So I’m glad you bring up Van Halen…definitely the argument that Ed is/was Live could be made, I think I read he wrote all the lyrics and like 40% of the melodies for their music, but DLR at that time WAS the voice of VH. How many bands last on just a guitarist (look at Van Halen III)?
I look from the perspective as a fan of now I have more to listen to, we had classic Live, TGF, Ed solo, Live with a new singer, (if you’re into it) Chris’ other projects….
In the band, you definitely get ego issues and riffs between members (I think Paul Stanley put it best when he said we live in an age where 2 people get divorced over 50% of the time and now you have a 4 way marriage, it’s really hard to keep everyone happy). But from the fans perspective, you get way more material when one guy leaves and starts a new band. The reunion would be great, or would it?