Video: Sammy Hagar Answers Fan Questions

March 23, 2011 90 Comments

Filed Under: Chickenfoot, Sammy Hagar, Van Halen Tagged With: Answers, chickenfoot, Eddie, Fan, Hagar, halen, Questions, Sammy, Van, Video

Phil

Ed and Al are twins?? I always thought Al was a couple of years older. Yeah I think Sammy has a good case about the VH boys being controlling and misanthropic. But, what can you do? Other than wish they would actually put out a new album and tour with Dave while we are all still above ground.
Jaime’

Funny how Roth, and now Hagar have both written books about their careers and they pretty much say the same thing about Eddie…He’s an @$$ hole!! Only Dave said it 14 years ago. Sammy learned in ’04 what Dave learned in ’96. I think its time we drop the myth about Eddie and look at him for what he really is: a very talented musician full of self loathing and jealous hatred towards those he associates with.

We’ll probably never see it (just like the next VH album), but I would love to read what Michael Anthony would have to say about the whole VH history. Eddie treated him like crap for no reason, but he’s taken the high road (so far) and not fired back with a book spilling everything. His story would be the credible one since he was there with both singers.

I will go see them if they ever go on tour again, but my feelings about “the brothers” have taken a 180 from the days of ‘Fair Warning’ to ’5150′ when I grew up with them never to far away from my walkman or stereo.
karloff

why does everyone keep saying that VH won’t put out a album this YEAR???????? am I missing something?
Ace

Hagar just loves all this Monday morning quarterbacking when it comes to Van Halen.
Nat

Let’s see…

Sammy’s a great guy, he tells it like it is and respects the fans. No he isn’t, he’s a douchebag that would be nowhere without VH.

VH has no respect for their fans. Yes they do, they just do things their way.

Dave’s songs rocked, Sammy’s were all pussified. No they weren’t, they sold more with Sammy than Dave.

I think that covers the high points here, and practically every thread for the last, what, 15 years?

Oh right…bring back Mikey!
Kayser Sozay

I can’t really criticize Sam for anything he’s done relative to this book except for one thing. That little video retrospective of his entire career was unfortunate in that the VH parts focused on the 04 tour and how f’d up Ed was. If Sammy was behind that, he should have been more positive than that.

Other than that unnecessarily low blow, I think he’s been his typical straight shooting self. If you haven’t checked out his interview on Howard Stern on 3-15, you should. It was very entertaining and insightful and, at times, hilarious. It’s on YouTube in several parts. And of course, if you haven’t, read the book. It’s a great read. It really gave me a new level of appreciation for Sam – and his honesty. He put his entire soul out there, sins and all.
Karl

Funny how some of the more VH Or Die fans on here can’t see Sam’s words for the plain, honest and restrained answer to the inevitable VH question that it was.
DiamondDean

As a Dave man through n through , that was great and reminded me how much i loved vh w hagar , hes honest . Hagar is completely 100% right about them being directionless ,

People take a lot of the criticism of VAN HAGAR directly at Sammy , when really EDWARD had just as much , if not more to blame
That was the best thing VHND have had on here full stop

God bless Sammy for making our lives a better place
DiamondDean

Sammy doesnt want to be in VAN HALEN , hes got a great life a good band , why wld he want the hassle . Hes still rockin n livin it up
Let’s Rock

@Melton

The point I was making was that many say that Hagar, not Eddie, took the band to a softer place. His comments about his favorite VH tunes being, Dreams and Right Now, just add fuel to that fire. He picked harder songs from his solo, Montrose and Chickenfoot days than the many VH Hagar era selections that were available.

My favorite songs of any VH era are the hard rocking songs(Outta Love Again, Judgement Day, Dirty Water Dog).

It is interesting that DLR’s favorite songs of the VH selections have always been Ice Cream Man(at least he said this in concert in 2008 in New Orleans) or Big Bad Bill but no mention about the songs lack of “hard rock throughout” style.

Could this be a doulbe standard…..Nooooooo!!

