Hey Folks,
A new Sammy interview is online at classicrockrevisited.com. Not too much new but interesting none the less. Here's a bit of it:
"Honestly, straight up, Eddie has changed a lot. Alex is okay and Mikey and I are best friends. Eddie, for me, is the problem. If you talked to Eddie then I am sure he would tell you that I am the problem. If he doesn’t like my lifestyle then I understand that. He wants to be miserable and I want to be happy – it is really that simple. If Eddie wants to be friends again and not do this just for business or for other kinds of reasons – I really don’t know why he wants to do it. I don’t even know if he even wants to do it. But if he wants to do it and do it for the right reasons and get together on a really good level then I would do it. I thought it was going to be great. I was all for the last reunion and it turned out to be pretty fucking tough finishing that tour out. I have to tell you that there were times on that tour that after a show it was like, "Get Sammy out that door and get Eddie out the other door." That ain’t no way to do things. I am not interested in yelling and screaming at anybody much less having someone yell and scream at me for having fun. It is like, "Hey, get the fuck out of my face, dude." There were too many rules – lets put it like that for me. I was told that I can’t do this or I can’t do that or I can’t say this or I can’t say that. Yet, Eddie can go say and do the shit that he did? No way. Right now, it is over for me but if they want to do it on real terms and with no rules and no business shit then I am fine."

They thought it was dead.
They thought it wouldn't come back.
They thought they had seen the last of it.
They thought it had left never to return again.
They thought they killed it but they just couldn't do it.

The Interview That Just Wouldn't Die!

:sleep:

This is actually a brand new interview, but as I said, not too much new...just thought I would include it. I know it sounds similar to previous Sam interviews, but I thought Sammy fans might find it interesting.

They thought it was dead.
They thought it wouldn't come back.
They thought they had seen the last of it.
They thought it had left never to return again.
They thought they killed it but they just couldn't do it.

The Interview That Just Wouldn't Die!

:sleep:

:funny: Coming to a theater near you.....

Here's the whole thing....

And just in time for the latest round of http://usera.imagecave.com/Bard/smilies-30603.png bashing...

I wonder how many different ways the same thing can be said. Then again, I wonder how many times the same question can be asked.

Classic Rock Revisited caught up with Sammy Hagar basking in the sun and staring at the ocean during the middle of the day in Cabo San Lucas. The Red Rocker is living a dream, and one can’t help walking away from a conversation with Sammy ready to take on the world. The man brims of self satisfaction, confidence and happiness. Since departing Van Halen, Hagar has been touring with his band the Wabos, sharing with his fans the party that is his life. His new single "Let Me Take You There" is available for purchase on iTunes and has already topped the classic rock charts. Check it out and buy it by clicking Here

During our time together, Hagar and I talked about his nightly reunion with Montrose during the encore of shows with the Wabos as well as how he came to be hard rock’s version of Jimmy Buffet. Hagar loves his family, his music, his cantina and his tequila and he stands ready to build each of them into everything they can be. He loves his fans and often signs autographs and lets them sing with him on stage. He cares about his fans so much that he is on a quest to lower ticket prices while still providing a huge rock show. Throughout this interview it is obvious to see that Sammy really is standing on top of the world.

Oh, there is that touchy subject of Van Halen and the nasty way the last reunion tour ended. Sammy gets gut-level honest and discusses how Eddie has changed and the differences that keep them apart. Lastly, if you ever wondered who got a piece of the chick on the cover of Standing Hampton then read on and enjoy!

– Jeb Wright, September 2005
Cover photo by Chris Schwegler

Jeb: I have always been impressed with your dedication to your fans. You are the only guy I have ever seen sign autographs while on stage performing.

Sammy: One of the things that truly drives me as a performer is that I go out there damn near feeling guilty because of all the trouble these people went through to get tickets, wait in lines, stand there in sardine-like conditions and reach in their pocket for their hard earned money. I think these people deserve more than I can even give them. It drives me and it always has pushed me. The longer I do it the more it drives me. I think, "I was here last year and I did a great show but now I have to do an even better show." I can never do less. My insecurities are such that if someone said, "Oh he did a better show when he was here last year" I would think it’s over! I am driven by weird things, and it is certainly not fame and fortune If these were situations where people were not even paying to see me, I would still be driven by that.

Jeb: What makes you different than other rock stars? You most certainly do not have Lead Singers Disease.

Sammy: I don’t think I do, but I have been accused of it by one guy. My good friend, Neal Schon of Journey, HSAS, and now Soul Sirkus, and whatever other bands he is with as he always has 16 things going at once, and I love to get together when we each have nothing going on. Every time we talk, somewhere within the conversation he will say, "You are the only fucking singer I know that doesn’t have Lead Singers Disease."

I think the reason is that I started out as a guitarist before I was a singer. I wanted to be the lead guitar player but every band I have been in, going way back to when I was 15, has always come to the point where we have to ask, "Who is going to sing?" I would be like, "I know the words to the songs so I can sing." The next thing I know I am the lead singer and because I am the lead singer, I become the rhythm guitar player and then the next thing you know I am putting the guitar down and becoming the front man. It is the story of my life. I would join another band and the same thing would happen, "Who can sing?" and I would go, "I can sing." So, I go out and start my own band where I am the singer and the lead guitar player and Ronnie Montrose comes along and says, "Hey, I don’t need another guitar player but I do need a singer." So, I become a singer with Ronnie for three years and don’t even put a guitar on. Finally, I become the lead singer and lead guitar player of my own band, but ten years later, Van Halen comes along and I am a lead singer again. Right now, my cycle is back to being the lead singer and the lead guitar player – sort of. In the band I am in, the Wabos, I consider Vic Johnson the lead guitar player but anytime I want to take a solo I just say, "Hey Vic, my turn!" We have no egos at all. Vic is a guy who doesn’t have Lead Guitarist Disease at all.

