This album is worth buying,and listening. I'd give it four stars.

Big In Japan - Firehouse

I remember in school we used to get this little paper called 'Weekly Rader'. It was a little paper printed up for kids. Inside it had the latest news events, watered down for the kids, and some facts that some mat find interesting. Sometimes, they would talk about different countries and cultures, too. So, when this weeks subject of 'Big in Japan' was given, I went back, in my little time machine, and remembered what we learned about Japan...NOT TOO MUCH. I did learn that Japanese children went to school EVERYDAY, also learned that they copied ALOT of American trends and foods. They have very limited space, and often the grandparents live with their child's family. elders are very respected in Japan. And that's about all I remember about Japan.

The Japanese are very big fans of western culture in the early 80's to well, even now really. Many hard rock artists made a smash in Japan, before really even taking hold of us yanks in the states. Firehouse was one of those bands. They did have success here in the states, but it was Japan and Asia where the name Firehouse was met with screams and howls.

Formed in 1989 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 1989. Lead singer C.J Snare had that lead singer look, too. Long flowing like hair, eyes of steel,yet some form of compassion. The guys had a good sound and they caught on fast. Back track to 1984. Bill Leverty, guitarist for Firehouse needed a drummer for his then band White Heat. Twenty auditions in, he meets Michael Foster. Foster auditions for Leverty, floors him and Foster gets the gig. One evening, while White Heat wasn't on tour, the guys went to a club and it was there they saw the band Maxx Warrior. Fronting the band was future Firehouse lead singer C.J. Snare and bassist Perry Richardson. A few months later, the band Firehouse was formed.

Relocating to North Carolina, the guys began recording their demo. To earn money, they would play at different hotels around town. December 1989, found Michael Caplan of Epic Records caught one of their shows. After the guys performed, Caplan made an offer.

1990 gave us the self titled debut album from Firehouse. It was loved by the critics.the guys won an American Music Award in 1991, for Best New Hard Rock/Heavy Metal band, beating out Nirvana and Alice In Chains( happy face).Firehouse had quite a few hits, but the two songs that made them popular with the Dial MTV(remember that show) and the early pop metal genre was the hit "Don't Treat Me Bad", and the wedding song of 92 to probably 95 "Love of A Lifetime". Both songs put the band on the map and gave them the success they worked hard to obtain.

 Firehouse maintained quite a bit of success here in the states, but it was in countries like Japan, Thailand, India, most of Asia really, along with South America and Europe where they found their biggest and still largest following. Not saying they aren't still a hit here in the U.S. anyone who thinks otherwise should look at their current tour schedule. They have more shows booked than the Ringling Brothers Circus, and more dates than a prom queen. You figure it out.

There are VERY FEW bands from the metal (pop, death, speed...what ever floats your wagon) that are still around today, with their near ORIGINAL line up, but Firehouse is one that has stood the test of time and trends. Not only have they sold millions and millions of albums around the world, they've sold out arenas around the world also, and are still to this day Rocklahoma favorites (next to Tesla, in my opinion). Firehouse has done quite a bit in their career, and they're still going.

SugarBoxx Rocks Ohio and soon the World

A few months ago I joined the modern world and opened a twitter account. Started following a few celebs, minus them Kardashian chics, and Bieber kid. I started following a man, Kevin ManDraken and his band, SugarBoxx. Born the son of a preacher, it was his mother, who was a fan of the Beatles and Elvis that would ignite the spark of music in young Kevin. She was the one who bought him his first guitar.

Don't be fooled by the name. These guys are not your average band. These guys know how to rock and they know how to put on a show. Formed in 2010, originally  started as a 80's cover band. "I wanted a heavier sound," ManDraken recalled. So ManDraken set out through Ohio to find those that shared his musical vision.

