How Sammy Hagar made Van Halen even better, according to Sammy Hagar

how-sammy-hagar-made-van-halen-even-better,-according-to-sammy-hagar
Portrait of Rock musicians Michael Anthony, Sammy Hagar, Eddie Van Halen (1955 - 2020), and Alex Van Halen, all of the group Van Halen, backstage at the Metro Center, Rockford, Illinois, March 16, 1986

(Image credit: Paul Natkin/Getty Images)

After Van Halen parted ways with David Lee Roth in the mid ‘80s, Sammy Hagar stepped in to fill the void. The Californian singer doesn’t look at it like he merely steadied the ship, though – the comically unflappable Hagar is of the opinion that he dramatically improved Eddie Van Halen’s group.

“I had more experience under my belt when I joined Van Halen in 1985 than they had,” he told Classic Rock, which is true because Hagar had already made waves as the frontman in Montrose in the mid-70s, but perhaps overlooks the fact that his moment appeared to have passed at that point – his joining the group all being down to Eddie Van Halen’s car mechanic for recommending they audition him. Anyway, sorry for interrupting Sammy, you carry on: “They’d been together for seven years making records. I had been around for ten years before that.” 

Hagar says that the band were in awe of their new recruit, thinking, “Wow, here’s a professional”. “I knew how to sing, I knew what Eddie was playing, I knew which keys things were in, and the arrangement of the music. Eddie really got off on that, because he never had a musical partner with Dave.” He recalls that their fandom of him spread throughout the extended family, with Eddie’s dad Jan Van Halen telling his son, “This guy sings like I play clarinet”. 

The stats, of course, back up Sammy’s bragging – apart from whether he sung like Jan Van Halen played clarinet, we have no stats on that – as the next four Hagar-fronted Van Halen records all became huge hits, going to Number One and becoming multi-platinum successes. 

It couldn’t last, though. “The ninth year, it got really rough,” Hagar told Classic Rock. “The tenth year there was no more, and the 2004 reunion was a mess. We never got back to that beginning that I loved so much.”

Sign up below to get the latest from Classic Rock, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox!

Niall Doherty is a writer for The Guardian, Variety and Classic Rock, and co-runs the music Substack letter The New Cue with fellow former editors of Q magazine Ted Kessler and Chris Catchpole. Niall has written for NME, X-Ray Magazine and XFM Online and interviewed some of music’s biggest stars, including Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys, St Vincent, The 1975, Depeche Mode, Radiohead and many more.

58 thoughts on “How Sammy Hagar made Van Halen even better, according to Sammy Hagar

  1. My wife and i have been really ecstatic when Jordan could finish up his researching while using the precious recommendations he acquired through your site. It is now and again perplexing to simply continually be giving for free key points which often people have been selling. And we consider we need you to thank because of that. The most important illustrations you’ve made, the easy website navigation, the friendships your site make it possible to promote – it’s most terrific, and it’s really facilitating our son in addition to our family know that this subject is thrilling, which is certainly wonderfully essential. Many thanks for all the pieces!

  2. Definitely believe that which you stated. Your favourite justification appeared to be on the net the easiest thing to bear in mind of. I say to you, I definitely get irked even as folks consider issues that they just do not know about. You controlled to hit the nail upon the highest as well as defined out the whole thing without having side-effects , other people could take a signal. Will likely be again to get more. Thanks

  3. Nice post. I learn something more challenging on different blogs everyday. It will always be stimulating to read content from other writers and practice a little something from their store. I’d prefer to use some with the content on my blog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll give you a link on your web blog. Thanks for sharing.

  4. Hey! This is kind of off topic but I need some advice from an established blog. Is it hard to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty quick. I’m thinking about creating my own but I’m not sure where to begin. Do you have any points or suggestions? Thanks

  5. Hello, you used to write fantastic, but the last few posts have been kinda boringK I miss your tremendous writings. Past several posts are just a little bit out of track! come on!

  6. I was wondering if you ever considered changing the structure of your blog? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or 2 images. Maybe you could space it out better?

  7. Really Appreciate this update, can I set it up so I receive an update sent in an email when you write a new update?

  8. This is the correct blog for anybody who desires to search out out about this topic. You notice a lot its nearly exhausting to argue with you (not that I truly would need…HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a subject thats been written about for years. Nice stuff, simply great!