Jeb: You guys can’t fake having fun on stage.

Sammy: I don’t think we could do it. I am not even sure it can really be done.

Jeb: Your live DVD is addictive because of that – well the music and the tit shots.

Sammy: Well, that is part of having fun.

Jeb: I have to ask you about Montrose. You have been having him open for you or come on during your encore play the classics for the last couple of years. Are you paying Ronnie back for the help he gave you back in the beginning?

Sammy: I am doing it because I really want to do it. I do believe it is helping Ronnie and I really feel I owe him a lot. I talked to Ronnie on the phone yesterday because he is doing a new record and I promised that I would co-write a song with him and sing lead on it. Quite honestly, I don’t have time to do it. I have moved to Cabo. I told Ronnie that he would have to wait until I came back to San Francisco for Thanksgiving Vacation. He said he thought that was kind of late. So, I will go way out of my way to do it because of what he did for me. As far as getting together and playing live, that is a blast and is good for everybody. What I am going to try to for this record of his, I am doing that to pay him back. I do feel that I owe Ronnie the beginning of my career.

One thing that I want to make clear to everyone – with as much as we ego tripped and argued until I got thrown out of that band, he encouraged me as a songwriter. Ronnie was not a songwriter – he had a couple of riffs but no songs. He let me write songs. I also had no idea, on a business level, about things like publishing. Ronnie told me to start my own publishing company and he allowed me to do that. Most guys on the level that Ronnie was at that time would have seen a young guy like me and said, "I will publish your songs and I will be the writer." He didn’t do that to me and the songs that I wrote on the first two Montrose records supported me through the hard times when I left that band. I had about four to five years of hard times when I went out on my own and started my own band. I was trying to have a family and everything else and that is what got me through. And I will never forget that as long as I live. If Ronnie was ever in a bad situation then I would do whatever I could to help him.

Jeb: Whose idea was it to reunite the original Montrose?

Sammy: I just had a crazy idea to do it. Lynyrd Skynyrd and I were doing a co-headlining tour and after only five or six shows Gary Rossington went down. They put him out on the road too soon after his last heart attack and he had a kind of stroke on stage so they had to leave the tour. I was geared up to tour so I knew I wasn’t going to go home. I volunteered to do quite a few of the shows on my own. I waited to see how many people would return tickets and only about five or six hundred people did. At that point I said that I would play for 6200 instead of 7000 any day.

When we played in Concord, California and the rest of the Bay area, I called Ronnie because I thought it would be fun to play with him again. Once he agreed we decided to go to Kansas City and St. Louis and do a few other shows. That all came about because of the Lynyrd Skynyrd thing. We had so much fun that we wanted to do it again. It was really that plain and simple. I don’t like playing with other bands that much, I will tell you straight up. It is not that I don’t like other bands as much as it is that I like to play a longer show. I have so many songs that when you tell me I can only play an hour and ten minutes then I am in trouble – sometimes I talk more than that during a concert. I have to play two and a half hours. It is better for me to do An Evening with Sammy Hagar. In this day and age, people think that there is no value in that for the money. They think it is better to buy a ticket to see Sammy Hagar, Nickleback and Godsmack at the same time because that is worth fifty bucks. I try to do something special in my show to make up for that. I will have Michael Anthony from Van Halen come out with me or I will have Montrose play with me. I only play with Montrose for about forty minutes. Hell, the entire first album was only thirty minutes long! I come out for the encore and we do a quick set.

(continued...)

Jeb: That brings me to a news item that was out a couple of weeks ago. You were quoted as saying that you wanted to figure out how to play free concerts.

Sammy: I do because I think it would be the ultimate. I am not sure how possible it is but in the meantime I am working towards it. Cabo Wabo and my tequila have done well. Instead of saying, "Hey, I’m now twice as rich as I was before" I go, "Now I have twice as money to do what I want to do." What I do is use a lot of that money to underwrite my production costs on tour. If you have seen my shows with the Wabos, I have a first class production. Bands on tour with similar productions are charging anywhere from $75 to $125 a ticket. Instead of doing that, I take some of that money and I pay for things like my stage. The stage is all about my Cabo Wabos Cantina so I pay for my stage being built out of the cantina money because it is a write off as a promotional expense. That frees up a couple of hundred thousand dollars and I design my stage. To drag all that stuff around is expensive so I underwrite it with the tequila company. The tour is sponsored by Cabo Wabo Tequila. Instead of getting Miller Beer to give me a couple of million dollars, which most people take and put right in their pocket, I take money from the tequila company and I pay the costs for traveling around and doing the shows. The end result is that I can keep my ticket prices down. I am trying to get them down as low as $15 to $25 a show. As far as I am concerned lawn seats are $15 maximum and I won’t charge any more than that. I am finding ways to pay for my expenses and I am passing the savings onto my fans instead of putting it in my pocket.

There is no question about it, and any anyone who knows me, knows that I am fine. These little businesses have done very well for me. I also happen to be one of those guys who didn’t get fucked out of all of his money in the music business. I had good management and I still have good management. I have become pretty savvy in business myself. It is not about how to make money but instead it is about how not to get fucked. My whole motto in life is, "I don’t want to ever take anything from anyone that doesn’t belong to me but I don’t want anyone to take from me what doesn’t belong to them." I protect myself instead of going around and trying to screw people. I just make sure that I don’t screwed in the process.

(continued)

Jeb: How is playing with the Wabos different than playing with Van Halen?

