Sammy Interview

[loveevhsince79]

Here a new one to chew on:

Former Van Halen frontman and Fontana native breaks out the classics for show



03:18 PM PDT on Thursday, June 1, 2006
By PAUL SAITOWITZ
The Press-Enterprise



Fontana native Sammy Hagar had a career long before he ever joined the Van Halen brothers on stage. But it wasn't until he took over the lead singing duties from David Lee Roth and transformed the band into what fans refer to as "Van Hagar" that he became a household name.


Special to The Press-Enterprise
Legendary rock star Sammy Hagar doesn't actually eat guitars.



During his tenure with the group -- 1985-96 - he helped propel them into becoming (arguably) the biggest band of the era -- with four multi-platinum releases and countless arena tours. Because of this, rumblings about a possible reunion began to crop up after Hagar's announcement that original bassist Michael Anthony will be joining him onstage for 10 to 12 Van Halen songs a night on his current jaunt.

Think again.

"I try to do between 90 and 100 shows every year, and I usually throw about three or four Van Halen songs in the set," Hagar said over the phone minutes before starting a rehearsal. "The reason I'm doing more this time is that I'm finally starting to believe any sort of reunion is just not going to be possible."

Why?

Hagar, who seemed genuinely perturbed about the situation, wouldn't mention any names specifically, but he did say that it was because there is "someone in the organization that is uncooperative and impossible to deal with." He also went on to admit that the person in question is a very adept guitar player.

Could he be talking about the outfit's legendary guitar virtuoso, Eddie Van Halen? This seems quite possible, considering his documented troubles with alcohol abuse and a recent divorce from longtime wife Valerie Bertinelli late last year.

Hagar went on to say that he's still in contact with the band's drummer, Alex Van Halen -- Eddie's older brother -- but that Alex would not be joining Hagar on the tour.

"Alex is in a hard spot, but he's a really good brother and they're tight. ... Nothing can come between them," Hagar said. "I wish he was my brother."

Still, for those diehard fans out there that dream about seeing "Poundcake" and "Top of the World" played live, don't fret.

Hagar said that in addition to playing the classics, his group is planning on dusting off some obscure numbers like "Judgment Day," off 1991's "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" and "Good Enough" from 1986's "5150."

"We have a lot of the same techs and crew guys as we did in Van Halen, and when they heard us playing those songs in rehearsals, several of them came up to me and told me how good it was to hear them played that way again. ... I think a lot of people are going to be excited," Hagar said. "The whole tour is going to be a big party, and when you throw in the musicianship, this might turn out to be one of the best shows a lot people have ever seen."

http://www.pe.com/entertainment/guid....202c3efc.html

Edward - if you read this, please, please, please reconsider the path you are choosing. You are too amazingly gifted for the world to never hear again.

[Greenpaw]

Cool read thanks!


Good to hear that Sammy and Al are still talking, that gives a little hope that someday the unnamed guitar player will get his issues straghtened out and be ready to play once again.

[James in New York]

Dammit dammit DAMMIT

[SuckaInA3Piece]

They played clips of of an interview on WMMR this morning with Sam. Basically said how he and Mike intend on playing the VH tunes "the right way" compared to the last time VH toured.

[EJC]

...Like sands through the hour-glass, so our the days of our lives....
Dave singing VH bluegrass style, Sam & Mike playing VH songs the "right" way... Ed "working" on his next guitar design for?

You gotta love these guys, even after all the bullshit, it is comical to see a bunch of multi-millionaires in their 50's act like teenagers in a garage band....

Mad respect to the entire VH family...

[DreamIsOver]

SAMMY HAGAR Says THE OTHER HALF Is Better Than VAN HALEN - June 8, 2006

Launch Radio Networks reports: Sammy Hagar is doing double duty while on tour this summer. He's playing a full set with his band the WABORITAS, and he's also doing a full-on VAN HALEN performance with THE OTHER HALF, which includes VAN HALEN bassist Michael Anthony and WABOS guitarist Vic Johnson and drummer David Lauser. Hagar told Launch that Michael Anthony has been liberated by this move, and he also said THE OTHER HALF is better than VAN HALEN right now. "He's kinda been chopped up over the years, you know, so now we took all those pieces that have been chopped up from different tours and put 'em all together, and he does this awesome bass solo," Sammy said. "And then we bust into about 10-12 VAN HALEN songs. For the hardcores that gotta have it, we're gonna give you THE OTHER HALF's version, which is basically closer to the record than (laughs) what the last VAN HALEN tour was, unfortunately."

The next stop for Hagar and company is tomorrow (Friday, June 9) at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Selma, Texas.

Several hours before each show on the tour, Hagar sets up a Cabo Wabo village that has food, drinks, mariachi bands, karaoke, and other diversions.

[Bad to the Bone]

I don't know if I'd say better...I guess we have to wait and see..or hear as the case may be. Ed played great some nights and horrible on other nights. Sam has seen him at his best and at his worst so maybe he noticed stuff the rest of us would not.

Good to hear that Sam still talks to Al. Maybe they can do an intervention on Ed or something...

[SuckaInA3Piece]

I heard for myself last year when I saw Sam.

It was NOT better than Van Halen. The guitar playing may have been more accurate, but it still couldn't touch the VH experience.

[NoBrownM&M's]

Hagar, who seemed genuinely perturbed about the situation, wouldn't mention any names specifically, but he did say that it was because there is "someone in the organization that is uncooperative and impossible to deal with." He also went on to admit that the person in question is a very adept guitar player.

Wow, that sucks

[Van Squalen]

Yikes. There's some flak. I guess a reunion with Sam is pretty much out for the duration.

The Staples show in '04 was awesome. I dunno if Sam's being entirely accurate. Some nights Ed was off, way off even. We all know that. But some nights he ripped. I saw at least one and a half of 'em.

The Other Half set last weekend was great, but Humans Being needs work.

[smithjc]

Gee, is he talkin about Edward?

I agree, it's pretty comical that they're all acting like they're still teens or something. Boys will be boys as they say.

Silly kids.

[Raldo]

Wow, tough love from the Red Rocker.

[VanHalenFan]

Looks to me that Sammy is still the lead singer of Van Halen.

[Purple Wolfgang]

"Hagar said that in addition to playing the classics, his group is planning on dusting off some obscure numbers like "Judgment Day," off 1991's "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" and "Good Enough" from 1986's "5150."

Whoa, Sam. I'm usually pretty open minded about the former VH singers playing their VH songs with different bands, but "Judgment Day" and "Good Enough?" There is only one guitar player on the planet who can play those tunes well and his name is Eddie Van Halen. Stick with your keyboard driven pop-psychology love tunes and everything will be fine.

[KrazyGlue]

Looks to me that Sammy is still the lead singer of Van Halen.

Where did you read that?

"The reason I'm doing more this time is that I'm finally starting to believe any sort of reunion is just not going to be possible."

He talks about "reunion", so it means that he's no member of Van Halen to me.