Sammy Hagar
Encyclopedia
Sam Roy "Sammy" Hagar also known as The Red Rocker, is an American
rock
singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Also sings Country Music.
Hagar came to prominence in the 1970s with the hard rock band Montrose
. He afterwards launched a successful solo career, scoring an enduring hit in 1984 with "I Can't Drive 55
". From 1985 to 1996, and 2003 to 2005, Hagar was the singer for Van Halen
. On March 12, 2007, Hagar was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
as a member of Van Halen. He has worked with hard rock guitarists such as Eddie Van Halen
, Ronnie Montrose
, Neal Schon
of Journey
, and Joe Satriani
.
Outside of music, he founded the Cabo Wabo
Tequila brand and restaurant chain. He currently resides in Mill Valley, California
, and also has a residence in Cabo San Lucas
, Mexico. His present musical project is as lead singer of Chickenfoot
.
. His family soon moved to Fontana
, where his father worked at the Kaiser Steel Mill. Hagar graduated from Fontana High School.
music scene, fronting his first band, the Fabulous Castilles.
In 1968, the duo known as Samson & Hagar, backed by the Peppermint Trolley Co., released a 7" promotional record on Ranwood Records with the tracks "Reach Out to Find Me" and "Read My Thoughts".
Later that same year, Hagar joined the Johnny Fortune Band as a vocalist and rhythm guitarist. Hagar was also a member of a string of other pre-Montrose bands including Big Bang, Skinny, Dustcloud, Cotton, Jimmy, and Manhole. Hagar then became a member of the Justice Brothers along with guitarist Bob Anglin, keyboardist Al Shane, bassist Jeff Nicholson, and drummer David Lauser
. The Justice Brothers were the house band at a bar called "The Nightclub" in San Bernardino, California, before relocating to San Francisco.
on their debut and second albums, including the first song Hagar wrote, "Bad Motor Scooter
". After difficulties with the band's founder, Ronnie Montrose
, during a European tour, Hagar departed from the group. Bassist Bill Church
(who had quit Montrose after the first album) and drummer Denny Carmassi
would eventually find themselves playing in Hagar's backing band. After the album Paper Money
, Hagar left Montrose for a solo career.
and hits such as "Red", which would build as a persona and style, leading to his nickname of "The Red Rocker". Hagar made some personnel changes, including enlisting long time friend and former Justice Brothers bandmate David Lauser
as his drummer. With this and a change to Geffen Records, Hagar enjoyed greater commercial success, with hits such as "There's Only One Way to Rock", "Three Lock Box" and perhaps his best-known song "I Can't Drive 55
". His highest charting single on the Hot 100 is "Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy
", which peaked at #13 in 1982, and both "Little White Lie" and "Give to Live" hit #1 on the US Rock chart. Hagar had become a headlining act in many parts of the United States and Europe.
formed the supergroup HSAS (Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve
) along with former Foghat
bassist Kenny Aaronson
and former Santana
drummer Michael Shrieve
. HSAS did a small Christmas tour to benefit local charities and released an album, Through The Fire
. The tracks which appeared on the album were recorded live, but crowd noise was removed during the mixing process to create the feel of a studio album. As intended from its start, HSAS was a short-lived project. One song in particular, a cover of "A Whiter Shade of Pale
", received some airplay, peaking at #94 on the Billboard
Pop 100
Singles chart.
, the remaining members of the band Van Halen
contacted many potential replacements. In July 1985, given Eddie Van Halen
's appreciation of Montrose and his mechanic's suggestion, the band auditioned and quickly hired Hagar to fill the opening. With Hagar at the front, Van Halen produced four multi-platinum, #1 Billboard charting albums: 5150
, OU812
, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
, and Balance
, as well as many chart hits, including nine #1 Mainstream Rock hits. During Hagar's stint as Van Halen's vocalist, the band was often informally referred to by fans as "Van Hagar" as a way to distinguish the band from the previous "David Lee Roth albums". Internal disputes eventually led to Hagar's departure from the band in June 1996. Hagar disagreed with a decision to record two new tracks for the soundtrack to the film Twister, after the band had agreed to take time off following their 1995 world tour. Hagar was also opposed to the issuance of a greatest hits record at that point in the band's career. These two items were pushed by Van Halen's new manager Ray Danniels, Alex Van Halen
's brother-in-law, brought in after the death of their longtime manager Ed Leffler. Hagar wanted instead to record a new studio album, but only after Eddie, Alex, and Hagar's pregnant wife had all dealt with their respective medical issues. Although there are several versions of how the split occurred, Hagar has stated that the final straw came when he was with his wife in Hawaii, where they had arranged for a natural delivery of the baby (meaning outside of a hospital), and Eddie wanted him back in the studio in California. Hagar claimed to have flown to Los Angeles with his wife only to discover that she could not fly back to Hawaii. In the ensuing argument, he claims that he was fired. Eddie, on the other hand, says that Hagar quit. The end came when Eddie started to work with former lead singer David Lee Roth instead of Hagar, and two new songs were made with Roth for the greatest hits album Best of Volume I
. When Van Halen again parted ways with Roth, instead of rehiring Hagar, the band hired Gary Cherone
, the former lead singer of Extreme
.
Los Tres Gusanos (in English, The Three Worms) in 1993. Playing a mixture of Hagar, Van Halen, and cover songs at Cabo Wabo and in San Francisco, the band got together a few times a year. Initially active until 1996, Los Tres Gusanos regrouped in 2002, then again in 2005, and has performed together many times since. Lauser has gone on record to say, "Los Tres Gusanos will never die, and rumours abound that they may resurface in Cabo soon."
Musician Robert Berry
stood in for Michael Anthony in 1996 and 1998 while the bass player fulfilled his touring commitments with Van Halen. And being basically a bar/jam-band, it has also hosted a number of guests with them on stage.
Like related project Planet Us
, Los Tres Gusanos has played at the BAMMIES (aka the California Music Awards) and is known for its live performances. Similarly, neither band has ever made any official releases, although a number of unofficial bootleg
live recordings have been widely circulated on CD and download, though these tend to be credited to Van Halen even when Hagar refers to Los Tres Gusanos by name during the recorded performances.
, consisting again of David Lauser
on drums, as well as former keyboardist Jesse Harms
, and new to the mix was former The Bus Boys guitarist Vic Johnson
, and former Tommy Tutone
bassist Mona Gnader. His subsequent tours were known for spontaneity, once doing an improve version of "Folsom Prison" by Johnny Cash at the IC Light Ampitheatre in Pittsburgh after a train disturbed his show.
In the summer of 2002, Roth and Hagar teamed up in the Song For Song, the Heavyweight Champs of Rock and Roll tour (also known as the 'Sans-Halen' or 'Sam & Dave' Tour). The joint tour headlining both former lead singers attracted media and audience fascination because it seemed more improbable than even a Van Halen tour with Roth or Hagar could be. The tour drew large crowds and featured no opening acts, Roth and Hagar alternating opening as the first act during the tour. In an interview, Roth contrasted his personality with Hagar's, saying, "He's the kind of guy you go out with to split a bottle with a friend. I'm the kind of guy you go out with if you want to split your friend with a bottle." Michael Anthony guested with Hagar's band, The Waboritas, numerous times and sometimes even sang lead vocals. During performances, Hagar would tease Anthony by asking, "Do the brothers know you're here?". Anthony never played with Roth. Gary Cherone appeared on occasion. Hagar released a live album (Hallelujah), featuring vocals by Mike and Gary, and a documentary DVD, Long Road to Cabo, about touring with Roth.
of Journey
and later Joe Satriani
to form a new side project called Planet Us
. Along with Van Halen member Michael Anthony on bass and Deen Castronovo
(also of Journey) on drums. Despite big intentions, the band only recorded two songs and played live a few times before dissolving when Hagar and Anthony rejoined Van Halen. The two songs, "Psycho Vertigo" and "Peephole," would not see release until Hagar's 2008 effort, Cosmic Universal Fashion
.