Sammy: Van Halen is about four individuals own musicianship. Van Halen goes out to exploit the individual musicianship in the band and songs are geared around that. I think Van Halen is really built around their hit songs – this is especially true of the last tour. Even if they were not Top 40 hits and were just album hits, there are certain songs that you just have to do. When you try to throw a new song in with Van Halen, the audience goes quiet on you. I’m serious, we would be up there playing "Poundcake" and everyone would be going nuts and then we would play a new one and the audience would go quiet. People come to see Van Halen for the history of the band and the musicianship.

With my band – now this will sound crazy but I have done it in Cabo way too many times – in my band, it doesn’t matter what songs we play. If I would go out there and play all ZZ Top songs for an hour, it wouldn’t matter; it would still be the same party. My band is all about the way we present the music. They don’t care if I don’t play Van Halen songs and they don’t care if I don’t play Montrose songs. They don’t care if I don’t play "I Can’t Drive 55." Somebody might say, "Aw man he didn’t play ‘One Way to Rock’ tonight" but it ain’t going to mean anything during the show and it ain’t going to mean that they won’t come back. The Wabos are all about the party and the way we present the event. The music is the catalyst.

It is like if you go to a great party and they are playing blues or old soul music or disco or whatever and you don’t give a shit because it is a great party. You just have a good time. I play hits up the ass because I have had plenty of them but we always throw in some crazy stuff. And the jams and the spontaneous stuff are outrageous. We attempt to play songs that we don’t even know, out of the blue, because I feel that particular song should be played right then. Toby Keith has a song called, "I Love This Bar" and he came out and played this with me once. I screwed the thing all up but it didn’t matter. That song has now become a staple in my set because of how many times someone has thrown a cowboy hat up on stage. I put it on and say, "Do I look like Toby? Fuck, if I look like him then I may as well play one of his songs." I would try to do that song and I would fuck it all up, but eventually I learned the song. If that isn’t crazy then I don’t know what it. Who in their right mind learns how to play a song by playing it in front of 14,000 people? That is what the Wabos are about and that is what makes it fun. We are not afraid to show our ass. If Van Halen went out there and made as many mistakes as we do and tried as many spontaneous things as we do that don’t work, then I don’t know what would happen. I am not sure if the fans would come back. They might ask for their money back.

Jeb: Are you more proud of your work with the Wabos?

Sammy: I am proud of it all; they are like my children. In your heart you may have some affection for this song over that song but overall, I am extremely proud of everything I have ever done. What I am most proud of at the moment is the success of Cabo Wabo Tequila. I am not just trying to brag about it because we are talking. I am truly impressed by how successful it is because it has nothing to do with anything I have ever done or even known about my entire life. Doing something so different and having it be so successful really makes me feel good.

Jeb: I have heard how you discovered your company but at what exact moment did you know you would go into the tequila business?

Sammy: It just kind of happened. I spent a whole summer in Cabo San Lucas. I bought a condo back in 1983 and my family came down for the entire summer and there was nothing to do. Half the restaurants were closed and when I say half there were only about ten. They just shut the place down in the summer. It was a wonderful experience but I got so bored that I thought I needed to build my own little nightclub so I could call up my buddies and bring my band down here and play some music to have something to do. This was before I was even in Van Halen. I didn’t have a name or anything but the concept really came from that experience.

One day, I saw a guy staggering down the road bumping into a barb wire fence about ten o’clock in the morning on a Sunday. It was a really thin road and I couldn’t get around him. I looked at my wife and I said, "Look at this guy. He’s doing the Cabo Wabo." I laughed about it all day and when I told the story to a couple of people, they laughed at the name because it was really funny – this was about 1984. When I was with Van Halen in 1986, I came down here to my place to write lyrics and I wrote the song "Cabo Wabo" for the OU812 album. I remember the day that I did that because I thought it was really funny. It came out on the record and I said, "I am going to build that fucking club." I bought the property and began building what was supposed to be a small tequila bar. But, being a rich rock star, I had the means to do whatever I wanted. I thought Van Halen might want to play there or I might want to play there so we had to make it big enough for that. The town was not nearly big enough for a thousand seat nightclub/restaurant but I did it anyway.

Next up, I went to the town of Tequila with my Mexican partners, Jorge and Marco, and they told me I had to taste real tequila. I had no idea there was any difference between tequilas. I went with them and tasted all these great tequilas and it blew my mind. It changed my life where tequila is concerned. I asked them if one of these guys would make me some tequila for the club and we could call it Cabo Wabo Tequila. We went around asking people and most of them laughed at us. We found this little factory that didn’t even have bottles and they said they would do it. We used to serve it out of barrels. Next, we began serving it out of these clear glass bottles and we would write, by hand, Cabo Wabo on them. Finally, I made my own jugs just for the club. My entire stock was twenty cases of tequila. Cruise ships started coming in and one ship would wipe out my entire inventory. We would call up the factory and tell them that we needed 100 more cases and they would tell me it would take awhile. Long story short, it started out like that. Eventually, some wine critic in America wrote an article on it. He said that Cabo Wabo was one of the best three tequilas in the world but that you couldn’t get it anywhere but the Cabo Wabo Cantina.

The phone calls started and I told them that I could only make so much. Wilson-Daniels, who make the most expensive wines the world and only service the world with about 200 cases a years, said that they were used to that. They said that if it was the best tequila in the world that I didn’t have to make that much. I didn’t want to change how we did things. The factory is about a hundred times bigger than it was but it is still completely made by hand and it is still boutique. We use the best Agave and everyone is very happy.

(continued)....

Jeb: You are a person who really does whatever you want to do. You started your own company, you told Van Halen to fuck off, you have made solo albums and you did the Sam & Dave tour. It is really a rare human trait to have that much self confidence.

