Hagar hopes to pass along the Cabo way of life

[1984rocks]

By: Alan Sculley - For The Californian

Sammy Hagar says he looked forward to his tour this summer more than any tour since the Van Halen reunion tour of 2004.

He's just hoping that this summer's in-progress trek turns out better than the one with the platinum-selling former band that he fronted from 1985 to 1996.

"It wasn't a great experience," Hagar said of the much-hyped Van Halen reunion tour. "Onstage, the fans made it a wonderful experience by being so receptive and so overwhelming. They made us all just look at each other and go 'Oh my God, this is the greatest thing in the world.' So it took the edge off. But the second we went and left the stage or certainly building up to going onstage, I couldn't even go (near guitarist Eddie Van Halen).

"I don't know when you're going to see the whole band again," Hagar said, placing the blame of the failure of the reunion squarely on Eddie Van Halen. "That baby is put away until somebody gets himself together. There's a person who's really not user-friendly right now."

Hagar obviously isn't sitting around mourning the absence of Van Halen. After gearing down his performing schedule in 2005, Hagar ---- never one to be at a loss for words ---- is clearly geeked about this summer's tour with his solo band, the Wabos (shortened from the former name Waboritas).

He is taking out one of the year's most elaborate productions. His stage set, as on other recent tours, is modeled after his Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, only it's bigger and better than past models.

But the Hagar concert experience goes far beyond that. The man known as the "Red Rocker" is bringing an entire village to venues that will open in the afternoon on concert days and feature Mexican food, drinks (margaritas being a favorite beverage), volleyball and more.

"It's kind of like a dream come true," Hagar said of the event, which he described, before having second thoughts, as a tequila festival. "Really the word tequila isn't even the important thing. That's just the fuel. It's really a Cabo Wabo festival. It's about what happens in Cabo. It's about the lifestyle, the food, the music, the ambience of that."

And once the music starts, fans can expect a typically extensive show from Hagar, beginning with an 80-minute opening set from Hagar and the Wabos.

Then Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony will join the festivities, and under the band name the Other Half, launch into a set of Van Halen songs.

"We bust into like about a dozen Van Halen songs, which I've never done outside of Van Halen," Hagar said. "With Mike and I together, I feel comfortable with it, and we're playing some obscure songs. ... We're really trying to make it for the hard-cores."

After a short break, Hagar and the Wabos will return to wrap up the show on full throttle.

As part of the show, audiences will get a sampling of new music. A new solo CD, "Livin' It Up," the 15th album of Hagar's career, was released July 25 on Rhino Records.

The new CD, even more than past albums, he said, centers on the fun-in-the-sun Cabo lifestyle set to Hagar's patented good-time hard rock sound. The CD has been preceded by a humorous self-referential single, "Sam I Am," which has spent the past two months atop the classic rock chart.

"It's purely a lifestyle record," Hagar said. "It is really the closest to exactly where Sammy Hagar is today in his life. It's still a Sammy Hagar record, it's just totally aimed at my fans. There's no anger on it because I'm in a whole different space in my head and in my life today. The only thing that's missing is, if you took a hardcore old Montrose fan or something, they're going to go 'I don't hear the anger. He's not dissing about anything.' "

Clearly, Hagar wasn't in such a cheerful mood two years ago as Van Halen worked its way through its 80-date reunion tour.

Hagar has not closed the door on reuniting with Anthony and the Van Halen brothers ---- Eddie and drummer Alex. But he emphatically said no reunion will happen unless he sees some fundamental changes in Eddie Van Halen's behavior and disposition.

"I couldn't even go (near Eddie)," Hagar said. "They had to keep us so separated. We were going to fist fight. I've got my beliefs, and not to ego trip about how it should be done, but I believe you care about what you're doing enough to go out there and play the damn songs right. And I mean, night after night that never happened. There were times where Alex, his brother, would be looking at me and I'd say what song is he playing? I don't know. It just wasn't fair, number one, to the players and everyone else, to come out in the condition that he was in 99 percent of the shows. Some shows were brilliant. There were times when even under the conditions, he still pulled it off, but not enough for me. And when you're charging that kind of money, I'm sorry, there were times when I was embarrassed."

