The new album, "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" released in 1991, is another number one hit, partially due to the MTV hit "Right Now", but also including songs like "Poundcake", "Runaround", "Top Of The World" and acoustic song "316" dedicated to Edward's firstborn child, Wolfgang, born on March 16th. Van Halen follows the album with its first live record, the double-album "Van Halen Live: Right Here, Right Now" in 1993.

By the spring 1995, after the release of Balance, tensions between Edward and Sammy have grown considerably (among other things, Sammy is accused of spending too much time in Cabo with his pregnant wife and not focusing on the band nor admitting he needs time on his own).

Van Halen had recently undergone well-publicized treatment for alcoholism, and Hagar was notorious for his party-hearty ways, even writing a paean to Amsterdam's hash bars with "Amsterdam" on Balance. Furthermore, the band had become subject to criticism that it simply repeated a formula. While Balance was successful, entering the charts at number one and selling two million copies shortly after its release, it stalled quickly afterward. The band wanted to release a greatest hits collection, but Hagar balked at the idea, escalating the tensions even further.

Following a skirmish in 1996 over the recording "Humans Being" for the Twister soundtrack (Ed and Alex also recorded the instrumental "Respect The Wind"), Van Halen began recording new material with Roth without informing Hagar, who went ballistic upon learning of the group's reunion. According to Hagar, Eddie fired him shortly afterward; Van Halen claimed Sammy quit. Roth proceeded to record two new songs for "Van Halen's Best of...Vol. 1", and once the reunion became public, the rock media reacted positively to the news; MTV began airing a "welcome back" commercial days after the announcement. However, the reunion was not to be.

After an appearance at the MTV Music Awards, Van Halen fired Roth from the band, claiming that he was only on board to record two new songs. Dave said that he was duped into recording the songs, believing that reunion was permanent.

On August 7th that same year, "Van Halen" is certified platinum ten times over. The following day, "1984" is certified platinum nine times over. On October 5th, Edward, Alex and Mike are presented with an Outstanding Contribution to Music award at the 1996 Foundations Forum at the Palladium in Hollywood. They are also presented platinum awards for surpassing the 10-millon-sales mark for Van Halen. On October 22nd, the "Best Of... volume 1" is released and "Video Hits... volume 1" is released in VHS one week later.

In November, on the 17th, Edward joins Steve Lukather, Billy Sheehan, Pat Torpey for the Jason Becker ALS Benefit in Chicago, under the name "The Lou Brutus Experience" (after WRCX's DJ name who interviewed them the night before). The band Having the same manager as Van Halen, former Extreme vocalist Gary Cherone starts rehersing with the band in the end of 1996 and is announced as the band's new lead singer in early 1997, after several months of speculating and roumours that included David Coverdale and Mitch Malloy.


Gary's long-awaited debut with Van Halen, entitled "Van Halen III", was finally released in March of 1998. The album features a 6-minute first single "Without You", a song for the "Lethal Weapon IV" soundtrack, "Once", a chillout song that features Edward soloing on a 6-string bass, and "How Many Say I", where Edward plays piano shares lead singing duties with Gary.

The new album turns out to be a commercial flop. The fans critizise Gary's work with the band from the first moment. Eddie describes Gary as a soulmate and someone he has been looking for all his life. For the first time, he's sober and writting one song a day with uncle Gary (like Wolfgang calls him, now that he's living with them).

The band starts the tour in Australia (their first stop there ever) and the crowds are going wild with Gary's performances, which are rich, intense and also full of DLR songs from the old days.

After the tour with Gary Cherone, it seemed that a new album was ready to surface, but the insuccess of the new album led to a different conclusion. The album did manage to peak at #4 on the charts (it was Gold certified) and did produce a #1 Mainstream Rock Track hit Without You. However, no tracks from the album ever appeared on the pop music charts, confirming the limited popular appeal of the new sound.

In 1999, Cherone split amicably with the band after the VH3 tour.