Sammy: I have to give Van Halen the credit for the self confidence. Back around the time of Standing Hampton, I was very insecure. I thought that everything could be over in about a week. I feared I would have to be back out there trying to find a job. I was not wealthy enough to say who cares at that point. Around the time of VOA I started becoming fearless. I knew I was going to make the album that I wanted to make. I don’t think there is anything wrong with my other records because I happen to think Standing Hampton is one of the best albums to be made during that era. What I am trying to say is that when I made that album, I was insecure and afraid. I was listening to my producer and my A&R guy and they were all going, ‘You have to write more songs like that." So I would go write more songs in the way they wanted. They were honest to goodness songs but I was not being an artist and picking up the brush and painting whatever my heart felt.

By the time I finished VOA, I was about to make that step. Instead of making a new record, I joined Van Halen. When I joined that band, the success exploded and I was on that trip where I did whatever I wanted. I said I would dress how I wanted, write the kind of lyrics I wanted and act on stage how I wanted. I said that if somebody didn’t like it then fuck ‘em. My self confidence started building and building. By the time I left Van Halen, I was fearless. I would do anything and I would try anything. I could care less if I made a record that bombed. How about that? That is when you go, "This is where it is at." It is really where everyone should be because at that point, your art is exposing who and what you really are. Every artist should be doing just that. There are clever businessmen who write songs for money. There is nothing wrong with that but it just means you are doing it for business. It means you are smart and clever and that you can tweak things like lyrics to make them more commercial. I am not downing people like that but that is not being an artist. If I am making a Sammy Hagar record then it has to be about Sammy Hagar and his lifestyle. Cabo Wabo is my lifestyle. I live here and it is what it is – everything is kind of about that. It is about having a couple of shots of tequila before you go on stage and it is about having waitresses bring you drinks while you are playing. It is really about pretending you are on the fucking beach!

Jeb: Has Sammy Hagar become hard rock’s answer to Jimmy Buffet?

Sammy: I think Jimmy is a genius because he found this shit before anybody else did. It is not like I have copied him. I found it myself and after I found it my wife turned me onto Jimmy. She told me he was coming to town – this is about ten years ago. I was like Jimmy Buffet? I remember he did that song "Margaritaville." My wife went to college in Virginia and I guess he was huge there. I didn’t think the guy could sell out a club in San Francisco and I show up and there are twenty thousand people in an amphitheater and I am going, "What the fuck is going on here?" I eventually met Jimmy and I started seeing what the man was up to. He found his cheeseburger in paradise; mine is Cabo Wabo. We are on parallel paths– I really am not trying to rip the man off at all. Since I have become aware of him and I have learned what he has done, I have become sort of friends with him. I have an alliance with the guy and I talk to him like a mentor. I will ask him how he got involved with this, that or the other. He gives me some advice from time to time and I think Jimmy is The Man. He is the Godfather and I am like his step-son or something. It is all fine and he gets nothing but respect from me.

[Editors Note: At this point Sammy’s personal assistant Sarah Volk breaks into tell us it is time to wrap up the interview.]

Sammy: No, not yet! We are just having fun. Give us a couple of more. I am actually enjoying this. This is the first major interview I have done in sometime. Usually I do ten minute interviews from Cabo but today I am just laying here looking at the ocean. Honestly, I am feeling a lot more of what I mean and I feel I can better convey what I am talking about under these circumstances. This is very cool.

Jeb: I have a question on all the personal appearances that you make. You have done several VH1 shows and you have been on Emeril Live and many other non-musical type programs. Before this interview, I thought you were a self promotion machine but after talking to you I am thinking you do all these things because you are having fun.

Sammy: You are absolutely right. You can ask Sarah how many times she comes on and says the interview is done and I go, "Thanks. See ya." I turn down more interviews than I actually do. Once in a while, I just want to do an interview. Emeril is a good buddy of mine. I love going on his show. He cooked for my wife and I when we got married. It was before he was even on The Food Network. I only do what I want to do. Every now and then I say, "I don’t want to do that but I need to do that." That happens very seldom. Most of the time I want to go on TV. I like walking around and having people say, "Hey, I saw you on Emeril." My favorite thing is to be walking down the street or be in a grocery store and have someone say – not that they love my music – that is nice and I like that but I have been hearing that my whole life. I love it when they go, "I love your tequila. It is my favorite tequila." I get a big grin on my face when that happens. I don’t mind being a celebrity. I like it. I wouldn’t want to be a Michael Jackson type celebrity that people try to chase down the street – I would not like that at all. My fans just want to come up to me and give me a handshake or a hug. I am good with that – I kind of enjoy it. When I did the Emeril show I couldn’t wait until it was on. I bugged Sarah to death asking when it was going to be shown. I laid in bed with my wife and two kids and I watched it. It is exciting and anyone who says it is not is full of shit.

Jeb: Sammy, I know your focus is on your solo career and your businesses but I have readers who will kill me if I don’t ask this question. Is Van Halen done?

Sammy: I don’t know. It is right now. They can do whatever they want. If Ed and Al want to get a new singer and a new bass player then they can do whatever they want. I wouldn’t complain and I wouldn’t say that they shouldn’t have done that. What I would say is that I think it is a big mistake to do that. I would never try to run their lives like they do me. They are free to do whatever they want. The way they want to do business and the way they want to mingle with their co-band members and other people who are involved in their organization, I don’t want any part of. I am a very happy guy. I have found a happy life. If their lifestyle could fit in with mine then I would have no problem doing it again. I think it is inevitable.

