Sammy Hagar recently opened up on his reluctance to perform a specific Van Halen song during live shows. He shared his thoughts in a post on Instagram.
The former Van Halen frontman explained his emotional connection to Van Halen’s ‘Don’t Tell Me (What Love Can Do), and why it doesn’t fit his current live performances. He said,
“I love this song [Van Halen’s ‘Don’t Tell Me (What Love Can Do)’] so much that I’m afraid to play it live!. It’s just so dark, and so emotional.”
He elaborated on how the song’s tone conflicts with his current artistic direction. He continued,
“As much as I love it for what it was, it doesn’t belong in my life today. And if I sang it in a show, I’m afraid it might darken the whole evening which is not what I’m about today.”
Hagar also acknowledged the song’s significance to fans and the technical challenges it presents. He said,
“If I choose to do this song, it will be occasionally and it would have to find a special placement in the show. I honestly didn’t know this song was so special to so many people. I also got my brother Mikey to help me out on these vocals if needed this song is to sing.”
The emotional weight Hagar describes stems from the song’s deeply personal origins and the creative tensions that shaped its final form during the band’s turbulent period.
Hagar originally wrote “Don’t Tell Me (What Love Can Do)” about Kurt Cobain’s death. He intended it as a hopeful message about love’s power to heal. However, the song’s direction changed dramatically during production when Eddie and Alex Van Halen, along with producer Bruce Fairbairn, pushed for a darker, more negative approach.
Sammy Hagar also recently spoke about Van Halen’s Balance. The album turns thirty this year, and Rhino is celebrating with an expanded edition of the band’s multi-platinum tenth studio album.
It follows last year’s successful reissue of For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (Expanded Edition) and concludes Rhino’s spotlight on the band’s classic albums from the Hagar era. On August 15, 2025, the album is also expected to be released in an expanded edition featuring live performances from Wembley in 1995.
