Sammy Hagar, the Red Rocker himself, is throwing shade at his former bandmate, Alex Van Halen. And it’s not subtle. We’re talking about a 21-year feud that’s still simmering.
So, what’s the deal? Why hasn’t Alex spoken to Sammy in over two decades? According to Hagar, it’s a mix of jealousy, resentment, and perhaps a dash of tequila-fueled success. Remember Cabo Wabo? That little cantina and tequila brand that Sammy turned into a multimillion-dollar empire? Yeah, Alex and Eddie were once partners in that venture. But when it started losing money, they bailed, leaving Sammy to pick up the pieces. Fast forward, Sammy turns it around, and suddenly, he’s the villain?
In a recent Rolling Stone interview, Hagar spoke about his relationship with his former Van Halen bandmate Alex Van Halen, who refused to even mention Sammy by name in his recent memoir, “Brothers”.
Regarding why there has been no communication between the two in the last couple of decades, Sammy said: “I’ve had this conversation with a few people, including Irving Azoff. I’ve asked him, ‘What’s the problem?’ And some people have said to me, ‘Oh, Cabo Wabo. At one time, Van Halen, when you built it, you guys were all partners in that. And then they didn’t want it anymore when it was losing money, and they gave it to you, and you turned it around and made hundreds of millions of dollars on it. And they’re angry. Alex is angry about that.’ To that I said, ‘How the fuck could they be angry about that? They gave me the damn thing, they walked out on me, left me with it. And they made me indemnify them in case I got sued and lost everything. They made me sign off big time.’ And I’m going, ‘I hope it’s not that.'”
Referencing his 2011 autobiography “Red: My Uncensored Life In Rock”, in which Hagar slammed Alex’s brother, Eddie Van Halen, Sammy continued: “The book has been brought up. The book was honest. It was well documented that Eddie was a mess on that tour. But I don’t want to drag Eddie through no coals now. That’s just water under the bridge.”
Sammy didn’t hold back. He speculated that Alex’s anger might stem from his own inability to perform anymore. He added: “I think Al’s angry because I’m out doing it, and Mike and I are out doing it, and he can’t.”
Hagar added: “He’s not a singer. He’s not a guitar player. He is not really a band leader. And he seems like he doesn’t want to play drums or can’t play drums anymore, and he can’t go write a new record. Alex wasn’t the songwriter in the band. He was the drummer. Eddie and I wrote the songs. Dave and Eddie wrote the songs, and so we can go out and do them. And I think that really bothers him that Mike and I are still out there doing it. I would feel bad. If I put myself in his shoes, I would feel terrible if I couldn’t do it anymore. But I’m the happiest guy out of all of them. That pisses people off in itself. Being too happy, people don’t like that.”
When interviewer Andy Greene noted that Alex has had real health issues and has reasons to feel bitter, Sammy said: “Yeah, I’d say so. And I’m okay with it. Al, you’re fine. Just leave me alone. I’ll leave you alone. Everything’s good. I’m making you money, by the way, Al. I’m out there selling Van Halen records and keeping the name alive, keeping the music alive.”
Sammy Hagar also recently grabbed attention of fans when he snubbed Alex Van Halen and Eddie Van Halen, in a rehearsal video for Stagecoach. Hagar spoke about Van Halen’s ‘Humans Being’ and said: “This song is coming together so powerful in the set. I don’t think it’s ever sounded better.”
A fan commented, “You mean except when Ed [Eddie Van Halen] and Al [Alex Van Halen] were playing it, right?”
Hagar then offered a diplomatic response, saying: “That’s been a long time ago my friend. All I know is it sounded real good right now and yes, we always sounded good together.”
The exchange highlights the ongoing discussion about performing Van Halen’s legacy material following Eddie Van Halen’s passing. This interaction emerges as Hagar continues to honor the Van Halen legacy through his live performances and tributes.
So, what’s the takeaway here? Rock legends have egos, and sometimes, those egos clash. But while Alex remains silent, Sammy’s out there, still rocking, still selling out shows, and still stirring the pot.
What do you think? Is Sammy keeping the Van Halen spirit alive, or is he just poking the bear? Drop your thoughts in the comments below. And if you enjoyed this dive into rock drama, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit that notification bell for more.