After the successful "Heavyweights of Rock" tour (2002), where he co-headlined with David Lee Roth
, (and jokingly suggested the name the "Sans Halen Tour") Hagar started thinking about his former Van Halen
bandmates, calling Alex Van Halen
in late 2003 from a tip by a mutual friend. In early 2004, Van Halen with Hagar was announced to the general public, culminating with a tour and a 2-CD Best Of album, entitled Best of Both Worlds
featuring three new Van Halen tracks fronted by Hagar.
The subsequent tour
brought on more problems, however, most notably Eddie Van Halen
's alleged relapse into alcoholism
. The relationship between Hagar and Van Halen eventually got so strained that they completed the tour using two separate charter jets, one for Hagar and Michael Anthony and one for Eddie and Alex. The tour ended with a somewhat infamous final show in Tucson, Arizona
. As the show ended, Eddie smashed his guitar on stage sending shrapnel into the audience
. This caused tensions backstage after the show and eliminated the possibility of a new album. Hagar said in an interview (and later confirmed in greater detail in his 2011 autobiography) that Eddie had changed and wasn't the same person anymore.
and then hitting the southwest before finishing at his own Cabo Wabo Cantina. Hagar's 2006 tour with The Waboritas also included a segment with Michael Anthony playing as a band called The Other Half (a reference to Hagar and Michael being the half of Van Halen that was not Van Halen by name) for a set of songs in the middle of the show, including both Hagar- and Roth-era tunes. The band also invited Kid Rock
on stage at DTE Energy Theatre for a couple of songs, including covers of Led Zeppelin
's "Rock and Roll" and Beastie Boys
' "You Gotta Fight For Your Right (To Party)". Hagar also released an album and DVD called "Livin' It Up! In St. Louis
" with the Wabos on July 25, 2006. Hagar has a longstanding and strong relationship with St. Louis. Often in concerts, he can be seen wearing a red St. Louis Cardinals cap. He has said that he credits St. Louis fans and the radio station
KSHE
in St. Louis with helping to launch his professional career.
" with Michael Anthony, Red Hot Chili Peppers
drummer Chad Smith
, and guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani
. Their self-titled debut album
was released in June 2009 and debuted at #4 on the Billboard Music Chart. The band played June 5 on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, the last day of O'Brien's first week as host of the show. They then launched a European and North American tour that lasted through September. In September 2009, the RIAA certified the Chickenfoot debut as Gold (having sold 500,000 copies). The band was also featured performing the track "Sexy Little Thing" on the November 6, 2009 broadcast of Jimmy Kimmel Live.
, which are currently producing a line of Hagar signature guitars named the Yamaha AES620 SH. The guitar is based on Yamaha's AES620 guitar and features a number of modifications requested by Hagar, including a Seymour Duncan
JB pickup in the bridgeposition, a "Cabo Wabo" inlay at 12th fret and custom translucent red finish. In addition to his signature model Hagar also plays a handmade AES920 solid body guitar. Previously Hagar collaborated with Washburn Guitars
which also made a Hagar signature guitar named Washburn RR150 which also featured Seymour Duncan pickups and a piezo pickup incorporated into the bridge.
Hagar currently uses Crate Amplifiers
which is concurrently marketing a Hagar signature 120 watt amplifier named Crate BV120RH Red Voodoo Amp Head.
Since 1977, Hagar has lived in Tamalpais Pavilion, a modernist house designed by English architect Paffard Keatinge-Clay
in the early '60s.
. On April 3, 2011 it reached number 1 on the New York Times Best Seller list of hardcover nonfiction.
During an interview with the American Rock Scene, Hagar announced the forthcoming paperback version of Red would include an additional chapter, stating that he "didn’t want to release the same book again."
, who were founded in 1997 for the Marching to Mars Tour. Also, time spent in Van Halen interrupted Hagar's solo career; it was on hiatus from 1985–1996 other than small returns to studio work in 1987 and 1993. When Hagar went on tour with Van Halen in 2004, the band were paid to be held on reserve for Hagar after the tour, despite the band going into a temporary hiatus for the duration
Hagar put the Waboritas on lifetime salary/vacation again with the understanding that when he wants to play with them they will be there ready to play in 2009 following Hagar's involvement in the band Chickenfoot
. Initially, Hagar reported he would only occasionally play with the Wabos from then on, for shows at Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, particularly his annual birthday concert. However, due to commitments of other members of Chickenfoot slowing the band's progress, Hagar has performed more than he initially planned to with The Wabos line-up.
Note on line-ups: Hagar sometimes played all guitar parts on records, hence the list of guitar players having gaps.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Also sings Country Music.
Hagar came to prominence in the 1970s with the hard rock band Montrose
Montrose (band)
Montrose was a California-based hard rock band. The band originally featured Ronnie Montrose on guitar and future solo artist and former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar...
. He afterwards launched a successful solo career, scoring an enduring hit in 1984 with "I Can't Drive 55
I Can't Drive 55
"I Can't Drive 55" was the lead single and first track from Sammy Hagar's eighth studio album VOA in 1984. Perpetuated by a very successful music video, it became a concert staple that continued throughout Sammy's tours as a member of Van Halen....
". From 1985 to 1996, and 2003 to 2005, Hagar was the singer for Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
. On March 12, 2007, Hagar was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
as a member of Van Halen. He has worked with hard rock guitarists such as Eddie Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen
Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen is a Dutch-American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and producer, best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
, Ronnie Montrose
Ronnie Montrose
Ronnie Montrose, is an Amercian rock guitarist who has headed his own bands as well as performing with a variety of musicians, including Sammy Hagar, Herbie Hancock, Van Morrison, The Beau Brummels, Boz Scaggs, Beaver & Krause, Gary Wright, Tony Williams, The Neville Brothers, Dan Hartman, Edgar...
, Neal Schon
Neal Schon
Neal George Joseph Schon is an American rock guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist best known for his work with the band Journey. He is the only member to have recorded on all of Journey's albums...
of Journey
Journey (band)
Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco by former members of Santana. The band has gone through several phases; its strongest commercial success occurred between the 1978 and 1987, after which it temporarily disbanded...
, and Joe Satriani
Joe Satriani
Joseph "Joe" Satriani is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations...
.
Outside of music, he founded the Cabo Wabo
Cabo Wabo
Cabo Wabo is the name of a chain of nightclubs and restaurants located in Cabo San Lucas, BCS, Mexico, as well as Harvey's Lake Tahoe in Stateline, Nevada and a third location on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada just outside of the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood. It is also a popular brand of...
Tequila brand and restaurant chain. He currently resides in Mill Valley, California
Mill Valley, California
Mill Valley is a city in Marin County, California, United States located about north of San Francisco via the Golden Gate Bridge. The population was 13,903 at the 2010 census.Mill Valley is located on the western and northern shores of Richardson Bay...
, and also has a residence in Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas , commonly called Cabo, is a city at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, in the municipality of Los Cabos in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. As of the 2010 census, the population was 68,463 people...
, Mexico. His present musical project is as lead singer of Chickenfoot
Chickenfoot
Chickenfoot is an American rock supergroup, consisting of former Van Halen members Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony , solo artist Joe Satriani and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith. The band released their self-titled debut album, Chickenfoot, on June 5, 2009...
.
Biography
Named after his mother's father, Sam Roy, Hagar was born in Salinas, CaliforniaSalinas, California
Salinas is the county seat and the largest municipality of Monterey County, California. Salinas is located east-southeast of the mouth of the Salinas River, at an elevation of about 52 feet above sea level. The population was 150,441 at the 2010 census...
