Long Awaited Music Poll

[Calvibaptist]

OK, since it has been mentioned a few times, but not actually done, here it is. Who's the best - Van Halen or Def Leppard?

 

[Dr Mike Kear]

Van Halen. But only the real Rock and Roll version with David Lee Roth, not the version of VH with the Bubble Gum sounds of Sammy Hagar.

 

[No Longer A Libertine]

How could one choose between their children? If I go with my nationalist instinct i'll side with Van Halen if I go with the melodic, riff layered pleasure of Def Leppard I'll be siding with the British.

Here are some classics from both for the voting public:

Def Leppard- Photograph- 1983
[video=youtube;VZ5bS3_BCDs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ5bS3_BCDs[/video]

Van Halen- Jump- 1984
[video=youtube;8e-vgQSqNtA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e-vgQSqNtA[/video]

 

[Puddleglum]

Def Leppard. One of my favorites.

 

[VaughanRSmith]

Def Leppard. By quite a long way.

 

[No Longer A Libertine]

More classics from both:

Def leppard-Hysteria- 1987
[video=youtube;v6R-LZ25Te0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6R-LZ25Te0[/video]

Van Halen- Panama- 1984
[video=youtube;o5g2yyvdjrE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5g2yyvdjrE[/video]

 

[No Longer A Libertine]

Here are some recent efforts by the two rock legends:

Def Leppard- Two Steps Behind- 1993
[video=youtube;qv829hUuYAM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv829hUuYAM[/video]

Def Leppard- Rock On (David Essex Cover)- 2006
[video=youtube;IjH3pUW8BTw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjH3pUW8BTw[/video]

Van Halen- Right Now- 1991
[video=youtube;WCkQZOnCN3k]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCkQZOnCN3k[/video]

 

[CalvinandHodges]

Hi:

My vote is for Van Halen - especially pre-1984 when they did not go pop.

Some pre-84 videos:

[YouTube][video=youtube;LfYjgcOaIUU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfYjgcOaIUU[/video][/YouTube]

Mean Streets:

[YouTube][video=youtube;ykUgaR6kmSE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykUgaR6kmSE[/video][/YouTube]

Little Guitars:

[YouTube][video=youtube;w-B1F-XoBXM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-B1F-XoBXM[/video][/YouTube]

Dance the Night Away:

[YouTube][video=youtube;EGmy6LJ2wZk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGmy6LJ2wZk[/video][/YouTube]

Eruption/You Really Got Me: Over a 20 minute span Van Halen would play 8 songs while the typical band would play about 3 or 4 - this is a good example of what DJ's called "The VH8."

[YouTube][video=youtube;T1Cv7R_ZT3g]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1Cv7R_ZT3g[/video][/YouTube]

Going to a VanHalen concert was a different experience than any other. I remember a friend of mine coming home for the first time and staring at his guitar and said aloud, "What?" Eddie VanHalen might not be the greatest guitarist, but he re-invented the way to play it!

-CH

 

[etexas]

Van Halen...I dd not even have to thik about that one!

 

[Calvibaptist]

So far, no one here likes Van Hagar? I didn't even start listening to them until Hagar came on. Mind you they are two different bands. Roth had much more theatrics, but Hagar had a better voice. The style also changed quite a bit. They got a little more serious with Hagar. Maybe it was because they were older.

 

[Richard King]

I suspect Def Leppard could beat Van Halen with one hand tied behind the drummer's back!

( I couldn't resist that one )

 

[Calvibaptist]

I suspect Def Leppard could beat Van Halen with one hand tied behind the drummer's back!

( I couldn't resist that one )

Ohhhhh, the pain involved in reading that!

 

[No Longer A Libertine]

I thought Hagar was more soulful but Roth the better showman for Van Halen.

Some more classic Lep and Halen:

Def Leppard- Animal- 1987
[video=youtube;Djv5GJndscI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djv5GJndscI[/video]

Def Leppard- Pour Some Sugar On Me- 1987
[video=youtube;7p0z1y5mg_E]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p0z1y5mg_E[/video]

Van Halen- When Its Love- 1988
[video=youtube;ytXzERBnfOA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytXzERBnfOA[/video]

 

[Scot]

Van Halen by far. The only good Def Leppard albums are the first two: "On Through the Night" and "High and Dry" (which most people haven't heard).

Van Hagar kicked butt with the 5150 album. I like both versions. I like the heavier music with Roth but Sammy is a million times the better musician and vocalist. Roth can't sing live. Just imagine Roth trying to sing the Hagar era stuff. Sammy can sing both. Van Halen got more "poppy" as they continued with Hagar but not as "poppy" as Def Leppard. I can't stomach that Hysteria album or anything after that by Def Leppard.

 

[PuritanCovenanter]

You guys are 'Bringing On the Heartache' by making me chose between 'The Best of Both Worlds'. LOL That is just a choice I can not make.

 

[No Longer A Libertine]

I notice no one has voiced their affection for the Gary Cherone era of the Van Halen lead singer musical chairs.

 

[MrMerlin777]

It's kind of like comparing apples with oranges to me.

Def Leppard rode the NWBHM into the MTV era although they never really considered themselves a Heavy Metal band. As far as solid Rock & Roll albums everything they did up through Pyromania I can appreciate. Van Halen has certainly stood the test of time with their "Party Rock" "Livin' Large" style and of course one can't really argue against the talent of Eddie and the rest of the guys. Michael Anthony is an underated bassist In my humble opinion he lays down some stuff that makes especially the early VH sound like "Jump Blues on Steroids". From a bass stand point Leppard's bassist is pretty solid as well though he stays mainly with the backline it does produce a very tight sound however when the bassist is keepin' it tight with the kick drum.

I can't really make a vote that is technically based so I have to go from personal preference which is the earlier VH.

 

[Calvibaptist]

Van Halen by far. The only good Def Leppard albums are the first two: "On Through the Night" and "High and Dry" (which most people haven't heard).

Van Hagar kicked butt with the 5150 album.

Thank you. I was a Hagar fan from the beginning. 5150 was both a great song and a great album. The lost me a little on OU812, but the next album (which I will not name in present company) had some great songs on it.

 

[Calvibaptist]

You guys are 'Bringing On the Heartache' by making me chose between 'The Best of Both Worlds'. LOL That is just a choice I can not make.

Whew! Thought you were just F-f-f-foolin, but I see now that you were just giving me the Runaround.

 

[No Longer A Libertine]

Van Halen by far. The only good Def Leppard albums are the first two: "On Through the Night" and "High and Dry" (which most people haven't heard).

Van Hagar kicked butt with the 5150 album.

Thank you. I was a Hagar fan from the beginning. 5150 was both a great song and a great album. The lost me a little on OU812, but the next album (which I will not name in present company) had some great songs on it.

"Balance" was nice to, their 1995 effort and subsequent last Hagar outing.

Def Leppard put together a fun covers compilation just last year titled simply "Yeah!" and are preparing to replease their twelfth studio album in the spring currently titled "Songs from the Sparkle Lounge".