Just stating the obvious.
5152

treehousemusic,

Not everyone is mad at Sam for telling the truth. But for those who’re mad I’ll say this: any business relationship between the Van Halen family and an outsider has been tenuous since the mid-1990s. In 1995, they fired Sam because they could not entirely control him. In 1996, it took them a few minutes to decide to fire Dave. Between 2000 and 2004 they fired Dave several times when finally they brought Sam back and fired him after 6 months. I have worked in family businesses as a designer and it is not the most professional atmosphere. Without an independent referee this new reunion with Dave will not last either. It may work for a while and we may get an album, but ultimately if we want a lasting band, like Sam hinted, the band needs to get an independent manager. I think Roth Army would agree that, had Ed Lefter been there throughout the 1990s, the band could have continue to produce music that would elevate them to the level of cultural acceptance they so much deserve. In the first twenty years, Van Halen went from anthems for the high-school bullies to musically complex, cerebral songs. Just imagine what it could have been, had they kept their integrity throughout the 90s.
FAMAC

His sucky song picks were very revelaing. Dreams is the worst Van Hagar tune and Sexy Little Thing blows. Its horrible.
sam fan

Diagree with FAMAC. As would most Sammy/VH/Chickenfot fans.
No Mas Tony

Hah hah hah, PANAMA RED, somehow I missed you comment awhile ago. Funny shit, amigo!
RobCT

Neat interview! I will definitely grab his book and learn more about his early years and yes, his observation about EVH/AVH was interesting and I wonder what makes him say that…besides him and Mike not being in the band anymore.
Let’s Rock

Went out to YouTube and listened to the 3/15/2011 Howard Stern and Sammy Hagar interview(as recommended).

Good interview. About 1.5 hours long. Worth your time.

One day we may get the other side of this story but those brain cells may not exist anymore.

I’m with Robin though, once the alien story comes up, my thoughts were that Eddie might be the straight one! But Sammy does say that he was dreaming. You have to listen close but he says it clearly, I was dreaming……aliens….

Sounds like a good solid relationship with VH until the manager dies. Than Alex’s brother in law steps in as manager and it all goes down hill from there. Understanding this is one side of the story.
Adam

Re: the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame:

Growapair asks, “Ask yourself this question and answer honestly if only in your head. Would Sammy be in the rock and roll hall of fame without ever knowing Van Halen? Would Van Halen be in there if not ever knowing Sammy?”

No guessing needed. In 1999, Montrose was eligible to enter the RRHOF. In 2001, Sammy Hagar was eligible. Guess what? Neither band made it in. A few years later, VH was eligible, and they got in.

So, we don’t have to wonder… the proof is in the pudding. Sammy wouldn’t have made it in without VH (Because he didn’t), yet VH WOULD have made it in without Sammy (because they DID). You see, in Hagar’s book (page 222), he explains that the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame only wanted to induct the original Van Halen band. Therefore, if it wasn’t for VH manager IRVING AZOFF pulling some serious strings, Sammy Hagar wouldn’t have been invited to VH’s RRHOF induction.

I’m surprised Sammy admitted that.
Foot (winning)

Adam…

Who knows what would have happened? You’re what ifing yourself off the cliff. Sammy gave up a very successful solo career to join the Halen Bros.

Does it really matter? The RRHOF is a joke anyway. The fact that RUSH is still absent from the Hall takes away some serious credibility…those guys (original members) are still packing houses and selling out everywhere.
Foot (winning)

I’m more than halfway through the book. Very interesting to see how fragile the band and relationships were during the FUCK years. Ed and Al pushing, Sammy trying to pay attention to his family (which ended up unraveling), and Ed Leffler’s death. I had no idea so much was going on behind the scenes. Sammy running from his family doesn’t paint a very rosy picture when he hooked up with Kari.

Bottom line…there is plenty of dirt on Sam, Eddie, and Al in the book. Not much on Michael, but that’s not surprising. The guy did an amazing job of holding his family together and raising his kids.

Once again, Michael is coming out on top as the good guy of the bunch…
Ace

Hagar has never been able to move on from getting fired by VH. Year after year he cannot quit talking about VH and how EVH is this and EVH is that.

Hagar keeps passing judgment on the VH brothers. He is a sad and pathetic old man.
Kayser Sozay

Agreed Foot. Rush should be in the HOF. Then again, Rush never achieved the popularity they deserved. Hands down the best rock trio ever and probably the best band in terms of mastery of their respective instruments.

Interesting thing though is that they were managed by none other than Ray Danniels. The same guy that Sam claims helped ruin VH after Leffler died. Coincidence???
DJ

After leaving VH, Sammy has made 6 solo CDs, 3LiveDVDs, 2liveAlbums, 1 Chickenfoot Album and has another in the works along with touring EVERY SINGLE YEAR!!

VH has done???????