. His family soon moved to Fontana
Fontana, California
Fontana is a city of 196,069 residents in San Bernardino County, California. Founded in 1913, it remained essentially rural until World War II, when entrepreneur Henry J. Kaiser built a large steel mill in the area...
, where his father worked at the Kaiser Steel Mill. Hagar graduated from Fontana High School.
Early years (1967-1973)
Hagar became interested in the burgeoning Southern CaliforniaSouthern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
music scene, fronting his first band, the Fabulous Castilles.
In 1968, the duo known as Samson & Hagar, backed by the Peppermint Trolley Co., released a 7" promotional record on Ranwood Records with the tracks "Reach Out to Find Me" and "Read My Thoughts".
Later that same year, Hagar joined the Johnny Fortune Band as a vocalist and rhythm guitarist. Hagar was also a member of a string of other pre-Montrose bands including Big Bang, Skinny, Dustcloud, Cotton, Jimmy, and Manhole. Hagar then became a member of the Justice Brothers along with guitarist Bob Anglin, keyboardist Al Shane, bassist Jeff Nicholson, and drummer David Lauser
David Lauser
David Lauser is a drummer who is most famous for playing with Sammy Hagar.Sammy Hagar and David Lauser played together in a band called Justice Brothers before Sammy Hagar joined Montrose....
. The Justice Brothers were the house band at a bar called "The Nightclub" in San Bernardino, California, before relocating to San Francisco.
Montrose (1973–1975)
Hagar's first major success came from his work with the group MontroseMontrose (band)
Montrose was a California-based hard rock band. The band originally featured Ronnie Montrose on guitar and future solo artist and former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar...
on their debut and second albums, including the first song Hagar wrote, "Bad Motor Scooter
Bad Motor Scooter
"Bad Motor Scooter" was the second track from the album Montrose by the band of the same name. It, along with "Rock Candy" was arguably the best known song by the band, Montrose, with lyrics penned by frontman Sammy Hagar. The song's intro, a distorted electric slide guitar sound which closely...
". After difficulties with the band's founder, Ronnie Montrose
Ronnie Montrose
Ronnie Montrose, is an Amercian rock guitarist who has headed his own bands as well as performing with a variety of musicians, including Sammy Hagar, Herbie Hancock, Van Morrison, The Beau Brummels, Boz Scaggs, Beaver & Krause, Gary Wright, Tony Williams, The Neville Brothers, Dan Hartman, Edgar...
, during a European tour, Hagar departed from the group. Bassist Bill Church
Bill Church
William 'Bill' Church , started out playing bass in a band called Sawbuck in 1969, with Mojo Collins, Starr Donaldson, Ronnie Montrose and Chuck Ruff. As the band was beginning to record their first album, Montrose and Church left Sawbuck to join Van Morrison on his Tupelo Honey album...
(who had quit Montrose after the first album) and drummer Denny Carmassi
Denny Carmassi
Denny Carmassi is an American drummer.Carmassi was a member of the first four line-ups of the band Montrose. After Montrose, he played with his former Montrose bandmate Sammy Hagar as a solo artist, and with his former Montrose bandmates Ronnie Montrose and Jim Alcivar in the band Gamma.He also...
would eventually find themselves playing in Hagar's backing band. After the album Paper Money
Paper Money
Paper Money is the second album by the band Montrose. It was released in 1974 and was the band's last album to feature Sammy Hagar as lead vocalist.-History:...
, Hagar left Montrose for a solo career.
Solo (1976–1987)
Hagar started a solo recording and touring career to increasing success. He enjoyed moderate success on Capitol Records initially, with such albums as Nine on a Ten ScaleNine on a Ten Scale
Nine on a Ten Scale is Sammy Hagar's first solo album.- Song information :* "Keep On Rockin'", a Hagar original, was covered by Bette Midler on the classic soundtrack to The Rose, albeit in a vastly different version....
and hits such as "Red", which would build as a persona and style, leading to his nickname of "The Red Rocker". Hagar made some personnel changes, including enlisting long time friend and former Justice Brothers bandmate David Lauser
David Lauser
David Lauser is a drummer who is most famous for playing with Sammy Hagar.Sammy Hagar and David Lauser played together in a band called Justice Brothers before Sammy Hagar joined Montrose....
as his drummer. With this and a change to Geffen Records, Hagar enjoyed greater commercial success, with hits such as "There's Only One Way to Rock", "Three Lock Box" and perhaps his best-known song "I Can't Drive 55
I Can't Drive 55
"I Can't Drive 55" was the lead single and first track from Sammy Hagar's eighth studio album VOA in 1984. Perpetuated by a very successful music video, it became a concert staple that continued throughout Sammy's tours as a member of Van Halen....
". His highest charting single on the Hot 100 is "Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy
Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy
"Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy" is a song written and performed by Sammy Hagar from his album Three Lock Box. It provided Hagar with his only top 20 solo hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 13 in 1983....
", which peaked at #13 in 1982, and both "Little White Lie" and "Give to Live" hit #1 on the US Rock chart. Hagar had become a headlining act in many parts of the United States and Europe.
HSAS (1983-1984)
In 1983–84 Hagar and Neal SchonNeal Schon
Neal George Joseph Schon is an American rock guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist best known for his work with the band Journey. He is the only member to have recorded on all of Journey's albums...
formed the supergroup HSAS (Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve
Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve
Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve were a band featuring lead vocalist Sammy Hagar, lead guitarist Neal Schon, bassist Kenny Aaronson and drummer Michael Shrieve. The group reportedly rehearsed for less than a month before playing in concert...
) along with former Foghat
Foghat
Foghat are a British rock band that had their peak success in the mid- to late-1970s. Their style can be described as "blues-rock," or boogie-rock dominated by electric and electric slide guitar. The band has achieved five gold records...
bassist Kenny Aaronson
Kenny Aaronson
Kenny Aaronson is an American bass guitar player.- Early life and career :He started playing drums at the age of eleven, following in his older brother's footsteps. Kenny switched to electric bass at the age 14 after becoming enamored by the bass on Motown records and was strongly influenced by...
and former Santana
Santana (band)
Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill...
drummer Michael Shrieve
Michael Shrieve
Michael Shrieve is an American drummer, percussionist, and later, an electronic music composer. He is best known as the drummer in Carlos Santana's eponymous band, playing on their first eight albums from 1969 through 1974...
. HSAS did a small Christmas tour to benefit local charities and released an album, Through The Fire
Through the Fire (album)
Through the Fire is the first and only recording by the band Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve, also known as HSAS. The album was recorded live with guitar overdubs added later...
. The tracks which appeared on the album were recorded live, but crowd noise was removed during the mixing process to create the feel of a studio album. As intended from its start, HSAS was a short-lived project. One song in particular, a cover of "A Whiter Shade of Pale
A Whiter Shade of Pale
"A Whiter Shade of Pale" is the debut song by the British band Procol Harum, released 12 May 1967. The single reached number one in the UK Singles Chart on 8 June 1967, and stayed there for six weeks. Without much promotion, it reached #5 on the US charts, as well...
", received some airplay, peaking at #94 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Pop 100
Pop 100
The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009...
Singles chart.
Van Halen (1985–1996)
After parting ways with vocalist David Lee RothDavid Lee Roth
David Lee Roth is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality. Roth was ranked nineteenth by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Singers of All Time....
, the remaining members of the band Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
contacted many potential replacements. In July 1985, given Eddie Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen
Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen is a Dutch-American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and producer, best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
's appreciation of Montrose and his mechanic's suggestion, the band auditioned and quickly hired Hagar to fill the opening. With Hagar at the front, Van Halen produced four multi-platinum, #1 Billboard charting albums: 5150
5150 (album)
5150 is the seventh studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 1986 through Warner Bros. Records. The album was the first to be recorded with new lead singer Sammy Hagar who replaced David Lee Roth....
