Gene Simmons just threw more gasoline on a fire that’s been raging since 1985. And if you’re Team Sammy Hagar, well… this one might sting a little.
Gene Simmons flat-out picked David Lee Roth over Sammy Hagar. And not in a polite, diplomatic way. Gene went full unapologetic in a recent interview with Music Radar.
Simmons addressed the ongoing comparison between David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar by praising Roth’s performance abilities and stage presence. He said: “David Lee Roth, in his prime, was the super frontman of all time. There was nobody — and I mean nobody, in any form of music — who ever stepped up on that stage and took being a frontman to the heights that he did.”
Simmons further highlighted the singer’s unique qualities.
“David had the acrobatics and sexuality — all that stuff. It had never been seen before, and it was so in-your-face,” he explained. “And when Van Halen were at their height, David was the finest front guy of anybody.”
Simmons discussed why rockers like Sammy Hagar are able to still tour while KISS had to retire.
Well, the Roth vs. Hagar is basically a longstanding comparison. You’re either into Roth’s barely-controlled chaos… or you’re into Hagar’s smoother vocals, radio-ready hooks.
Roth and Hagar already hated each other before the switch ever happened. Their personal history added complexity to the band’s evolution. The debate continues because Van Halen achieved success with both vocalists. Each singer brought a unique style and personality to the group. Roth became known for theatrical performances and acrobatic stage presence. Hagar introduced a different energy that pushed the band’s evolution.
