Today is Sammy Hagar’s Birthday, and that means it’s time for the Van Halen News Desk’s “Cabo Wabo Birthday Bash 2016” recap! Here’s backstage video, onstage video, and great photos from the first three nights of the bash! Enjoy!
Photos by Paty D’Viana, Cindi Drafahl, the Cabo Wabo Cantina, Sammy Hagar & Michael Cook.
Hagar & Jason Bonham are ready!
This year’s Birthday Bash in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico features The Circle (Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Jason Bonham and Vic Johnson) playing four concerts beginning Oct7th and concluding on Sammy’s 69th birthday, Oct 13th. Special guests who’ve shown up this week so far include Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains) and Vinnie Paul (Pantera, HELLYEAH).
As far as the setlist for the three completed shows, their playlist is a much more expanded form of your typical Circle setlist (primarily Van Hagar, solo Sammy Hagar, and Led Zeppelin) but with each of the four shows having some songs played during only that given night. They really mix it up down there!
Watch backstage below, as well as live video of The Beatle’s “Helter Skelter” and Chickenfoot’s “Big Foot.”
We’ll have more coverage of the bash coming soon!
“The Circle backstage before night 2 of the bday bash- don’t know how we did it but we outdid the first night!” — Sammy
HELTER SKELTER
BIG FOOT:
A note from Sammy and The Circle:
The Circle rehearsed a week before so we could have a dozen or so new songs in our set the fans have never heard of play. “Whole Lotta Rosie” may be my favorite cover song to sing ever.
“Seventh Seal” never sounded better — Jason Bonham keeping it in that deep heavy pocket I can’t believe we left this one out for this long, it belongs to The Circle.
“Helter Skelter” – Montrose used to do this song for an encore. I remember the year we open for Aerosmith in Detroit did “Helter-Skelter” and they came out and opened with it. Last night’s version I had goosebumps from beginning to end. Another keeper for The Circle.
“Give to Live” we played at last year’s birthday bash once. I couldn’t believe the people singing it at the top of their lungs, another hair raising moment from last night. We’ve got many more in store for the next few nights will keep you posted.
Night #1:
Helter Skelter
One Way to Rock
Seventh Seal
Good Times Bad Times
Big Foot
I Can’t Drive 55
Give to Live
Top of the World
Rock Candy
Whole Lotta Love
Mine All Mine
Sexy Little Thing
Finish what ya Started
Heavy Metal
Whole Lotta Rosie
When the Levee Breaks
Right Now
Cabo Wabo
Night #2:
Night #3:
Runaround
I Can’t Drive 55
Bigfoot
Top of the World
Seventh Seal
One Way to Rock
Good Times Bad Times
Sexy Little Thing
Finish what ya Started
Poundcake (Vinny Paul)
Man in a Box (Jerry Cantrell & Vinny)
Rock ‘n’ Roll (Jerry Cantrell)
Helter Skelter (Jerry Cantrell)
Whole Lotta Rosie (Jerry Cantrell)
Right Now
Why Can’t This Be Love
Mas Tequila / Mas Mezquila
Vinnie & girlfriend Chelsey with Sammy
That’s one proud grandpa!
Get your officially licensed CABO WABO gear at Van Halen Store!