, OU812
OU812
OU812 is the 8th studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 1988. The album title is allegedly a joke on Van Halen's previous lead singer David Lee Roth's 1986 album Eat 'Em and Smile . However, "OU812" was also seen in the 70s sitcom Taxi written on a wall...
, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge is the ninth studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 1991 through Warner Bros. Records. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart and maintained the position for three weeks...
, and Balance
Balance (Van Halen album)
Balance is the 10th studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen. It was released in 1995 and, to date, is the fourth and final Van Halen album of all-new material featuring lead singer Sammy Hagar. It was also a more complete divergence from their earlier, more heavy metal sound...
, as well as many chart hits, including nine #1 Mainstream Rock hits. During Hagar's stint as Van Halen's vocalist, the band was often informally referred to by fans as "Van Hagar" as a way to distinguish the band from the previous "David Lee Roth albums". Internal disputes eventually led to Hagar's departure from the band in June 1996. Hagar disagreed with a decision to record two new tracks for the soundtrack to the film Twister, after the band had agreed to take time off following their 1995 world tour. Hagar was also opposed to the issuance of a greatest hits record at that point in the band's career. These two items were pushed by Van Halen's new manager Ray Danniels, Alex Van Halen
Alex Van Halen
Alexander Arthur "Alex" Van Halen is a Dutch-born American musician, best known as the drummer and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen. Originally, his brother Eddie had taken lessons for drums, while Alex practiced guitar...
's brother-in-law, brought in after the death of their longtime manager Ed Leffler. Hagar wanted instead to record a new studio album, but only after Eddie, Alex, and Hagar's pregnant wife had all dealt with their respective medical issues. Although there are several versions of how the split occurred, Hagar has stated that the final straw came when he was with his wife in Hawaii, where they had arranged for a natural delivery of the baby (meaning outside of a hospital), and Eddie wanted him back in the studio in California. Hagar claimed to have flown to Los Angeles with his wife only to discover that she could not fly back to Hawaii. In the ensuing argument, he claims that he was fired. Eddie, on the other hand, says that Hagar quit. The end came when Eddie started to work with former lead singer David Lee Roth instead of Hagar, and two new songs were made with Roth for the greatest hits album Best of Volume I
Best of Volume I
Best of Volume I is the first compilation of studio tracks by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 1996.In addition to material from nine of the band's first ten studio albums , Best of Volume I also features the band's contribution to the Twister soundtrack and two newly recorded songs...
. When Van Halen again parted ways with Roth, instead of rehiring Hagar, the band hired Gary Cherone
Gary Cherone
Gary Francis Caine Cherone is an American rock singer-songwriter. He is best known for his work with the rock group Extreme, as well as his short stint as the lead singer for Van Halen on their 11th album Van Halen III and subsequent tour. In recent years he has released solo recordings. In 2007,...
, the former lead singer of Extreme
Extreme (band)
Extreme is an American rock band, headed by frontmen Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt, that reached the height of their popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Among some of Extreme's musical influences are Queen and Van Halen...
.
Los Tres Gusanos (1993-1996, 2002, 2005-present)
Having jammed as a trio in 1992, Hagar, drummer David Lauser and Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony formed the harmony-singing rock bandRock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
Los Tres Gusanos (in English, The Three Worms) in 1993. Playing a mixture of Hagar, Van Halen, and cover songs at Cabo Wabo and in San Francisco, the band got together a few times a year. Initially active until 1996, Los Tres Gusanos regrouped in 2002, then again in 2005, and has performed together many times since. Lauser has gone on record to say, "Los Tres Gusanos will never die, and rumours abound that they may resurface in Cabo soon."
Musician Robert Berry
Robert Berry
Robert Berry is an American guitarist, vocalist and producer, best known for his work with Hush, 3, Ambrosia, Alliance & Los Tres Gusanos.-History:...
stood in for Michael Anthony in 1996 and 1998 while the bass player fulfilled his touring commitments with Van Halen. And being basically a bar/jam-band, it has also hosted a number of guests with them on stage.
Like related project Planet Us
Planet Us
Planet Us was a short-lived supergroup that formed in 2002 with Sammy Hagar on lead vocals, Neal Schon on guitar, Michael Anthony on bass, and Deen Castronovo on drums...
, Los Tres Gusanos has played at the BAMMIES (aka the California Music Awards) and is known for its live performances. Similarly, neither band has ever made any official releases, although a number of unofficial bootleg
Bootleg recording
A bootleg recording is an audio or video recording of a performance that was not officially released by the artist or under other legal authority. The process of making and distributing such recordings is known as bootlegging...
live recordings have been widely circulated on CD and download, though these tend to be credited to Van Halen even when Hagar refers to Los Tres Gusanos by name during the recorded performances.
Solo (1996–2002)
Hagar went on to produce several new solo records after the split with Van Halen in 1996. In 1999, Hagar formed a long term solo band, called The WaboritasThe Waboritas
The Waboritas is the name of Sammy Hagar's backup band, though they are frequently and more recently referred to as "The Wabos". They were formed in 1997 and have been active ever since...
, consisting again of David Lauser
David Lauser
David Lauser is a drummer who is most famous for playing with Sammy Hagar.Sammy Hagar and David Lauser played together in a band called Justice Brothers before Sammy Hagar joined Montrose....
on drums, as well as former keyboardist Jesse Harms
Jesse Harms
Jesse Harms is a session keyboard player and songwriter who was a member of Sammy Hagar's backing band from 1984 to 1987 , and from 1997–2003 as a member of Hagar's band, The Waboritas...
, and new to the mix was former The Bus Boys guitarist Vic Johnson
Vic Johnson (musician)
Vic Johnson is a rock guitarist best known for playing guitar with The Busboys and later with Sammy Hagar and the Waboritas.-Biography:Vic Johnson grew up with music and was influenced by Jimi Hendrix. He soon began playing guitar and played in several bands throughout high school around the...
, and former Tommy Tutone
Tommy Tutone
Tommy Tutone is a New Wave band, best known for its 1982 hit "867-5309/Jenny", which peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Although it is usually referred to as a San Francisco band, it was actually based in Willits, California, at the time that "Jenny" was released...
bassist Mona Gnader. His subsequent tours were known for spontaneity, once doing an improve version of "Folsom Prison" by Johnny Cash at the IC Light Ampitheatre in Pittsburgh after a train disturbed his show.
In the summer of 2002, Roth and Hagar teamed up in the Song For Song, the Heavyweight Champs of Rock and Roll tour (also known as the 'Sans-Halen' or 'Sam & Dave' Tour). The joint tour headlining both former lead singers attracted media and audience fascination because it seemed more improbable than even a Van Halen tour with Roth or Hagar could be. The tour drew large crowds and featured no opening acts, Roth and Hagar alternating opening as the first act during the tour. In an interview, Roth contrasted his personality with Hagar's, saying, "He's the kind of guy you go out with to split a bottle with a friend. I'm the kind of guy you go out with if you want to split your friend with a bottle." Michael Anthony guested with Hagar's band, The Waboritas, numerous times and sometimes even sang lead vocals. During performances, Hagar would tease Anthony by asking, "Do the brothers know you're here?". Anthony never played with Roth. Gary Cherone appeared on occasion. Hagar released a live album (Hallelujah), featuring vocals by Mike and Gary, and a documentary DVD, Long Road to Cabo, about touring with Roth.