  9. Hiya, I’m really glad I’ve found this info. Today bloggers publish only about gossips and web and this is actually annoying. A good website with interesting content, this is what I need. Thanks for keeping this web site, I will be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Can’t find it.

  10. What’s Going down i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I have discovered It absolutely helpful and it has helped me out loads. I am hoping to give a contribution & aid other users like its helped me. Great job.

  11. An impressive share, I simply given this onto a colleague who was doing a bit of analysis on this. And he actually purchased me breakfast because I discovered it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to debate this, I feel strongly about it and love studying extra on this topic. If attainable, as you change into experience, would you thoughts updating your blog with more particulars? It’s highly useful for me. Large thumb up for this blog post!

  12. What i don’t understood is actually how you are not really a lot more neatly-favored than you may be now. You’re very intelligent. You understand therefore considerably with regards to this subject, produced me in my view imagine it from a lot of varied angles. Its like women and men don’t seem to be interested unless it’s something to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your individual stuffs excellent. At all times handle it up!

  13. What i don’t realize is in reality how you are no longer really a lot more neatly-appreciated than you may be right now. You’re very intelligent. You already know thus considerably with regards to this subject, produced me for my part consider it from numerous varied angles. Its like men and women aren’t fascinated unless it is one thing to accomplish with Girl gaga! Your individual stuffs nice. At all times care for it up!

  14. It is really a nice and useful piece of information. I am happy that you shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.

  15. The next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read, but I actually thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could fix if you werent too busy looking for attention.

  16. Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article. I will be sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I’ll certainly return.

  17. hi!,I like your writing very much! share we communicate more approximately your article on AOL? I need a specialist in this house to resolve my problem. May be that is you! Having a look ahead to peer you.

  18. Thank you for every other informative blog. The place else could I get that kind of information written in such an ideal way? I have a project that I’m simply now working on, and I have been at the look out for such info.

  19. Hey! I just would like to give a huge thumbs up for the nice information you’ve gotten right here on this post. I will probably be coming back to your blog for extra soon.

  20. Good day! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this website? I’m getting sick and tired of WordPress because I’ve had issues with hackers and I’m looking at alternatives for another platform. I would be great if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.

  21. It¦s really a cool and helpful piece of information. I¦m happy that you shared this useful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.

  22. Simply wanna comment on few general things, The website layout is perfect, the articles is really fantastic. “The reason there are two senators for each state is so that one can be the designated driver.” by Jay Leno.

  23. Awsome post and straight to the point. I am not sure if this is in fact the best place to ask but do you folks have any thoughts on where to get some professional writers? Thanks 🙂

  24. Hey! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any issues with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing several weeks of hard work due to no back up. Do you have any solutions to protect against hackers?

  25. Wow! Thank you! I continuously wanted to write on my blog something like that. Can I take a part of your post to my blog?

  26. I have been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this blog. Thanks, I will try and check back more often. How frequently you update your web site?

  27. Hello there, just was aware of your weblog thru Google, and found that it is truly informative. I’m going to be careful for brussels. I’ll appreciate if you proceed this in future. A lot of other people might be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

  28. you’re really a good webmaster. The site loading speed is incredible. It seems that you’re doing any unique trick. Also, The contents are masterwork. you’ve done a magnificent job on this topic!

  29. Hello there! I know this is kinda off topic however , I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in trading links or maybe guest authoring a blog post or vice-versa? My blog goes over a lot of the same topics as yours and I feel we could greatly benefit from each other. If you happen to be interested feel free to shoot me an e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you! Fantastic blog by the way!

  30. hi!,I love your writing so so much! proportion we keep up a correspondence more about your article on AOL? I need an expert on this house to resolve my problem. Maybe that is you! Having a look forward to look you.

  31. Hey, I think your website might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your blog site in Opera, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, superb blog!

  32. Thank you a lot for giving everyone a very splendid chance to read critical reviews from this website. It is always so terrific plus jam-packed with a good time for me personally and my office co-workers to search your web site a minimum of thrice a week to see the fresh stuff you have got. Not to mention, I’m so certainly fascinated for the incredible tips and hints you give. Certain two areas in this article are undeniably the finest we’ve ever had.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *