Sammy Hagar Confirms Fans’ Fears About Van Halen

Sammy Hagar has expressed his interest in playing with Alex Van Halen again for a proposed all-star tribute concert honoring Van Halen. However, there has been no significant progress on the tribute show since April 2022 when former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted revealed that he was approached by Alex about playing bass for the project. Newsted declined the offer, realizing that it would be challenging to do justice to Van Halen’s legacy.

Hagar was questioned about the likelihood of a reunion of the remaining Van Halen members for a tribute show during an interview for the YouTube series THAT Rocks!. It’s unlikely to happen, he said, since he hasn’t been able to get through to Alex. Hagar believes it’s too late for a proper Van Halen reunion, with the passing of Eddie Van Halen. While he would love to play with Alex, he doesn’t see a full Van Halen reunion as feasible.

Hagar’s comments echo what he said in a previous interview, where he emphasized that Wolfgang Van Halen, Eddie’s son and former Van Halen bassist, is now carrying on the Van Halen legacy with his own music. Hagar also clarified that the situation isn’t solely due to David Lee Roth’s involvement, as he doesn’t talk to Roth either. He expressed his desire to collaborate with Alex, but there seems to be an unresolved issue between them.

Hagar remembers reconciling with Eddie before Eddie’s passing, but it seems he hasn’t been able to do the same with Alex. He claims that Alex’s stubbornness is the root of the unresolved conflict. Hagar doesn’t hold a grudge toward him but wishes things were different. Hagar reconciled with Eddie Van Halen months before the guitarist died in October 2020. Hagar then clarified:

“I’m not trying to start a feud between the two of us. But I love the guy, and I love Van Halen, what we did together… Al is the most stubborn Taurus. He’s a Taurus, and he’s the most stubborn Taurus. Tauruses are known for [being] stubborn. He’s a Dutch Taurus, and he is the most stubborn, hard-headed guy you’ll ever meet in your life. And he is tough to [break] down and to let go. Nope — he’s holding on to something. And I just wish he wasn’t like that.

“I love the guy. Like I’ve said a million times, Alex and I actually got along better than Ed and I at times. Through the hard times, Alex and I still got along. But I don’t know what happened. Somebody poisoned him. Somebody told him something. Maybe he still doesn’t like my book, which was the most honest thing I’ve ever done in my life. Some people just don’t think that that should have been done.”

In 1985, Hagar replaced Roth in Van Halen and released four studio albums with the band, all of which charted in the United States: 5150, OU812, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, and Balance.

Hagar, Eddie, Alex, and Michael Anthony last worked together on a summer tour in the United States in 2004. In return for taking part in the tour, Anthony allegedly had to agree to accept a wage reduction and give away his rights to the band’s name and emblem.