Honestly, straight up, Eddie has changed a lot. Alex is okay and Mikey and I are best friends. Eddie, for me, is the problem. If you talked to Eddie then I am sure he would tell you that I am the problem. If he doesn’t like my lifestyle then I understand that. He wants to be miserable and I want to be happy – it is really that simple. If Eddie wants to be friends again and not do this just for business or for other kinds of reasons – I really don’t know why he wants to do it. I don’t even know if he even wants to do it. But if he wants to do it and do it for the right reasons and get together on a really good level then I would do it. I thought it was going to be great. I was all for the last reunion and it turned out to be pretty fucking tough finishing that tour out. I have to tell you that there were times on that tour that after a show it was like, "Get Sammy out that door and get Eddie out the other door." That ain’t no way to do things. I am not interested in yelling and screaming at anybody much less having someone yell and scream at me for having fun. It is like, "Hey, get the fuck out of my face, dude." There were too many rules – lets put it like that for me. I was told that I can’t do this or I can’t do that or I can’t say this or I can’t say that. Yet, Eddie can go say and do the shit that he did? No way. Right now, it is over for me but if they want to do it on real terms and with no rules and no business shit then I am fine.

Jeb: Last one: Since I was 15 I have been in love with the girl on the Standing Hampton cover. Who is she?

Sammy: I didn’t fuck her!

Jeb: That ruins my follow up question!

Sammy: I don’t even know who she was. They brought her in and I was not even there for the photo session. They guy who is in the picture with the top hat is Moshe Brakha. He designed the cover and he was the photographer. Not only was that son of a bitch there, he got in the picture and he’s the guy that probably got some of that. That girl was fine!

Oh, boy. Now that I've read what I posted...if this interview source is accurate...man.

The part that interested me the most?

If Ed and Al want to get a new singer and a new bass player then they can do whatever they want.

:eek:

So Mikey's done too? The Roth - studio bassist possibility has even a slight glimmer of truth?

Fuckin' Van Halen. This ain't your father's VH if there's no Mikey. Who knows what to believe now? It's great that Sam talks, but surely one of the other three might say something at this point about their official status. It's almost been a year since the tour ended. I dunno about Sam speaking for Mike without an official announcement from anybody.

Fuckin' Van Halen. :irked:

Wow!! Squalen...you have outdone yourself!! Damn dude you are something else, and I mean that in a good way...get the fuck out now whlie you are still sane...it will only get worse!! You ever seen Pulp Fiction...well, Sam Jackson is one Bad Mo fo...You are one smart Mo fo!! :D

Look, I dig Sammy and the Wabos (not as much as Sammy and the Halens of course) And I've defended his interviews for at least speaking his mind....good bad or ugly.....But he's beyond overkill with Eddie and the Wabo shit. We get it, it's a lifestyle, Eddie's a downer, fine whatever. But the talking and rehashing of past problems with Eddie is wearing thin. Leave it alone, you've presented your side of the story already.

And speaking for Mike is weak man, really weak. If that's true, let it come form Mike.

Shut up and play.

http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/4858/sammyshutit7nq.jpg

Yeah, as much as I dig Sam, enough is enough. We get it. At the same time, these interviewers should stop asking the one guy who's public. Find the others involved and corner them. Damned hermits. I'm gonna hit that Hot Licks food festival in San Diego and ask Mikey myself. I'm sure he'll be only too glad to reveal the sinister doings behind all of this to some random fuck like me. :)

We get it $am, you are the man and it's all about you you, seriously don't let the door hit you on the way out, you whining self absorbed prick.. Hey maybe if they need a singer and bass player they can get JD and Gene Simmons. ;)

http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/4858/sammyshutit7nq.jpg

That says it all...Brilliant Paw.

Hey maybe if they need a singer and bass player they can get JD and Gene Simmons. ;)





Yeah, but then Van Halen would only have one fan left :p

Why don't you guys try dumping on the lame interviewers who can't come up with a unique question? Or maybe the rags who don't even get an interview and recycle old ones? You have to do press on the road and no comment is a quick way to run off the press coverage needed to promote a tour. I don't hear anyone denying what he's saying so what exactly is your issue with the truth from Sammy's perspective? Considering St. Michael doesn't seem to have any love for the brothers either speaks volumes to me. Frankly, I think Sammy IS holding back by only saying what he has. You guys would really blow a gasket if he came out said EVH was a drunken asshole too full of himself to know his ass from a hole in the ground. This whole thing is just so over and done with I can't believe its still discussed. But, then of course Roth has been gone for 21 years and people still want to talk about that.

I've always been a big Sam fan since the Van Hagar days.. and I always thought he came out the best from the 1996 fiasco. But now.. he just needs to drop it, be quiet and keep playing.

Just rehashing this makes me think 2004 was just a waste of time.

And speaking for Mike is weak man, really weak. If that's true, let it come form Mike.

Shut up and play.


Sam doesn't have to speak for Mike. Mike has already stated in interviews from the last few months his feeling on the whole reunion thing, and on Ed's condition. I'm under the impression he's just about had it with the whole VH thing himself.

I know this is deep, but you know what?

Fuck Sammy


aaaahhhhhhhhh.........that felt good........

You know what "they" say...there is always three sides to every story:

Your side
Their side
and the truth, which usually lies somewhere in-between.

Sammy's version of events is now akin to a ingrown hair that can't be plucked, and the brothers' version is only available thru telepathic communication at $3.95 a minute (which is probably a good thing, imo).

Me personally.....not taking any sides, just feeling downright hopeless about it all. It's not an easy thing to let go after being a fan for 20+ years. So I'll continue to hope for the only possibilities at this point...solo album, new band, Roth reunion.

At least we know for sure it's done with Sammy....unless they go by the way of "Some Kind of Monster". Can't see that happening.

My name is SecretWind, and I'm a Van Halenolic. Thanks for listening.