Planet Us (2002–2003)
In 2002, with Van Halen still unreformed at this point, Hagar joined again with guitarists Neal SchonNeal Schon
Neal George Joseph Schon is an American rock guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist best known for his work with the band Journey. He is the only member to have recorded on all of Journey's albums...
of Journey
Journey (band)
Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco by former members of Santana. The band has gone through several phases; its strongest commercial success occurred between the 1978 and 1987, after which it temporarily disbanded...
and later Joe Satriani
Joe Satriani
Joseph "Joe" Satriani is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations...
to form a new side project called Planet Us
Planet Us
Planet Us was a short-lived supergroup that formed in 2002 with Sammy Hagar on lead vocals, Neal Schon on guitar, Michael Anthony on bass, and Deen Castronovo on drums...
. Along with Van Halen member Michael Anthony on bass and Deen Castronovo
Deen Castronovo
Deen Castronovo is an Italian American drummer who has played in various bands, including Kandles at Nine, Cacophony, Bad English, Journey, The Enemy, Wild Dogs, Dr. Mastermind, Hardline, Planet Us, Soul Sirkus, Social Distortion, and Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler's G/Z/R, as well as in...
(also of Journey) on drums. Despite big intentions, the band only recorded two songs and played live a few times before dissolving when Hagar and Anthony rejoined Van Halen. The two songs, "Psycho Vertigo" and "Peephole," would not see release until Hagar's 2008 effort, Cosmic Universal Fashion
Cosmic Universal Fashion
-Personnel:*Sammy Hagar - lead vocals, guitar*Michael Anthony - bass, vocals on tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10*Billy Gibbons - vocals on track 6*Billy Duffy - guitars on track 4*Matt Sorum - drums, percussion on track 4*Bootsy Collins - backing vocals on track 8...
.
Reunion with Van Halen (2003–2005)
David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality. Roth was ranked nineteenth by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Singers of All Time....
, (and jokingly suggested the name the "Sans Halen Tour") Hagar started thinking about his former Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
bandmates, calling Alex Van Halen
Alex Van Halen
Alexander Arthur "Alex" Van Halen is a Dutch-born American musician, best known as the drummer and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen. Originally, his brother Eddie had taken lessons for drums, while Alex practiced guitar...
in late 2003 from a tip by a mutual friend. In early 2004, Van Halen with Hagar was announced to the general public, culminating with a tour and a 2-CD Best Of album, entitled Best of Both Worlds
The Best of Both Worlds (Van Halen album)
The Best of Both Worlds is a greatest hits album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 2004. The title references both their song of the same name, and the fact that the album has songs from their two main vocalists David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar...
featuring three new Van Halen tracks fronted by Hagar.
The subsequent tour
Van Halen Summer Tour 2004
The Van Halen Summer Tour 2004 was a North American concert tour by hard rock band Van Halen. It was the band's first tour since 1998, and saw the return of lead singer Sammy Hagar who left the band in 1996 on bad terms.- History :...
brought on more problems, however, most notably Eddie Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen
Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen is a Dutch-American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and producer, best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
's alleged relapse into alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
. The relationship between Hagar and Van Halen eventually got so strained that they completed the tour using two separate charter jets, one for Hagar and Michael Anthony and one for Eddie and Alex. The tour ended with a somewhat infamous final show in Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
. As the show ended, Eddie smashed his guitar on stage sending shrapnel into the audience
Audience
An audience is a group of people who participate in a show or encounter a work of art, literature , theatre, music or academics in any medium...
. This caused tensions backstage after the show and eliminated the possibility of a new album. Hagar said in an interview (and later confirmed in greater detail in his 2011 autobiography) that Eddie had changed and wasn't the same person anymore.
Sammy and The Waboritas (2005–present)
In 2005, Hagar continued to play with The Waboritas as he toured the Atlantic coast and the Midwest and added ex-Van Halen bass player Michael Anthony, calling the band Los Tres Gusanos (The Three Worms). In August of that year, Hagar went on another mini-tour starting at DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston, MichiganClarkston, Michigan
Clarkston, known officially by the name City of the Village of Clarkston, is a small city located within Independence Charter Township in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 882 at the 2010 census.-Overview:...
and then hitting the southwest before finishing at his own Cabo Wabo Cantina. Hagar's 2006 tour with The Waboritas also included a segment with Michael Anthony playing as a band called The Other Half (a reference to Hagar and Michael being the half of Van Halen that was not Van Halen by name) for a set of songs in the middle of the show, including both Hagar- and Roth-era tunes. The band also invited Kid Rock
Kid Rock
Robert James "Bob" Ritchie , known by his stage name Kid Rock, is an American singer-songwriter, musician and rapper with five Grammy Awards nominations...
on stage at DTE Energy Theatre for a couple of songs, including covers of Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
's "Rock and Roll" and Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
' "You Gotta Fight For Your Right (To Party)". Hagar also released an album and DVD called "Livin' It Up! In St. Louis
Livin' It Up (Sammy Hagar album)
Livin' It Up! is a semi-based "lifestyle" album from Sammy Hagar and The Waboritas. While writing with Kenny Chesney and covering Toby Keith, Sammy dialed down the energy a couple of notches here and began singing about enjoying the life of a beach dweller...
" with the Wabos on July 25, 2006. Hagar has a longstanding and strong relationship with St. Louis. Often in concerts, he can be seen wearing a red St. Louis Cardinals cap. He has said that he credits St. Louis fans and the radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
KSHE
KSHE
KSHE is a rock & roll radio station licensed to Crestwood, Missouri which serves the Greater St. Louis area. KSHE is located at 94.7 MHz and currently uses the slogan "KSHE 95, Real Rock Radio". The station's studios have been located in the Powerhouse building at St. Louis Union Station since...
in St. Louis with helping to launch his professional career.
Chickenfoot (2008–present)
In 2008, Hagar formed a "supergroup" named "ChickenfootChickenfoot
Chickenfoot is an American rock supergroup, consisting of former Van Halen members Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony , solo artist Joe Satriani and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith. The band released their self-titled debut album, Chickenfoot, on June 5, 2009...
" with Michael Anthony, Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
drummer Chad Smith
Chad Smith
Chad Smith is an American musician, best known as the longtime and current drummer of Red Hot Chili Peppers. Smith is also the drummer of the hard rock supergroup Chickenfoot which includes Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, and Michael Anthony, former Deep Purple vocalist Glenn Hughes' backing band and...
, and guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani
Joe Satriani
Joseph "Joe" Satriani is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations...
. Their self-titled debut album
Chickenfoot (album)
Chickenfoot is the debut studio album by American hard rock band Chickenfoot, released on June 5, 2009 in Europe and the US. The first pressing of the album was packaged with exclusive "heat sensitive" artwork that revealed an image when touched or exposed to heat above 84 degrees Fahrenheit.On...
was released in June 2009 and debuted at #4 on the Billboard Music Chart. The band played June 5 on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, the last day of O'Brien's first week as host of the show. They then launched a European and North American tour that lasted through September. In September 2009, the RIAA certified the Chickenfoot debut as Gold (having sold 500,000 copies). The band was also featured performing the track "Sexy Little Thing" on the November 6, 2009 broadcast of Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Musical equipment
Hagar currently endorses Yamaha GuitarsYamaha
Yamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...
, which are currently producing a line of Hagar signature guitars named the Yamaha AES620 SH. The guitar is based on Yamaha's AES620 guitar and features a number of modifications requested by Hagar, including a Seymour Duncan
Seymour Duncan
Seymour Duncan is a company that is best known for manufacturing of guitar pickups, and currently has a line of effects pedals. The company was founded in 1976 by guitarist and luthier Seymour W. Duncan and his then-wife Cathy Carter Duncan in Goleta, California, USA...
JB pickup in the bridgeposition, a "Cabo Wabo" inlay at 12th fret and custom translucent red finish. In addition to his signature model Hagar also plays a handmade AES920 solid body guitar. Previously Hagar collaborated with Washburn Guitars
Washburn Guitars
Washburn Guitars is an American guitar manufacturer. It was established in 1883 in Chicago, Illinois. Washburn is a part of U.S. Music Corporation.- History :...
which also made a Hagar signature guitar named Washburn RR150 which also featured Seymour Duncan pickups and a piezo pickup incorporated into the bridge.
