Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott recently appeared on the Fly On The Wall podcast, where he shared his insights on various bands and their vocalists. In this engaging conversation, Elliott delved into his thoughts on Journey and Van Halen, offering a unique perspective on Sammy Hagar’s impact on the latter band.

Discussing Van Halen’s transition after parting ways with David Lee Roth, Elliott noted:

“Arnel’s got almost exactly the same voice works. You think about, say, Van Halen, they totally reset themselves after they parted company with David Lee Roth. They got Sammy Hagar in.”

Elliott elaborated on his views regarding Hagar’s vocal style and why he believes Van Halen’s sound evolved with Hagar at the helm:

“It was almost like a different band or it was almost like Eddie Van Halen joined the Sammy Hagar band because the flagship thing is always the voice. Sammy didn’t sound anything like David Lee Roth whereas Arnel [Pineda] sounds exactly like Steve Perry because he used to be in an Indonesian Journey cover band. That’s how they found him on YouTube.”

Joe Elliott Praises Sammy Hagar’s Enduring Talent

Joe Elliott’s perspective on Sammy Hagar’s performance remains notably positive. Despite differing opinions on Van Halen’s lineup changes, Elliott maintains that Hagar continues to deliver at a high level.

In a separate interview, Elliott highlighted some of his favorite singers and their vocal declines over the years. However, he praised Hagar, emphasizing his remarkable vocal consistency:

“Bowie’s come down very low in recent years, and Robert Plant doesn’t really go for the high notes that much anymore. There are only two singers I’m aware of that still have the pipes they had when they first came out: Sammy Hagar and Steven Tyler.”