ManDraken recruited Scott Sherer (guitar), T.J. Sweet (bass) Dave Kesling (drums) to carry out his vision of mayhem and debauchery. Their first gig, however, said otherwise. "Our first gig was a local show. Not too many people were there," ManDraken recalled. ManDraken wanted a way to get those in the audience talking about the band, sort of a parting gift sort of and for this ManDraken drew inspiration from a local by the name of Marilyn Manson. 'I wanted to dip the bible I was using into fake blood, but the blood kept running off. So, I took the pages, ripped them out and made a cup out of them,dipped them in the bucket and drank the blood,"ManDraken recalled. The act, not only got people talking, but got some feathers ruffled also. Local clergy was not amused with the act. Many threatened protesting and boycotting of the shows, but ManDraken and the BOXX carried on.

The band went from playing to a few to bringing crowds. People wanted to see the man and the band that rocked and gave a little bit of a Alice Cooper meets Blackie Lawless feel to their shows. With the crowds came protests. Feminist groups also protested the shows due to the image they felt SugarBoxx was portraying for women. The guys, however took it in stride.

2011 brought a line up change. Out was drummer Dave Kesling, and in was a 17 yr old phenom Ryan  Quigg, the son of the group's photographer. "We were doing a local show when Ryan's mom was there taking pictures. She mentioned her son was a drummer. When it came time to look for another drummer, she mentioned it again, and just so happened she had a tape of him playing. He auditioned, and he was in,"ManDraken recalled. When asked about his young drummer and how it's working out, ManDraken 's voice beams with excitement. " It was like we won the lotto. He's a phenom. Ryan's got a bright future  ahead of himself. He's going to Georgia this summer for drum camp. He can play anything on the drums. It was like he gave us back our enthusiasm."

Like all bands, SugarBoxx has their own legion of followers, or BoxxHeads, as they are called. They follow the band from show to show, and their numbers are growing by the show. And the band has big plans leading them into the hot summer months. Their awaited E.P. is in final process now, set to be released either May or June. Their first single off that E.P. 'Monster' is set to be released May 7th.
"In July, we're planning on filming one of our concerts to help spread who we are," ManDraken said.
As we were coming to the close of our interview I asked what, if anything he could or would like to tell those faithful that come to see SugarBoxx play live, sometimes braving the snow (as we all know, spring no longer is a season, it's a myth).

"Thank you. If it wasn't for them, we couldn't do what we do. We love what we do, I love what I do".
SugarBoxx can be found on reverbnation.com. There you can get all their latest songs, show info and even booking info. The band even has a Facebook, yes they do. Just type in SugarrBoxx and click like. Or, if Facebook isn't what you care to use, the guys can be located on twitter, under SugarBoxx.

PANTERA...Just What The Doctor Ordered!

By the late 80's, the music scene was dominated by metal, pop metal and rap. By the start of the 90's, the heyday of metal was slowly coming to the end. Bands like Pearl Jam, Nirvana and REM were making their presence known that they weren't in it for the girls or the booze. The party was over!
In 1990, while the grunge scene was flying high, and metal heads were running amok in flannel and doc Martians, a band named Pantera released its 5th album 'Cowboys From Hell'.  Pantera, consisted of the Abbott brothers Darrell and Vinnie, Phil Anselmo and  bassist Rex Brown. The guys had already been around and had a reputation going for themselves, but it was this album, and the song 'Cematary Gates' that made the band stand out and more people take notice.

'Cemetery Gates' isn't your average metal song.  The length alone is just 7:04. I can imagine the original recording of the song. This is a epic song. Not epic in the sense of the length, epic in the masterful creation of the guitar merging with the drums and bass as it glides slowly through ones ears. It's like Christmas Day for the ears and soul.  There's no gloss or frosted tips here. No keyboards or auto tune necessary. This song is as pure driven as it gets. Darrell, or Dime's guitar riffs are polished and tight. As he plays each riff, you can hear his brothers drums cheering his masterful playing on to victory. You forget the song is about death, it just sounds that great. The vocals of Phil Anselmo drive the song and move it through the veins. 'Cemetary Gates' is a head banging classic that is a must for every metal fan to have in their collection. Many call this song, and the album the inauguration of what was to be the glory age of Pantera.