Hagar currently uses Crate Amplifiers
Crate Amplifiers
Crate Amplification is a company that produces electric guitar amplifiers.- Early Crate Amps :In the late 1970s, Crate made amplifiers that actually looked like wooden crates...
which is concurrently marketing a Hagar signature 120 watt amplifier named Crate BV120RH Red Voodoo Amp Head.
Business interests
- In the 1990s, Hagar bought a mountain bike store, then built another called Sausalito Cyclery, soon rated the number one independent bike store in California. Hagar designed a mountain bike called the "Red Rocker", built with a red frame by Gary FisherGary FisherGary Christopher Fisher is considered one of the inventors of the modern mountain bike.Fisher started competing in road and track races at 12. He was suspended in 1968 because race organizers cited a rule that his hair was too long. By 1972 this rule had been repealed and Fisher's career continued...
and black components; no chrome. - Hagar owns a nightclub and restaurant in Cabo San LucasCabo San LucasCabo San Lucas , commonly called Cabo, is a city at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, in the municipality of Los Cabos in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. As of the 2010 census, the population was 68,463 people...
, MexicoMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
called Cabo Wabo Cantina, where the video for the 1999 hit song "Mas Tequila" (from the Red Voodoo album) was filmed. Hagar plays at the club during his annual autumn "Birthday Bash". Hagar also has opened another nightclub in the franchise in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, and markets a highly successful line of premium tequilas by the same Cabo WaboCabo WaboCabo Wabo is the name of a chain of nightclubs and restaurants located in Cabo San Lucas, BCS, Mexico, as well as Harvey's Lake Tahoe in Stateline, Nevada and a third location on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada just outside of the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood. It is also a popular brand of...
name. Cabo Wabo Cantina opened in Fresno CA on August 29, 2008. However, it closed a few months later when the operator had a falling out with Hagar. In November 2009, a Cabo Wabo Cantina opened in the Planet Hollywood Hotel's Miracle Mile shopping mall, directly off the strip in Las Vegas. - In early 2009, Hagar opened "Sammy's Beach Bar & Grill" at Harrah's Casino in St. Louis, Missouri. Shortly after, another was opened in the Southwest Airlines terminal at McCarren Airport in Las Vegas, NV. Hagar donates all of the profits of both locations to local charities.
- It was announced on May 7, 2007 that Hagar was selling an 80% interest in his Cabo Wabo Tequila to Gruppo Campari, the world's seventh-largest spirits company, for $80 million. Skyy Spirits of San Francisco, a vodka producer and subsidiary of Milan's Gruppo Campari, will market Cabo Wabo globally, with continued participation by Hagar. Gerry Ruvo, president and chief executive of Skyy Spirits said "Sammy has done a fantastic job building the brand, so we are going to obviously spend time with him and work with him to continue our efforts to take the brand to an even larger level, both here in the U.S. and, more important, globally." Ruvo said Great Britain, Spain, Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan, Germany and Italy are considered key expansion markets for Tequila. Hagar created Cabo Wabo Tequila to serve patrons at his Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. He began to distribute it in 1999. In 2007, his company sold 147,000 cases, making it the second-best-selling premium Tequila in the United States, he said in a telephone interview. Cabo Wabo Enterprises, based in Novato, Calif., earned about $60 million in sales in 2007.
- In the summer of 2010 Hagar will open a beach bar at the Ballys Casino on the Atlantic City beach.
- When asked how he has balanced being a rock star and tequila mogul, Hagar responded: "I always had other people doing everything. It was my palate and my concept. I would go in taste and say, 'Leave this in the barrel a little bit longer.' That was my job. I could do that right before I went on stage. That’s a perfect time to do it, as a matter of fact!"
Appearances
- In 2007, Hagar starred in a number of National Automotive Parts AssociationNational Automotive Parts AssociationThe National Automotive Parts Association was founded in 1925 to meet America's growing need for an auto parts distribution system. It is a retailers' cooperative that distributes parts to both corporately and independently owned auto parts stores.NAPA's parent company is Genuine Parts Company , ...
(NAPA) commercials with Nextel CupNEXTEL CupThe NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is the top racing series of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing . The series was originally known as the Strictly Stock Series and Grand National Series . While leasing its naming rights to R. J...
drivers Michael WaltripMichael WaltripMichael Curtis Waltrip is a semi-former professional race car driver, co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, and a published author. He is the younger brother of three-time NASCAR champion and racing commentator Darrell Waltrip. Waltrip is a two-time winner of the Daytona 500; having won the race in...
and Dale JarrettDale JarrettDale Arnold Jarrett is a former American race car driver and current sports commentator known for winning the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship...
. The campaign centered around Hagar's song "I Can't Drive 55", changing the words to "I Can't Drive the 55", a reference to Waltrip's car number 55. - Hagar covered the Patti SmithPatti SmithPatricia Lee "Patti" Smith is an American singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist, who became a highly influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album Horses....
song "Free MoneyFree Money (song)"Free Money" is a rock song written by Patti Smith and Lenny Kaye, and first released on Smith's 1975 album Horses. In 1977 Sammy Hagar covered the song on his eponymous album. Also covered by Penetration on their album Moving Targets....
" early in her career. In 2007, Smith and Van HalenVan HalenVan Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
were both inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of FameRock and Roll Hall of FameThe Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
. "Free Money" was prominently featured in a video montage of Smith's performances. At the end of the induction show, Hagar jammed with Smith to her song "People Have the PowerPeople Have the Power"People Have the Power" is a rock song written by Patti Smith and Fred "Sonic" Smith, and released as a lead single from Patti Smith 1988 album Dream of Life...
". - Hagar appeared in Celebrity Ghost Stories on The Biography ChannelThe Biography ChannelThe Biography Channel is an American digital cable television channel owned by A&E and based on the television series of the same name. A version of the channel also airs on ONO and Telefónica in Spain and on Sky Digital and cable television in the United Kingdom, a version of the channel also...
. He told of how he was awakened by his estranged father, drunkenly pounding on his door and demanding to see his new grandson. Hagar angrily sent him away. Moments later, the loud knocking resumed but when Hagar opened the door, it was a bandmate telling him that his father had been found dead earlier that night. - On May 23, 2006, San Bernardino County, CaliforniaSan Bernardino County, CaliforniaSan Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census...
supervisors declared the day to be "Sammy Hagar Day". Hagar showed up at the county chambers with his mother, Gladys. He then gave a short speech. - Hagar made a one-time guest appearance in the CBS police drama Nash BridgesNash BridgesNash Bridges is an American television police drama created by Carlton Cuse. The show starred Don Johnson and Cheech Marin as two Inspectors with the San Francisco Police Department's Special Investigations Unit. The show ran for six seasons on CBS from March 29, 1996 to May 4, 2001 with a total of...
, assuming the role of a bartender in a gay bar for the season 4 episode "Imposters".
Personal life
Hagar married his first wife, Betsy Berardi, on November 3, 1968. They had two sons together, Aaron (born in 1970) and Andrew (born in 1984). In 1994, the couple divorced after 26 years of marriage. He married his current wife, Kari Karte, on November 29, 1995, and together they have two daughters, Kama (born in 1996) and Samantha (born in 2001).Since 1977, Hagar has lived in Tamalpais Pavilion, a modernist house designed by English architect Paffard Keatinge-Clay
Paffard Keatinge-Clay
Paffard Keatinge-Clay is an English-born architect in the modernist tradition who spent most of his professional life in the United States of America, before moving to southern Spain, where he has increasingly focussed on sculpture....
in the early '60s.