I'd join in with Sam's celebration of his new "lifestyle" if it produced good music. But how many great songs has Sam written (solo) in the last 3 years? None.
His last good album was 10/13 and his last great one was Marching To Mars.
So really I think Sam wrote better music when he was less happy. When he was insecure, he wrote the awesome Standing Hampton. So someone go and steal his wife and ruin his tequila business, damn it, so we can get some good Sammy songs again!
Sam's really self satisfied, but I don't see the reason, from a creative standpoint.

Nice interview man!!Thanks for posting it.

I liked the read, thanks!

I'd say it's not fair to bash Sam for his answers, even if he has to repeat himself. If 10 people ask the same question, you're gonna get the same answer that many times (usually :D ).

Anyhow, thanks again for the read!!!

No one is to blam here except a disease called Alcoholism.

No one is to blam here except a disease called Alcoholism.
amen.

Wa Wa Wa. Grow up Sam, you baby. I'm glad Eddie isn't talking, it's actually a lot more dignified and respectable than the garbage Hagar has been spewing since the end of the tour. Van Halen deserves better than what Sam has to offer. So do the fans.

In regards to songwriting:

"There is nothing wrong with that but it just means you are doing it for business. It means you are smart and clever and that you can tweak things like lyrics to make them more commercial. I am not downing people like that but that is not being an artist."

So "It's About Time" was about being an artist and not just a handjob by the whole VH camp?

I guarentee MA would do a tour with DLR or maybe even GC. He Loves VH!

If not, change the name and make some music!

would have loved to have heard dave do some lyrics and sing for the it's about time music!

I guarentee MA would do a tour with DLR or maybe even GC. He Loves VH!



That guarantee is weak at this point.

would have loved to have heard dave do some lyrics and sing for the it's about time music!

Totally. I'm not a fan of Van Hagar, but that song's tone and riffs remind me of the Roth era.

for real guys......if the guys would stop asking the same question then maybe we'd get a different answer. the fact that he keeps saying the same thing just tells me that thats what he truly believes. how can you get on a guy who answers what he feels to the same question asked over and over again? thats not his fault. and i'm sure he's close enough with mikey to know how he feels about it all too. and i agree that someone should look for interviews with the other 3 sometime.

and i agree that someone should look for interviews with the other 3 sometime.

I've asked for interviews with all 4 and have continually been denied :(

well Shhhhiiiiiiiittt! My parents got divorced when I was young, and I love them both.I try not to take sides, cause it would be wrong.They both did wrong.So I have to say, my favorite band in the world will be no more.The bad thing is, I am not to fond of my step-parents, but I put up with them, because I love my mom and dad.So I will do the SAME for Sammy,Mike,Alex,Eddie.Go get yor next band mates Eddie and Alex.I hope you pick well.Get someone to make the other two jealous.Sam hade to go back to his bud David L. ,I respect that (plus he aint that bad,but then again he is not no Alex,sorry David) But I would like that Eddie clon on guitar.And what about Mike.How can you make two people happy playing bass?

That guarantee is weak at this point.

Its money in the bank! MA will not be the one that holds up a true reunion, he would do it for the fans, I know it! :)

I can understand where Sammy is coming from even though he really has said it 10,000 times. The reunion should have been more fun but with Eddie's rules and constant problems with the bottle, that wasn't happening at the end.

Can VH reunite again with Sam or even with DLR, put an album and tour? Do they even want to do that?

Who knows these days. It's just the usual frustration on being a Van Halen fan.

Its money in the bank! MA will not be the one that holds up a true reunion, he would do it for the fans, I know it! :)


I doubt it, not until Ed gets healthy at least, Mike seems to be clear on that point. But then again who the hell knows.

Its money in the bank! MA will not be the one that holds up a true reunion, he would do it for the fans, I know it! :)

I think it'll come down to how he's treated by the bros. Rumor has it they didn't want him for last year's tour, will they even ask him? They seem pissed at how close he is with Sammy. If they do ask, are they going to offer him a fair deal, a nice share? Or are they gonna lowball him with a take it or leave it offer. Will they be friendly toward him and make him seem welcome offstage as well as on? Or are they gonna ignore him and keep him isolated. I would say that Mikey being back is far from a certainty.

I think it'll come down to how he's treated by the bros. Rumor has it they didn't want him for last year's tour, will they even ask him? They seem pissed at how close he is with Sammy. If they do ask, are they going to offer him a fair deal, a nice share? Or are they gonna lowball him with a take it or leave it offer. Will they be friendly toward him and make him seem welcome offstage as well as on? Or are they gonna ignore him and keep him isolated. I would say that Mikey being back is far from a certainty.

What he said.

1. If the true reunion were to take place they need MA.

2. I am sure they will low ball him, but he doesn't care.

3. How they treat him doesn't really matter to him. Could it get worse?

4. MA loves VH. To hiim its bigger than Sammy, Dave, etc. He would do it cause he's the kind of guy that wouldn't be able to sleep at night knowing he held up the reunion, no matter how shitty the offer.

My $1.16(have you seen the price of gas?)

1. If the true reunion were to take place they need MA.

2. I am sure they will low ball him, but he doesn't care.

3. How they treat him doesn't really matter to him. Could it get worse?

4. MA loves VH. To hiim its bigger than Sammy, Dave, etc. He would do it cause he's the kind of guy that wouldn't be able to sleep at night knowing he held up the reunion, no matter how shitty the offer.

My $1.16(have you seen the price of gas?)

I sincerly hope you're right. I just don't know whether or not he'd be willing to spend 6 months traveling around with three guys he doesnt like, and more importantly, who don't respect him.

1. If the true reunion were to take place they need MA.

2. I am sure they will low ball him, but he doesn't care.

3. How they treat him doesn't really matter to him. Could it get worse?

4. MA loves VH. To hiim its bigger than Sammy, Dave, etc. He would do it cause he's the kind of guy that wouldn't be able to sleep at night knowing he held up the reunion, no matter how shitty the offer.

