Sammy Hagar: Why I really left Van Halen

[Just Mindy]

Sammy Hagar already left Van Halen once in the mid-'90s, but as he said to MusicRadar, he was convinced to come back for a 2004 "Van Hagar" reunion tour. It was a sell-out success, but things went sour quickly, and as Hagar reveals, "I think it's because somebody got to Eddie. Somebody poisoned him."

As Hagar told MusicRadar, "It got to the point where I was the leader of that band. Eddie was a humble, meek guy. Greatest guitar player in the world, but not a leader. I would write the lyrics, and Eddie was happy to just play guitar and play piano. But he woke up one morninig and he decided he wanted his band back. Like I was taking over and I was just the bad guy."

Hagar chalks the problem up to Van Halen's then-new manager (whom he declines to name), who replaced longtime manager Ed Lefler. "From that moment on, everything changed," said Hagar. "If I said to Eddie, 'Let's do this at two o'clock,' Eddie'd go, 'No, no, I wanna do it at noon!' Then Alex would say, 'Noon...two o'clock,' and Eddie would go, 'Okay, one then!' If I said, 'I want the album cover black,' he'd go, 'No, no, no, I want it white!' I'd be like, 'Fine, white then,' and he'd go, 'No, no, no, it's gotta be black!'"

In Hagar's view, Eddie's rampant drug use played another part in the downfall of the "Van Hagar" lineup. "There was always substance abuse in that band. Everybody drank and did this and did that. We had a pretty good time. I probably less then most. Al went completely sober. Eddie was the only guy who was really out there. [The new manager] came in and he got to Eddie, because he was vulnerable."

You can listen to or download the full Sammy Hagar interview right here (3 separate downloads towards bottom of page).

http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/sammy-hagar-blames-tequila-for-zeppelin-comment-174781



Source: Musicradar.com

[Angiekay]

Pick up Ian Christie's book, "The Van Halen Saga: Everybody Wants Some" Very interesting stuff...I just got done reading it Tuesday.

[Tito]

Pick up Ian Christie's book, "The Van Halen Saga: Everybody Wants Some" Very interesting stuff...I just got done reading it Tuesday.

I bought it when it came out and I was actually a little disappointed in it. I was expecting more. There were a couple of things I never heard before but the rest I had already heard so there really wasn't anything earthshaking in there or a real cool new behind the scene story. Don't get me wrong, it's a great book if you don't know a lot of details about the band or if you just want all the stories in one place. I read it in two days and I don't read much. So, it ain't bad but I personally was hoping for a little more. I would recommend it overall.

[Since 78]

Thanks Mindy! And Thanks AK and Tito, Ill pick up the book.

[punch]

Sorry if this has been posted before but just in case, it's two chapters from an unpublished book by Hagar and goes in depth into things (pretty sure that unnamed manager is named herein): it comes off like an angry Hagar rant and I can see why it ultimately wasn't published but it does give a cogent view from his albeit one-sided perspective (which doesn't always make him (i.e.,Hagar) look too good either):


http://www.guitars101.com/forums/f77/sa ... 22489.html

[maryjstar89]

SH has no need to rock anymore because of the loot he made from the tequila.

[jrnyman28]

Since when does the "need to rock" have ANYTHING to do with money?

[sniper16]

great read, i wish the rest of it would come out.
sounds like sammy pulls no punches including on himself.

[Tito]

great read, i wish the rest of it would come out.
sounds like sammy pulls no punches including on himself.

I saved it but need to read it still. Long.

[locobenno]

Is that the long read that includes the lead up to the Balance tour; him disagreeing with the "Greatest Hits" idea; his being fired; marriage break up; his penchant for driving too fast and getting arrested for it all the time. If so, its a very good read, recommended if you're into VH.

[WalrusOct9]

Since when does the "need to rock" have ANYTHING to do with money?

See: Journey using tapes, or anything Kiss has done, like, ever.

[jrnyman28]

Since when does the "need to rock" have ANYTHING to do with money?

See: Journey using tapes, or anything Kiss has done, like, ever.

Sorry, but that is a need of money...not a need to rock.

[jestor92]

Since when does the "need to rock" have ANYTHING to do with money?

See: Journey using tapes, or anything Kiss has done, like, ever.

Sorry, but that is a need of money...not a need to rock.

I don't believe KISS needs the money, it's of they want the money. Gene Simmons see's dollar signs everywhere.