Sammy Hagar Release Van Halen Sounding New Song

Sammy Hagar just released a brand-new track called “Encore, Thank You, Goodnight,” and it comes with a pretty wild backstory — it was inspired by a dream featuring none other than his former bandmate, Eddie Van Halen.

How a Dream Sparked a New Song

Back in August 2022, Hagar said in an interview about the unforgettable dream that led to the song. He said:

“About two months ago, I had this dream and Eddie came.
“He’s going, ‘Man, let’s write some music!’ I said, ‘Yeah, fuck it, man. Here, let’s go!'”

In a brand-new interview, Hagar admitted he wasn’t sure about sharing the dream at first. He said:

“Most people don’t want to hear about your dreams, and so I was hesitant to bring this up, you know?
“But I can’t not talk about this. This was way too out there. We actually were writing a freaking song over in the corner, like we do, like Eddie does.”

Bringing ‘Encore, Thank You, Goodnight’ to Life

“Encore, Thank You, Goodnight” has all the magic you’d expect — fast guitar taps, heavy grooves, and that big Van Halen spirit. It features Joe Satriani on guitar, Michael Anthony on bass and background vocals, and Kenny Aronoff on drums. Hagar shared:

“This song is my final bow to that part of my life.
“It’s not meant to be anything more than a thank you — with love, with respect, and with one hell of a guitar solo.”

Joe Satriani Brings the Magic

Of course, Hagar knew he needed the perfect partner to bring this dream-inspired track to life. He explained:

“Joe was the perfect partner to help me shape the sound — he brought in that big, emotional, guitar-driven energy that feels like Eddie’s spirit but is entirely of Joe’s creation.
“With Michael Anthony’s thundering bass and stellar Van Halen-esque background vocals and Kenny Aronoff’s relentlessly powerful driving rhythms, the song really came together on all levels.”

Listen to the song “Encore, Thank You, Goodnight” in the lyric video below: