Sammy Hagar Criticizes Alex Van Halen in Roger Waters Interview
Sammy Hagar has reignited his longstanding feud with Alex Van Halen during a recent interview. In a discussion with Classic Rock, Hagar compared the dynamic between himself and Van Halen to the infamous rivalry between Pink Floyd members Roger Waters and David Gilmour. He expressed strong negative sentiments towards his former bandmate, stating, “I feel that way about Alex Van Halen. They’re negative people.”
Background on Sammy Hagar and Van Halen
Hagar was the lead vocalist for Van Halen from 1985 until the band’s last collaboration in 2005. Over this period, they released four successful albums. The separation saw founding bassist Michael Anthony exit, with Eddie Van Halen’s son, Wolfgang, joining the band during their 2007 reunion with David Lee Roth.
In the years following this separation, Hagar and Anthony united to form the Best of All Worlds band. This group serves as a homage to Eddie Van Halen and features talented guitarist Joe Satriani. Together, they even completed a song Hagar claims to have co-written with Eddie in a dream after the guitar icon’s passing.
Proposed Final Van Halen Album
Amidst the ongoing tensions, Alex Van Halen has proposed the possibility of a final Van Halen album, which he hopes to create with guitarist Steve Lukather. Notably, this project appears to exclude both Hagar and Roth.
Arguments from Hagar
- During the interview, Hagar reminisced, stating, “That was the biggest part of my career — everybody’s career.” He emphasized the immense significance of being part of what he described as “the biggest band in the world.”
- Hagar also claimed that the Best of All Worlds lineup closely resembles the Van Halen experience due to Anthony’s inclusion, which allows him to perform their classic songs.
Recent Developments in Van Halen’s Legacy
Alex Van Halen has also shared that prior to the band’s reunion with Roth for “A Different Kind of Truth” in 2012, he and Eddie discussed the possibility of featuring notable musicians like Ozzy Osbourne and Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell as potential frontmen. However, these plans ultimately did not materialize.
Anthony suggested that if Alex and Lukather pursue the final record, it should respect Eddie’s legacy by being instrumental. This aligns with the ongoing discussions about how to honor one of rock history’s most influential guitarists.
Overall, the longstanding rivalry between Hagar and Alex Van Halen continues to evolve, pointing to complex relationships within one of rock music’s iconic bands. El-Balad will keep music fans updated on any developments related to Van Halen’s future endeavors.