Author
In March 2011, Sammy Hagar released an autobiography entitled Red: My Uncensored Life In Rock, written with the assistance of rock critic Joel SelvinJoel Selvin
Joel Selvin is a San Francisco-based music critic and author known for his weekly column in the San Francisco Chronicle which ran from 1972 to 2009. Selvin has written books covering various aspects of pop music and has interviewed a large number of musical artists...
. On April 3, 2011 it reached number 1 on the New York Times Best Seller list of hardcover nonfiction.
During an interview with the American Rock Scene, Hagar announced the forthcoming paperback version of Red would include an additional chapter, stating that he "didn’t want to release the same book again."
Studio albums
| Band | Album | Year | Chart (US) | RIAA (US) | Guitar | Bass | Drums | Keyboards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montrose Montrose (band) Montrose was a California-based hard rock band. The band originally featured Ronnie Montrose on guitar and future solo artist and former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar... |
Montrose Montrose (album) Montrose is the debut album by the band Montrose in 1973 which was produced by Ted Templeman.- History :After having done sessions work for various musicians including Van Morrison, Herbie Hancock and Edgar Winter, this was Ronnie Montrose's first record leading his own band. It featured then... |
1973 | 133 | Platinum | Ronnie Montrose Ronnie Montrose Ronnie Montrose, is an Amercian rock guitarist who has headed his own bands as well as performing with a variety of musicians, including Sammy Hagar, Herbie Hancock, Van Morrison, The Beau Brummels, Boz Scaggs, Beaver & Krause, Gary Wright, Tony Williams, The Neville Brothers, Dan Hartman, Edgar... |
Bill Church Bill Church William 'Bill' Church , started out playing bass in a band called Sawbuck in 1969, with Mojo Collins, Starr Donaldson, Ronnie Montrose and Chuck Ruff. As the band was beginning to record their first album, Montrose and Church left Sawbuck to join Van Morrison on his Tupelo Honey album... |
Denny Carmassi Denny Carmassi Denny Carmassi is an American drummer.Carmassi was a member of the first four line-ups of the band Montrose. After Montrose, he played with his former Montrose bandmate Sammy Hagar as a solo artist, and with his former Montrose bandmates Ronnie Montrose and Jim Alcivar in the band Gamma.He also... |
Alan Fitzgerald Alan Fitzgerald Alan Fitzgerald, U.S. musician , was a member of several U.S. bands.He played as a bassist in the bands Montrose and Gamma, both of which also featured guitarist Ronnie Montrose.... - |
| Paper Money Paper Money Paper Money is the second album by the band Montrose. It was released in 1974 and was the band's last album to feature Sammy Hagar as lead vocalist.-History:... |
1974 | 65 | ||||||
| Sammy Hagar (solo) | Nine On A Ten Scale Nine on a Ten Scale Nine on a Ten Scale is Sammy Hagar's first solo album.- Song information :* "Keep On Rockin'", a Hagar original, was covered by Bette Midler on the classic soundtrack to The Rose, albeit in a vastly different version.... |
1976 | 167 | - | sessions | Bill Church | sessions | Alan Fitzgerald Alan Fitzgerald Alan Fitzgerald, U.S. musician , was a member of several U.S. bands.He played as a bassist in the bands Montrose and Gamma, both of which also featured guitarist Ronnie Montrose.... |
| Sammy Hagar | 1977 | 89 | - | David Lewark | Scott Mathews Scott Mathews .Scott Mathews is a multi-platinum selling music producer, composer, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and entrepreneur.-Early Days:... |
|||
| Musical Chairs Musical Chairs (Sammy Hagar album) -Song information:"Try " was originally released as a single by Rick Nelson.-Track listing:# "Turn Up the Music" - 3:35# "It's Gonna Be All Right" - 4:11# "You Make Me Crazy" - 2:47... |
1977 | 100 | - | Sammy Hagar / Gary Pihl Gary Pihl Gary Pihl is a guitarist most famous for playing for Sammy Hagar and the band Boston.At his home recording studio, Pihl worked with the founding members of a band that would eventually be called "Night Ranger." They recorded demos for their first and second albums at his home studio... |
Denny Carmassi | |||
| Street Machine Street Machine (Sammy Hagar album) -Song information:* The track "Wounded in Love" was co-written by Hagar's then-wife Betsy.* The track "Falling In Love" features backing vocals by Brad Delp, Barry Goudreau, and Sib Hashian of the group Boston.-Track listing:# "Growing Pains" - 3:46... |
1979 | 85 | - | Chuck Ruff Chuck ruff (musician) Chuck Ruff was an American rock drummer well known for his work with Edgar Winter on the popular instrumental "Frankenstein".-Biography:... |
- | |||
| Danger Zone Danger Zone (Sammy Hagar album) Danger Zone is a Sammy Hagar solo album, his last new studio album during his tenure with Capitol records. The album features appearances by Journey singer Steve Perry and Journey guitarist Neal Schon.-Song information:... |
1980 | 28 | - | Geoff Workman | ||||
| Standing Hampton Standing Hampton Standing Hampton is a Sammy Hagar solo album, his first after moving from Capitol Records to Geffen. Five of its singles charted in either the mainstream rock or pop singles charts.... |
1981 | 28 | Platinum | David Lauser David Lauser David Lauser is a drummer who is most famous for playing with Sammy Hagar.Sammy Hagar and David Lauser played together in a band called Justice Brothers before Sammy Hagar joined Montrose.... |
- | |||
| Three Lock Box Three Lock Box Three Lock Box is a Sammy Hagar solo album, which features appearances by Loverboy's Mike Reno, Journey's Jonathan Cain, and Mr. Mister's Richard Page. His only top 20 solo hit, "Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy", reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1983.... |
1982 | 17 | Gold | |||||
| VOA | 1984 | 32 | Platinum | Jesse Harms Jesse Harms Jesse Harms is a session keyboard player and songwriter who was a member of Sammy Hagar's backing band from 1984 to 1987 , and from 1997–2003 as a member of Hagar's band, The Waboritas... |
||||
| Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve were a band featuring lead vocalist Sammy Hagar, lead guitarist Neal Schon, bassist Kenny Aaronson and drummer Michael Shrieve. The group reportedly rehearsed for less than a month before playing in concert... |
Through The Fire Through the Fire (album) Through the Fire is the first and only recording by the band Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve, also known as HSAS. The album was recorded live with guitar overdubs added later... |
1984 | 42 | - | Neal Schon Neal Schon Neal George Joseph Schon is an American rock guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist best known for his work with the band Journey. He is the only member to have recorded on all of Journey's albums... /Nick Sciorsci |
Kenny Aaronson Kenny Aaronson Kenny Aaronson is an American bass guitar player.- Early life and career :He started playing drums at the age of eleven, following in his older brother's footsteps. Kenny switched to electric bass at the age 14 after becoming enamored by the bass on Motown records and was strongly influenced by... |
Michael Shrieve Michael Shrieve Michael Shrieve is an American drummer, percussionist, and later, an electronic music composer. He is best known as the drummer in Carlos Santana's eponymous band, playing on their first eight albums from 1969 through 1974... |
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| Van Halen Van Halen Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart... |
5150 5150 (album) 5150 is the seventh studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 1986 through Warner Bros. Records. The album was the first to be recorded with new lead singer Sammy Hagar who replaced David Lee Roth.... |
1986 | 1 | 6x Platinum | Eddie Van Halen Eddie Van Halen Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen is a Dutch-American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and producer, best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame... |
Michael Anthony | Alex Van Halen Alex Van Halen Alexander Arthur "Alex" Van Halen is a Dutch-born American musician, best known as the drummer and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen. Originally, his brother Eddie had taken lessons for drums, while Alex practiced guitar... |
Eddie Van Halen |
