Sammy Hagar Reflects on His Time with Van Halen
In a recent interview with AZ Central, Sammy Hagar, the former lead vocalist of Van Halen, shared his thoughts on his time with the band and his relationship with guitarist Eddie Van Halen. Hagar reflected on the 2004 tour, which was plagued by tension between the two due to Eddie’s substance abuse.
The Last Tour Stop
Hagar recalled the last tour stop, where Eddie reportedly lay down on stage and apologized to fans for being "outta gas." The singer remembered being dejected during the plane ride following the last stop, saying, "I just sat there, shaking my head, going, ‘God, that was a terrible experience.’"
Hagar’s Regrets
Though Hagar was "disappointed" and "hurt" following his final Van Halen trek, he now wishes he’d had a better understanding of exactly what Eddie was dealing with at the time. "No one knew quite what was going on with the guy," Hagar explained. "Now we know. And it’s a little bit easier to understand his frustrations and probably why he was turning to alcohol and drugs more than ever."
Trying Harder
Hagar confessed that he would have "tried even harder" to connect with Eddie if he’d known more about his health struggles. "I would’ve probably tried a little harder, maybe been a little more compassionate, instead of saying ‘Fuck it,’" he said.
Reconnecting in 2020
Hagar and Eddie managed to reconnect in 2020, months before the guitarist’s death. Though Hagar wishes they had made up sooner, he’s grateful that the former bandmates were able to revive their friendship. "We had some really emotional moments on the phone, being very happy to be friends again," Hagar said.
Closure
Hagar emphasized the importance of having closure before Eddie’s passing. "For me, I can only speak for myself, it was so important that we had closure before he passed, because otherwise, I don’t know how I’d feel about it. I’d be waking up in the middle of the night once in a while going ‘Man, I wish we could’ve fixed that.’"
Conclusion
Sammy Hagar’s reflections on his time with Van Halen offer a poignant look at the complexities of the band’s dynamics and the struggles that Eddie Van Halen faced. Despite the challenges, Hagar’s willingness to reconnect with Eddie in 2020 and find closure before his passing is a testament to the power of forgiveness and the importance of human connection.
FAQs
Q: What was the tension between Sammy Hagar and Eddie Van Halen like during the 2004 tour?
A: The tension was largely due to Eddie’s substance abuse, which affected his performance and behavior on stage.
Q: What did Sammy Hagar wish he had known about Eddie’s health struggles during the 2004 tour?
A: Hagar wished he had known more about Eddie’s health struggles, including his battle with cancer and his addiction to alcohol and drugs.
Q: Did Sammy Hagar and Eddie Van Halen make up before his passing?
A: Yes, the two former bandmates managed to reconnect in 2020, months before Eddie’s death.
Q: Why was closure important to Sammy Hagar?
A: Hagar emphasized the importance of having closure before Eddie’s passing, saying it would have allowed him to move on and not dwell on what could have been.
