Welcome back to the Perform School of Music column on modern music protagonists.

 

Today, let's revisit a very particular moment in Van Halen's career: the departure of David Lee Roth, the band's iconic frontman, in 1985. It's interesting how this event follows the release of one of the band's most successful albums, "1984," by about a year, showcasing the strong personalities of the band members. His successor was found in Sammy Hagar, the former singer of Montrose and a successful solo artist with a distinctly different style. The first album of the new lineup is "5150" from 1986. Despite losing some of the old fans, Hagar brings with him a large following, and the band's musical style, while similar to Van Halen's previous style, still reaches a broad audience.

Next is "OU812" (1988), where there's a greater use of keyboards and synthesizers. In 1991, the album "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" is released, marking a partial return to the rougher sounds of their early days. It won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance and an MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year with the single "Right Now."

 

That's the track we're sharing with you for today's listening. Enjoy!