Sammy Hagar Admits He Tried to Sabotage His Own Live Album

Sammy Hagar initially resisted the idea of releasing a live album from his recent residency in Las Vegas, even going so far as to try and undermine its production. The forthcoming album, Sammy Hagar and The Best of All Worlds Band – The Residency, is set for release on October 10 and features performances recorded earlier this year. The set spotlights a Van Halen-heavy repertoire, with Hagar joined by notable musicians Joe Satriani, Michael Anthony, Kenny Aronoff, and Rai Thistlethwayte.

During a recent interview on SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation (via AntiMusic), Hagar confessed he was skeptical about the value of live albums in general. “I said, ‘No—who wants to hear a live album?’” he recalled. Relenting to others’ advice, he allowed producer Chris Lord-Alge to mix a handful of tracks but deliberately selected songs he thought would pose significant challenges, including “Humans Being,” “Summer Nights,” and “5150.”

From Skepticism to Surprise: The Magic of Live Performance

To Hagar’s surprise, the final mixes exceeded his expectations. “I said, ‘People who didn’t attend the shows will feel like they’re right there.’ He really captured the audience, or maybe the audience captured the show,” Hagar reflected. He went on to compare the album’s immersive quality to Peter Frampton’s legendary Frampton Comes Alive!, remarking, “Sometimes magic happens… the magic was just there.”

Hagar emphasized the authenticity of the recordings, which were sourced from two nights of the residency—the second and final shows. “We didn’t overdub one thing. We didn’t auto-tune if something was off-key. We just took the performance from another night,” he explained, underscoring the band’s commitment to preserving the genuine live experience.

A Renewed Passion and Future Plans

The success of The Residency has reignited Hagar’s enthusiasm for live performances and even sparked plans for future shows. “It’s the best live album I’ve heard in 100 years. This band blows my mind,” he enthused. “That’s why I said, ‘I’m gonna do another residency.’ When I heard this, I said, ‘This band, man—this is a real band.’”

With this release, Hagar hopes to capture the energy and spirit of those Las Vegas nights, inviting listeners who couldn’t attend the shows to experience the magic of the live performances.