My $1.16(have you seen the price of gas?)


Your presumption that Mikey's just a yes man is simply that...a presumption. Some of us don't agree. After how Edward has been, and if the rumors are true about contract dealings last year, I'd wager he DOES care how he's treated, and won't necessarily hop on the Dave bandwagon after all the BS. To be honest, unless Ed pulls his head out of his butt and acknowledges Mikey's importance to any incarnation of Van Halen, I hope he doesn't. What's the point of joining a reunion solely for the sake of the reunion unless you're having fun? He's got enough money. We all saw the results of a patchwork Van Halen last year...it's just not enough to be onstage together. The live music's better when they're grooving. VH is not Mick and Keith.

I liked the read, thanks!

I'd say it's not fair to bash Sam for his answers, even if he has to repeat himself. If 10 people ask the same question, you're gonna get the same answer that many times (usually :D ).

Anyhow, thanks again for the read!!!

And to add to your point, these interviews are taking place from market to market as he tours around. WE clowns at the Links are the only ones who are reading all of them. 99% of the world couldn't care less. (I said WE because I am included in this mess :D )

Oh, boy. Now that I've read what I posted...if this interview source is accurate...man.

The part that interested me the most?

If Ed and Al want to get a new singer and a new bass player then they can do whatever they want.

:eek:

So Mikey's done too? The Roth - studio bassist possibility has even a slight glimmer of truth?

Fuckin' Van Halen. This ain't your father's VH if there's no Mikey. Who knows what to believe now? It's great that Sam talks, but surely one of the other three might say something at this point about their official status. It's almost been a year since the tour ended. I dunno about Sam speaking for Mike without an official announcement from anybody.

Fuckin' Van Halen. :irked:

Gotta tell ya babe, I read that sentence twice before I moved on... Not sure what to think... is he really speaking for Mikey????? and to be honest , I'm a little pissed if he is. That's something the hard core VH fans should have heard directly from him!!!

Not impressed with that at all.

Gotta tell ya babe, I read that sentence twice before I moved on... Not sure what to think... is he really speaking for Mikey????? and to be honest , I'm a little pissed if he is. That's something the hard core VH fans should have heard directly from him!!!

Not impressed with that at all.

Indeed.

However, I'll be even less impressed if Ed and Al are stupid enough to reform Van Halen without him, regardless of whether Dave, Gary, or some new numbnuts is singing for them.

See, Ed, this is how it's gonna go...

"Hey man, it's Ed. Listen, I'm real sorry about that petty bullshit last year. Me and Al, well, we were kind of pissed about you playing with Sam on that Sam and Dave tour thingie. We sorta thought it was betraying the Van Halen legacy, ya know, since usually you're onstage with me and me only. Plus, that whole III studio thing...I was dumb back then, I wanted to do it all...play bass, sing, produce...I was ego tripping. But now, man, I'm 6 months sober and I wanna do something for the fans, and it just ain't the same without you. 25%, my personal apology, and let's work something out with Dave or Sam, I don't care at this point, I just wanna make some new tunes with the old gang."

Yep...that's how it goes, as far as Mikey's concerned, Eddie my man.
Be a playah and and don't fuck it up more than it already is, a'ight? :)

Oh, boy. Now that I've read what I posted...if this interview source is accurate...man.

The part that interested me the most?

If Ed and Al want to get a new singer and a new bass player then they can do whatever they want.

:eek:

So Mikey's done too? The Roth - studio bassist possibility has even a slight glimmer of truth?

Fuckin' Van Halen. This ain't your father's VH if there's no Mikey. Who knows what to believe now? It's great that Sam talks, but surely one of the other three might say something at this point about their official status. It's almost been a year since the tour ended. I dunno about Sam speaking for Mike without an official announcement from anybody.

Fuckin' Van Halen. :irked:


THE VAN HALEN BAND
Coming to a fair ground near you...

Do you guys really believe if they bring Roth back or bring some other singer in Mikey will the bass player. If Sam isn't back than Mikey isn't either. Sad but true! They wanted to fire the guy he was only back cause Sam said he wouldn't do it without Mikey.

A couple of things.

Sammy is just being Sammy by speaking for other people. He did say that Al could not stand being around Eddie however had to because they are related. If he could say that about Al, he can say that Mike will not partake with a new singer.

Regarding the rules. Yeah I can believe Eddie had some. However Sammy has his rules, like singing only the popular songs and limiting the DLR era songs. Limiting soundcheck appearances as well.

Concerning Mike. While I and everybody here would like to see him continue, lets face the facts. If they toured with Dave minus Mike, the general public would not give a damn. If they can live with Dave vs Sam debacle, they can live with a different bass player.

pl;ease, please, please...If Alex is reading this..cause we know Ed says he doesnt..
Alex: Be done w/ sammy..just be done with him. yes, he was great, but that is OVER..its O-V-E-R..and if you guys want to maintain ANY control over the rest of your career, then dont let him make the decisions on him and VH, just let it go.
ok?
good. now, we're done with that, let's move on to something exciting..like you and Ed, as it was in the beginning, is now, and always will be..i think its safe to say you can find a new bass player..If mikey wants to be out, you cant beg him or make him, ..of course i'd love for him to stay..but its apparent he's not..so. let's move into a new direction. Do you think Ed can create music that is suitable for background singers with different octaves and styles? i think so..
how about you guys just reinvent VH?
How about you guys cut your past and move forward!
When you get a new bass and lead singer, then we are all moving forward. Need someone to help out? im available!
but seriously, when you come in concert, you can play whatever you want..from Van Halen, to Mach3, and whatever in between..and, best of all..NEW music!
Why do you think Sam says the fans get quiet when you played new stuff?
not because of the music...