The group would go on to record more albums, but issues would begin to surface among the members. Anselmo's use of heroin would soon take front over everything and would begin a slow twisting end of Pantera. The last album the guys would record(and its said that there was so much animosity that the guys couldn't even record together) , called 'The Great Southern TrendKill' would become the bands swan song album. The album, which was released in May1996 was a dark album. Thought to be one of the bands best albums, it dealt with the subject of drug abuse; a subject the guys were getting first hand education in. Soon, however tensions would boil over, and the band Pantera would be no more. In 2003, the guys disbanded Pantera, and without Anselmo formed DamagePlan. Now here is where things get messy. Anselmo says he was never told that Pantera was done, but the Abbott brothers say they tried to contact Anselmo to let him know what was going on. So, it's a he said /they said situation.

The Abbott brothers , with a new bass player and lead singer recorded 'New Found Power' and it was released in February 2004. The album was a commercial success, and brought a new group of fans, and previous fans to the world of metal.

On December 8, 2004, DamagePlan was playing a gig in Columbus, Ohio. Started out somewhat normal. A man named Nathan Gale, would make his way to the front onto the stage, just a minute into the set, and shoot Darrell 'DimeBag'Abbott six times, killing him, along with four others before being killed himself by a police officer working security. DimeBag was 38. A man and his band who literally brought the American metal scene back from its coma, was gone. The world came to a slow, eerie shocked standstill. How could this happen? Darrell was laid to rest like any rocker would want, in a KISS coffin and with Eddie Van Halen's bumble bee guitar. Fans still, like Rhodes, Hendrix and Morrison flock to his grave site, some to reflect and remember when and others to ponder and wonder what would music be if Dime was still here.

Darrell 'DimeBag' Abbott was a guitar player of the people. He was a fan of the music, and he dedicated his life to his art. Very few can say that about what they do, but he could say it and mean it. Dimebag, Pantera and DamagePlan were just what the doctor ordered for the American metal scene...And they brought it back from the dead. Pantera, was by all means, the shock that music needed, and shock they did...RIP ST. DIME.

AC/DC TURNS MY EARS OUT

Anytime I hear the four letters AC/DC  I get a tingle in my ears. Nothing bad, Im not stroking out, but my ears are getting excited because they know the fun is about to begin. In the early years of AC/DC a young (sorta young) Scottish lad from Australia by the name of Bon Scott took thevocal  helm. Scott had a voice that could command attention, and weave a story full of booze and women and fist fights, all in that order. But when Scott sang, he sang with a form of rebellion and defiance in each note.

'High Voltage' was the groups first album. Released in 1975, it rings off the charts and established the band as a force to be reckoned with. Bon Scott drives each and every song with different pitch of emotion and conviction. The man sings as if he's singing for his supper, and the panties. Bon had a voice that when you heard it, you couldnt help but sing along, or clap your hands and sing. The song 'Can I Sit Next To You, Girl' is just the song to do both. It shows Bonn has a romantic side, sorta. He's not a barbarian, no, not this guy. Typical story. He see what he wants, and wants every ounce of it...BADASS!!!! Just the first riff lets you know the song is gonna do something, and possibly something naughty. I mean, let's be honest. It's Bonn Scott. Every Daddy's nightmare (then) and every bad boys role model (still). He and Jim Morrison made it hip to be skinny with long hair before Tommy Lee and Nikki Sixx did.

Angus and Malcom Young, the bands founders and only members to appear on EVERY album (minus the rehab for Malcom) knew what they had when they approached Scott. The guitars are heavy and the rhythm guitar is DEFINATELY making its presence known. AC/DC, at that time was no frills, straight to the point rock. They didnt have an auto tune nothing. There was no lay this or that ack down. No, they were in a room, and played til the fingers bled or drumsticks broke and the singer went horse. TRUE ROCK N ROLL. But what they didn't know at that time was they were laying. Blueprint, a blueprint for the next generation of rockers to come. AC/DC made everyone take notice, and notes. The Scottish, the British, hell, anyone who could play a guitar with a mean lick and had long hair that there was a new brand of music coming in town, and it's name was METAL!