| Sammy Hagar (solo) | I Never Said Goodbye I Never Said Goodbye I Never Said Goodbye is a Sammy Hagar solo album, his only solo album released while Hagar was a member of Van Halen. The album was recorded in ten days as a contractual obligation to Geffen Records as a condition of his leaving the label to join Van Halen and their record label, Warner Bros... |
1987 | 14 | Gold | Sammy Hagar | Eddie Van Halen | David Lauser | Jesse Harms |
| Van Halen | OU812 OU812 OU812 is the 8th studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 1988. The album title is allegedly a joke on Van Halen's previous lead singer David Lee Roth's 1986 album Eat 'Em and Smile . However, "OU812" was also seen in the 70s sitcom Taxi written on a wall... |
1988 | 1 | 4x Platinum | Eddie Van Halen | Michael Anthony | Alex Van Halen | Eddie Van Halen |
| For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge is the ninth studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 1991 through Warner Bros. Records. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart and maintained the position for three weeks... |
1991 | 1 | 3x Platinum | |||||
| Balance Balance (Van Halen album) Balance is the 10th studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen. It was released in 1995 and, to date, is the fourth and final Van Halen album of all-new material featuring lead singer Sammy Hagar. It was also a more complete divergence from their earlier, more heavy metal sound... |
1995 | 1 | 3x Platinum | |||||
| Sammy Hagar (solo) | Marching To Mars Marching to Mars Marching to Mars is Sammy Hagar's first post-Van Halen solo album. It features various musicians on different songs. It was released on MCA Records, which had by that point acquired his former label, Geffen Records... |
1997 | 18 | - | Sammy Hagar/ Vic Johnson | Jonathan Pierce | Denny Carmassi | Jesse Harms |
| Sammy Hagar & The Waboritas The Waboritas The Waboritas is the name of Sammy Hagar's backup band, though they are frequently and more recently referred to as "The Wabos". They were formed in 1997 and have been active ever since... |
Red Voodoo Red Voodoo Red Voodoo is a Sammy Hagar and The Waboritas album. When Sammy finished touring behind his Marching To Mars album, he took the band from that tour and recorded this record. Red Voodoo is really an extension of the party atmosphere that permeated throughout Sammy's concerts on that tour and this... |
1999 | 22 | - | Sammy Hagar /Vic Johnson Vic Johnson (musician) Vic Johnson is a rock guitarist best known for playing guitar with The Busboys and later with Sammy Hagar and the Waboritas.-Biography:Vic Johnson grew up with music and was influenced by Jimi Hendrix. He soon began playing guitar and played in several bands throughout high school around the... |
Mona Gnader | David Lauser | |
| Ten 13 Ten 13 Ten 13 is a Sammy Hagar and The Waboritas album. It was named for the date Hagar was born.-Song information:* "Tropic Of Capricorn" has an instrumental bonus tacked on the end called "Maui Wowie".-Track listing:... |
2000 | 52 | - | |||||
| Not 4 Sale Not 4 Sale (Sammy Hagar album) Not 4 Sale is a Sammy Hagar and The Waboritas album. As the album was released on Sammy's own "Cabo Wabo Music" label, problems arose on the distribution level. The release date passed without copies being delivered to several national retail chains.... |
2002 | 181 | - | |||||
| Livin' It Up! | 2006 | 50 | - | - | ||||
| Sammy Hagar (solo) | Cosmic Universal Fashion Cosmic Universal Fashion -Personnel:*Sammy Hagar - lead vocals, guitar*Michael Anthony - bass, vocals on tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10*Billy Gibbons - vocals on track 6*Billy Duffy - guitars on track 4*Matt Sorum - drums, percussion on track 4*Bootsy Collins - backing vocals on track 8... |
2008 | 95 | - | ||||
| Chickenfoot Chickenfoot Chickenfoot is an American rock supergroup, consisting of former Van Halen members Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony , solo artist Joe Satriani and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith. The band released their self-titled debut album, Chickenfoot, on June 5, 2009... |
Chickenfoot Chickenfoot (album) Chickenfoot is the debut studio album by American hard rock band Chickenfoot, released on June 5, 2009 in Europe and the US. The first pressing of the album was packaged with exclusive "heat sensitive" artwork that revealed an image when touched or exposed to heat above 84 degrees Fahrenheit.On... |
2009 | 4 | Gold | Joe Satriani Joe Satriani Joseph "Joe" Satriani is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations... |
Michael Anthony | Chad Smith Chad Smith Chad Smith is an American musician, best known as the longtime and current drummer of Red Hot Chili Peppers. Smith is also the drummer of the hard rock supergroup Chickenfoot which includes Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, and Michael Anthony, former Deep Purple vocalist Glenn Hughes' backing band and... |
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| Chickenfoot Chickenfoot Chickenfoot is an American rock supergroup, consisting of former Van Halen members Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony , solo artist Joe Satriani and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith. The band released their self-titled debut album, Chickenfoot, on June 5, 2009... |
Chickenfoot III | 2011 | 9 | - | Joe Satriani | Michael Anthony | Chad Smith |
Backing bands
During his solo career, Hagar has had a number of backing bands. Many played with him on a regular basis as more than just guest musicians. Generally these musicians also record most of the backing vocals for Hagar's albums. The most notable and longest standing group of Hagar's are called The WaboritasThe Waboritas
The Waboritas is the name of Sammy Hagar's backup band, though they are frequently and more recently referred to as "The Wabos". They were formed in 1997 and have been active ever since...
, who were founded in 1997 for the Marching to Mars Tour. Also, time spent in Van Halen interrupted Hagar's solo career; it was on hiatus from 1985–1996 other than small returns to studio work in 1987 and 1993. When Hagar went on tour with Van Halen in 2004, the band were paid to be held on reserve for Hagar after the tour, despite the band going into a temporary hiatus for the duration
Hagar put the Waboritas on lifetime salary/vacation again with the understanding that when he wants to play with them they will be there ready to play in 2009 following Hagar's involvement in the band Chickenfoot
Chickenfoot
Chickenfoot is an American rock supergroup, consisting of former Van Halen members Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony , solo artist Joe Satriani and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith. The band released their self-titled debut album, Chickenfoot, on June 5, 2009...
. Initially, Hagar reported he would only occasionally play with the Wabos from then on, for shows at Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, particularly his annual birthday concert. However, due to commitments of other members of Chickenfoot slowing the band's progress, Hagar has performed more than he initially planned to with The Wabos line-up.
Note on line-ups: Hagar sometimes played all guitar parts on records, hence the list of guitar players having gaps.
The Waboritas (2003, 2004-2009, 2010-)
- Vic JohnsonVic JohnsonVictor Oscar Johnson was a pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1944 through 1946 for the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians. Listed at 6' 0", 160 lb., Johnson batted right-handed and threw left-handed...
- guitar (1997–2003, 2004–2009, 2010-) - Mona Gnader - bass (1997–2003, 2004–2009, 2010-)
- David LauserDavid LauserDavid Lauser is a drummer who is most famous for playing with Sammy Hagar.Sammy Hagar and David Lauser played together in a band called Justice Brothers before Sammy Hagar joined Montrose....
- drums (1981–1985, 1987, 1993, 1997–2003, 2004–2009, 2010-)
Keyboards
- Alan FitzgeraldAlan FitzgeraldAlan Fitzgerald, U.S. musician , was a member of several U.S. bands.He played as a bassist in the bands Montrose and Gamma, both of which also featured guitarist Ronnie Montrose....
(1976–1979) - Geoff Workman (1980)
- Jesse Harms (1984–1985, 1987, 1997–2003)
External links
- Official Sammy Hagar Website
- Van Halen News Desk Sammy Hagar & Van Halen news
- Sammy Hagar Discography
- Sammy Hagar at the Internet Movie Database
- [ Sammy Hagar] at Allmusic
- Sammy Hagar's Political Contributions