The singer often is the lightning rod of the band. The names of the drummer, bassist or the dude playing the flute are not as well known.
The breakup of Van Halen was purported to be because Eddie and Alex felt that they were the only ones to have a say in the direction of the band. DLR felt different. His solo career was okay but to me, not as spectacular as it was with VH.
I liked the Sammy Hagar version of the band about the same as the original. I was just out of high school when Sammy joined the band. That is a memorable point in a young man's life so I fondly recall the mid 80s Van Halen. Cruising, looking for girls, finding them and doing things that parents often frown upon, all the while the radio playing those great songs....