Besides being one of the most influential bands on the planet, these guys are often called one of the groups that help start the British Steel movement of the late 70's to early 80's.

Sadly, on February 19, 1980, Bonn Scott died from alcohol poisoning. Some say he simply drank himself to death, some say he simply choked on his own vomit, and  some even say he was killed. Others say, he simply froze to death. No one is exactly what happened. Bonn Scott started a master plan when he was hired by the Young brothers. He set out to shake up the world of rock n roll. And that he did. Bonn Scott was replaced by Brian Johnson in 1980, and the band hasn't looked back since. To date AC/DC is one of the top grossing bands in the world. No one walking this earth doesn't know who these guys are( unless your parents were lame and didn't listen to them), but the influence on hard rock/metal music is unmeasurable. Somewhere, in rock n roll heaven, Bonn Scott is sitting next to the other early rockers that left us too soon and they are smacking high fives and approving, sorta on the legacy that has preceded them...

Kix Saved Me

When you think of 80's metal or hard rock, one always thinks of a seedy L.A. Bar with leather clad ripped tshirt long haired guys and girls banging their heads to a heavy beat and a ROCKIN guitar solo. Not everybody went to California and got that overnight fame. KIX, is one of those such bands. Hard WORKIN dedicated to the art of their music,a dedicated fan base ,yet they are still one of the few unappreciated groups that eloped shape the 80's metal front.

The mid to late 80's saw a surge in hard rocking ballads, or power ballads. These were songs that if you said you liked, nobody called you out for it. And for the guys, these were the songs that got them the girl. KIX released a song that would send them to the heap of the power ballad mountain. 1989, the guys released the hit"Don't Close Your Eyes", a personal song for myself then and still today. It was for me then a song that helped me to believe that my future, my life would get better, just believe and hold on.

I was a picked on a lot. Mainly for my looks and the fact that I really wasn't like everyone else just added fuel to the fire. I went to a predominately black school, no problem. The problem was I listened to OZZY Osbourne, Crüe, KIX, Metallica you get the picture. I wasn't into rap music. I was teased for this, called everything you could think of. My parents thought I was on drugs because I spent a lot on posters, tshirts, tapes,etc. My wallpaper was courtesy of Guitar, Hit Parade, Circus, Metal Edge, whatever was metal, I had it and it was on my walls...from the ceiling to the bed frame. If it was printed, I had it. My parents didn't understand.

I was dealing with a lot for that time. I watched my family crumble, lost my uncle, god mother and had basically lost all contact with my mother. For the average teen, that's rough. Even for most adults it's too much to handle. I had things going on, that my friends didn't understand. Besides, to me I saw a happy family, something that then I wished I had.

The song dealt with suicide. A subject that at the time was taboo. Many rockers were facing lawsuits or charges of being pro suicide, even going as suggesting some groups were using subliminal messages or even devil worship. The lyrics are heartfelt. They ring true to that of a friend concerned about another friend, wondering what can be so bad. Steve Whitman puts all his heart into this song. Whitman has always had a raspy like voice, but on this song, you can hear he's been through this before. His plea for his friend to stop and think of how beautiful life can be and giving up on life is just the worst thing you could do. The piano and guitar mix do the song in the right direction as the drums steer the song.

Move forward to 2010. My son had just gotten in trouble with the law. My daughter and I were fighting to the point we couldn't even be in the same room. I fought with my boyfriend daily. I was feeling worthless. It was in the mist of one of our daily hourly fights and I had decided that I had enough. I was going to make sure all of this stopped...TODAY! I got into my car and sped off.
I stopped at a red light, the radio blasting, and 'Dont Close Your Eyes' started playing. Stopped at the light, tears streaming down my face I see a rat(yes a rat). This little guy was trying his hardest to get across the road, with full on traffic. With the chorus playing and Whitman singing his plea for you to hold on, I felt like that rat. I knew I couldn't give up on life and that I had to push back when life pushed at me! I had to fight. Guess you could say KIX saved my life.