He can say whatever the hell he wants until VH puts out a dozen new products.
skutch

This bickering is pointless. Vader, release him!
5152

Ace,

You may not agree, but to me Sam’s words only confirm the reason behind Van Halen’s failure as a band since the mid-1990s: the band stopped being a band, and became a vehicle for Eds ego. That also explains why Dave was hired half-a-dozen times between 1996 and 2004 and fired consecutively. Dave’s current job security in VH is not very high, considering VH is now primarily a family business. Our best hope is that they can stay together to create a new album, and hopefully reinvent themselves as a band. That’s what they did with Sam in 1985 and rose from the ranks of a niche American hard rock band with a narrow appeal to high school (bullies) and guitar enthusiasts, to a band embraced by music enthusiasts (wimps, and wussies ad all) and the whole wide world.
5152

FAMAC,

I think an average 30 thousand fans who attended a given Van Halen concert in the last 20 years would strongly disagree with your comment about “Dreams” being the worst tune. What’s your favorite tune: “Running with the devil?” from your high school bullying days? It’s time to grow up for the Roth Army of 50 somethings.
Laura

Thanks Sammy ?
David St Hubbins

DJ says:

March 24th, 2011 at 9:43 pm
After leaving VH, Sammy has made 6 solo CDs, 3LiveDVDs, 2liveAlbums, 1 Chickenfoot Album and has another in the works along with touring EVERY SINGLE YEAR!!

And all of that was mediocre at best. The point was?
Herb

@ David st hubbins

It will be just fine for you to stop speaking for everyone
JonCalvin

What’s with all the pansies in here crying about “old Van Halen and high school bullying” bullshit?
Just because you were a pussy in high school 20 years ago doesn’t mean you have to cry about it now, and somehow classify Classic VH as “Bully music”.

I for one will take Classic VH with its, as you say “narrow appeal”, over post 1985 VH with all your “wimps, and wussies”.
It’s fruits like you with your idiotic statements who make people who prefer Classic VH to appear to be the aggressors.
Herb

Yeah, it was obviously idiotic and way off the mark. Especially with you.
D.O.A.

Skutch…damn funny, bro. I’ll go along with you on that!
wayne

Contrary to what some have suggested, I don’t think Sammy is bashing Eddie. If you ask me, it was a well measured, well thought out explanation of the state of Van Halen today. Talented as Ed & Al are for whatever reasons they seem unwilling to relinquish the keys and let somebody else drive – I guess for fear of losing total control.
CEO

That was awesome, I could watch a couple of hours of that. I lost interest a bit with the cars, but the last question was by far the best. I would have named the exact same songs! (except Mas Tequila – would’ve gone with Tropic of Capricorn) Amazing. The last comment made me laugh out loud (“you left Chickenfoot out pal”) as it was light-hearted teasing that’s classic Sammy.
redarrow5150

The reason why Sammy likes Dreams and Right Now is because lyrically they are some of the best songs he’s written. And if anyone thinks Eddie has never talked bad about anyone in the band…

When interviewed by MTV when Sammy Hagar joined Eddie said There’s no one beneath anyone is this band like the previous band and said he didn’t like how Roth treated the other band members.

Billy Sheehan noted in an interview a few years back that Eddie approached him about replacing Michael Anthony as early as 1982. Sheehan wouldn’t do it because of Michael Anthony.
freddiegirl

So anyone who liked/still likes classic DLR-era VH is a bully or a guitar enthusiast??? I am most certainly the second but as far as VH being music for bullies that’s just wrong, wrong, wrong. I noticed far more jocks and yes, bullies jumping on the VH bandwagon after Sammy joined where I grew up…only the stoner kids and the surfer/muscian types seemed to embrace CVH before that of which I was one. General statements do not speak for everyone.
Shayne

Left chickenfoot out for a reason…pal!
j.j. hengari

He sounded straight forward about VH, and it sounds plausible. In fact he sounded straight forward about all that was mentioned. Unfortunately for him, Mike and Dave, Gary and @ times Van Halen, The VAN HALEN, is Ed, Al and Wolf’s only means of “transport” if you will. They are the engine! That is a difficult thing to be sharing, unless it feels right!
Dawn

Love you Sammy and I hope I can get stage tickets again this summer to your show!
Brent

Sammy is the real deal….he is honest and direct. There is no BS with that guy. He took alot of flak for his book…I guess not “everybody wants some” of the truth.
house of pain

sounds like 5152 could use a shrink