Disinfect EP11: Van Halen III – Misunderstood Masterpiece, Monolithic Misfire, Or Both? (Special Guest: Brad Tolinski, author of Eruption: Conversations With Eddie Van Halen )

“Van Halen III” remains the most derided – and endlessly debated – album from its namesake band and late, great guitar god. Reeling from a series of tragedies – including the exit of Van Halen’s hitmaking singer, Sammy Hagar – Eddie Van Halen joined with new vocalist Gary Cherone of Extreme to redefine the band in his own image. The results proved to be one of the most notorious commercial and critical disasters in pop-music history. But is “Van Halen III” as bad as its reputation? To find out, “Disinfect” went to the edge with special guest Brad Tolinski – leading Van Halen expert and author of the acclaimed “Eruption: Conversations with Eddie Van Halen.”