There's no telling how many people listened to this song and felt that low, but realized that suicide was not the way to go. KIX went on to release more songs, none reached the sensation status of 'Don't' but to their die hard fans that didn't matter. The guys went on to become the toast and the pride of Philly. They still pack the crowds in with their live shows and they continue to collect new fans along the way.

I'm still here, alive and kicking. I'm at peace now. I've made a point to not try and worry about the things I can't fix, but I worry about the things I can. My kids lives are just that - their lives. They are old enough to know right from wrong and make their own choices. If they make the wrong choice, they must deal with the outcome. I still listen to the song when I'm down, I think about that little rat and I hope he completed his journey to where ever he was trying to go. People ask me why I listen to metal, hard rock music. I simply tell them that if it wasn't for metal / hard rock music I wouldn't be here today. Metal saved my LIFE!!!!!!

Van Halen 5150 album review

1986 was a year of changes, in music and the world. I was a kid then, listened to the radio quite a bit, probably more than I watched TV really. People may find this strange, but some TV was boring to me. The news, that's what peaked my interests. And music, music was what excited me too.

There were quite a few shake ups in this year. Metallica was dealing with the loss of Cliff Burton, and millions of people watched(myself included as the Shuttle Challenger) exploded mid takeoff. Killing all on board, including the first civilian to go into space. Yes, there were quite a few dark spots in 1986, but there were also a few highlights and moments that changed the mood of music.

The band Van Halen found themselves in the middle of a issue, that later became one hell of a firing. David Lee Roth, then lead singer of Halen decided he was going to make a solo album. It then went from a solo album, to a solo career. Either way, the Van Halen brothers got rid of him. Enter Patty Smyth, yes, Patty Smyth. It's said that Alex actually wanted her to replace David, but Patty refused (WTF, WHO SAYS NO TO ALEX VAN HALEN). Soon, an "auto mechanic" by the name of Sammy Hagar came into play. Sammy was fresh off the ride from his hit 'I Can't Drive 55'. Remember that one? When he was approached to sing vocals on 5150. And unlike Patty, he said yes. And with that, the guys hit the studio.

Unlike Roth, Hagar had a range. Before you get ready to sharpen the axe let me explain. While David Lee could sing a song that made you wanna party and have fun, Sammy could pull a fun party song and a few ballads too. 'Good Enough' made you wanna get up on the table and dance til,you couldn't dance and air guitar play anymore. Eddies guitars are crisp and clean while brother Alex keeps time with a stellar beat.  'Why Can't This Be Love' proves the guys were a force to be reckoned with. Each song on this album was a simple kiss of good-bye to DLR. for the time being.

'Dreams' is the most powerful song on this album. The Blue Angels theme song soars high above the rest. The vocals are fast and in your face while the guitar licks are fast and plenty. 'Dreams' was then and still is my favorite song off this album. Hagar put his gut and heart into this song, as did the rest of the guys. They sang and played from the heart. Much like Van Halen has always done, and still does today. 'Summer Nites' was just what the song said. It was the type of song you have blasting on the tape player while you hang out at the lake (I'm from Colorado, so our beach was either Sand Creek Reservoir or Cherry Creek Dam), watching the sights or just trying to soak up some sun and fun!

5150 did ALOT for Van Halen. It not only proved that the band was here, but it hushed those that doubted that they could carry on without DLR(after all, the critics believed he carried the band). This album gave the guys a chance to prove they were a band, and not some kind of flash with a flashy lead singer.

Sammy would go on to make OU812 with the guys (again, another classic, another story) and he would eventually part ways with the guys, twice!. DLR would come back to the band, and yes, Eddie's son Wolfgang would even join as the band on bass and become a permanent fixture. Like father, like son. I won't say that Sammy saved the band, they didn't really need help in that department. BUT, Sammy Hagar did show the music world and the doubters that Van Halen could carry on without David Lee Roth, and carry on they did!!!!