So come on, get happy and cut the shit away..
Get happy and look forward...
Just be VH and dont worry about it..dont take it so seriously, you guys are good enough to not have to worry about it..just look inside and let it out..whatever it is, it's all Good, trust me!
thx for the interview VS..

See this is what I think:

Mike was left out of any royalties of the three new songs. That's a few grand right there he is not making anymore. He used to on every single VH song ever recorded and released. That along could be a strong enough reason to tell the VH Bros to f*ck up.

But on the other side, Roth is not in VH right now not because of a lack of attemps to get him back on the band. They tried, and tried again, and still were not able to come to an agreement. What is so different now? Mike?
Eddie is to drunk to care?

Until DLR goes public NOW and not on two/three-years ago interviews confirming his willingness to work with the VH gang again, I say the odds are still on Sammy's courts. And by odds I mean, a very very small chance.

i hate to say it, but i dont even want Sam back. i want Ed and Al to cut bait and move the fuck on to the next chapter of VH music.

It's too late to start fresh. Ed doesn't have the focus or energy anymore.

It's done . . . well, maybe done isn't a good word. How about "stagnant"?

acs

Look, I dig Sammy and the Wabos (not as much as Sammy and the Halens of course) And I've defended his interviews for at least speaking his mind....good bad or ugly.....But he's beyond overkill with Eddie and the Wabo shit. We get it, it's a lifestyle, Eddie's a downer, fine whatever. But the talking and rehashing of past problems with Eddie is wearing thin. Leave it alone, you've presented your side of the story already.

And speaking for Mike is weak man, really weak. If that's true, let it come form Mike.

Shut up and play.

http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/4858/sammyshutit7nq.jpg

Well said Greenpaw. I think Sammy should change careers and become a soap opera actor (or actress!!).

i hate to say it, but i dont even want Sam back. i want Ed and Al to cut bait and move the fuck on to the next chapter of VH music.

And I also hate to say it, but without Sammy and Mike, there probably won't be another chapter of Vh music.

IF Dave comes back with another bass player (or even with Mike) how long will that relationship last? They tried multiple times with no success...... if Ed can't deal with Dave while he's drunk, how the hell can he sober? :drunk:

If you want them back for the long haul, it's Sam, Mike, Al and a cleaned up Eddie.

Just my opinion of course :)

Who the hell knows what they are gonna do?

ed isnt in the grave yet and neither is Al. for my money, i'd say that's a good start to a pretty decent band...anyone else think so?

also, why does everything have to be either Sam or dave?

and if you bring up the Gary issue, i say to you, great! i loved it.

Edward-Fucking-Van Halen music with a dog barking would be in my cd player!

I am also done with Sammy. Hell I went three times last year but have lost respect for him. I don't care if Eddie is at fault. I just don't like Sammy any more. He is like a gossiping woman.

Anyway regarding the Dave situation, but coming from the biggest supporters of Dave (Roth Army) its Alex who hates Dave. Eddie does not care for him either but Alex actually hates him.

In the 10 times I have seen VH you know how many times I watched Mike.

10 times but that is when I see him getting ready to do his solo and I head to the bathroom. I think he is great but he is not the reason why I like VH. I hope he is there but if he wants to spend time with Sammy, then leave.

Edward-Fucking-Van Halen music with a dog barking would be in my cd player!"

So you listen to How Many Say I?

Edward-Fucking-Van Halen music with a dog barking would be in my cd player!"

So you listen to How Many Say I?

:funny:

Ed-please get healthy and call Sammy or Dave. :D

I'd join in with Sam's celebration of his new "lifestyle" if it produced good music. But how many great songs has Sam written (solo) in the last 3 years? None.
His last good album was 10/13 and his last great one was Marching To Mars.
So really I think Sam wrote better music when he was less happy. When he was insecure, he wrote the awesome Standing Hampton. So someone go and steal his wife and ruin his tequila business, damn it, so we can get some good Sammy songs again!
Sam's really self satisfied, but I don't see the reason, from a creative standpoint.

his last great one was............never

It just tears me that everyone just has to say it's that Al hates Dave that keeps Dave out of the band. :rolleyes:

Reminder: They're tried what 3 times over the years and it's not just one person keeping it from working folks. If Alex hated Dave that much, do you think he'd even let him anywhere need 5150 at any point to start with? Think about. IF it was Alex stopping it, they'd never have tried to work things out period. Ed doesn't do anything without Al ok when it comes to the band does he.

well Shhhhiiiiiiiittt! My parents got divorced when I was young, and I love them both.I try not to take sides, cause it would be wrong.They both did wrong.So I have to say, my favorite band in the world will be no more.The bad thing is, I am not to fond of my step-parents, but I put up with them, because I love my mom and dad.So I will do the SAME for Sammy,Mike,Alex,Eddie.Go get yor next band mates Eddie and Alex.I hope you pick well.Get someone to make the other two jealous.Sam hade to go back to his bud David L. ,I respect that (plus he aint that bad,but then again he is not no Alex,sorry David) But I would like that Eddie clon on guitar.And what about Mike.How can you make two people happy playing bass?

I understand where you are going, but seriously, who would really want to work with Ed and Al? It's obvious that they don't play nice with others, or at least Ed doesn't. Other than some young, hungry unknown, amateur, who would really want to put themselves in a shit hole? And other than the sheer love and passion for the music, why would they want to come out of hiding again and embarass themselves down the road. In my mind, VH has run it's course.

I'll be over in the sports thread,with the occasional stop into the bootleg thread,and the fine folks at Guitars 101.
I like many, grow weary of this conversation. Eddie ,Sammy, Mike , Alex and yes, even you Dave, go ahead make some music together, or don't. whatever.