Sammy Hagar was replaced as the lead vocalist of the band Van Halen on June 26, 1996. Hagar had served as the band’s singer since the departure of David Lee Roth in 1985 and split with the group after a string of internal conflicts. Hagar and Eddie Van Halen had repeatedly argued over the release of a forthcoming greatest hits collection. The final blow between the two rockers reportedly came after Eddie requested Hagar’s presence in the studio while Sammy’s wife was due to give birth. Hagar claims he was cut loose from the band while Van Halen said that the singer quit. In an official statement on MTV several weeks later, the band’s manager Ray Danniels broke the news, saying: “Van Halen is in the studio working with original lead singer David Lee Roth. It has also been announced that Sammy Hagar, Van Halen’s vocalist since 1986, is no longer with the group. The band is currently considering a replacement.”The band would release a studio album in 1998 called “Van Halen III,” featuring Gary Cherone as their lead singer. Attempts at a follow-up fell apart, and Cherone left the band in 1999. The band would not release another album until 2012's "A Different Kind of Truth."