Sammy Hagar Wants To Be Friends With Alex Van Halen Again
Sammy Hagar knows that he’ll never be in a band with Alex Van Halen ever again. But he does want to make peace with his former Van Halen bandmate. In a recent Rolling Stone interview, Hagar addressed their relationship… or lack thereof.
Hagar acknowledged that in Van Halen’s new book, Brothers, he barely mentioned Hagar’s era as lead singer, never mentioned Hagar by name, and said that the essence of the band ended when David Lee Roth quit the group. Hagar seemed puzzled by all of that: “Why he left me out, I would like to hear him explain that someday, because I don’t get it completely.” He speculated that maybe Van Halen is planning a second volume covering the “Van Hagar” era.
The two haven’t communicated in a long time, and that is something that Hagar would like to change. “It’s on my bucket list that I will not take this to my grave,” Hagar said. “And I don’t want Al taking it to his grave. I’ve put the olive branch out there many times, and I just put it out again to [Van Halen manager and music industry mogul] Irving Azoff.”
He did note that he read parts of Van Halen’s book and called it “soulful and touching… it’s like a love letter to his brother.”
Hagar has recently reconnected with another former drummer, while parting ways with another drummer, at least for now. His longtime drummer Jason Bonham had to miss a few gigs with Hagar because He hired Kenny Aronoff, who had previously filled in for Chad Smith in Hagar’s band Chickenfoot, and then decided to stick with the latter drummer, who has also played extensively with John Fogerty and John Mellencamp, among others.
Bonham told Ultimate Classic Rock that he was “a little shocked,” “a little sad,” and that he “got a little upset” by the situation. However, he said that he still speaks with Hagar and is grateful for working with him for the past decade. Hopefully, Hagar will be able to have a similar relationship with Alex Van Halen.