Hagar said he, Anthony and their families traveled in a separate jet from the Van Halens just to avoid contact with the guitarist.

No one, it seems, was more surprised about the Eddie Van Halen of the 2004 tour than Hagar.

"I've never seen such a personality change in any person I've ever known in my life," Hagar said. "The guy used to be the sweetest, humblest guy and the most considerate musician. This guy, when he put on a guitar, even if he had been drinking in the past, he still was always in condition to really know the song and know what he was doing. He just wasn't like that (on the last tour). I don't know what happened."

So Hagar is moving forward with his musical pursuits and his burgeoning tequila business (second in sales in the United States among premium tequilas).

"Van Halen is now, I look at it, and I hope (people) don't take this as a rude statement, but it's my side band," Hagar said. "I care about my band so much right now and I think we're so great and this show. ... It's the best show I've ever put together, song for song, plus dollar for dollar, it is just the s---. I wouldn't give this up for nothing, especially for some half-ass version of Van Halen. If we can do the whole-ass version, man I will be there, and I will be there with flying colors."

[Foamfoot]

No one, it seems, was more surprised about the Eddie Van Halen of the 2004 tour than Hagar.

"I've never seen such a personality change in any person I've ever known in my life," Hagar said. "The guy used to be the sweetest, humblest guy and the most considerate musician. This guy, when he put on a guitar, even if he had been drinking in the past, he still was always in condition to really know the song and know what he was doing. He just wasn't like that (on the last tour). I don't know what happened."

That sums it up! C'mon, Eddie.. FUCK. Get your shit together.

[ZORBA5150]

So Sammy hasn't seen nor talked to Eddie in almost two years, and he's an expert at what he's like currently? 80 dates are a lot. They'd have to do a shorter tour next time.
How would Sammy possibly tone down his Cabo everything if they were to tour again?

[tommytom11]

Sammy called it like it was. embarrasing. that tour was garbage and if anyone doesn't see EVH for what he has become, they are in as much denial as he is. very very sad to see this guy deteriorate like this.

[Bad to the Bone]

So Sammy hasn't seen nor talked to Eddie in almost two years, and he's an expert at what he's like currently? 80 dates are a lot. They'd have to do a shorter tour next time.
How would Sammy possibly tone down his Cabo everything if they were to tour again?

well he did it last tour so there is no reason he couldn't do it in the future.

[Otis5150]

Sammy called it like it was. embarrasing. that tour was garbage and if anyone doesn't see EVH for what he has become, they are in as much denial as he is. very very sad to see this guy deteriorate like this.

As much as it hurts, and the truth often does, I agree.

[scs5150]

I'm glad it wasn't just me who thought Eddie's playing was "off".

[Otis5150]

80 dates are a lot. They'd have to do a shorter tour next time.

It had nothing to do with the number of dates. They've done much longer tours.

[VH-is-Alive]

So Sammy hasn't seen nor talked to Eddie in almost two years, and he's an expert at what he's like currently? 80 dates are a lot. They'd have to do a shorter tour next time.
How would Sammy possibly tone down his Cabo everything if they were to tour again?

Sam says that he talks to Al quite often. Besides that, I'm sure they all have a lot of people in common that make sure that Sam knows what Ed is like at the present.


.

[NOaverageJOE]

I'm actually wondering if Eddie really does have a meth addiction. The guy gets really skinny before the '04 tour...could've been the cancer treatment, but maybe not. His whole attitude is out of whack. This isn't normal for a guy who has been drinking and playing well his whole life and who was never known for mood swings when drinking. Something is missing from the equation methinks.

[sickman]

I'm actually wondering if Eddie really does have a meth addiction. The guy gets really skinny before the '04 tour...could've been the cancer treatment, but maybe not. His whole attitude is out of whack. This isn't normal for a guy who has been drinking and playing well his whole life and who was never known for mood swings when drinking. Something is missing from the equation methinks.

Well I don't know about the Meth, but he was drinking alot on the tour not to mention having to go through a divorce (who knows what Val got). I'm sure Sammy probably does know what Ed is like right now and Ed probably doesn't give 2 shits as to what Sammy or anyone else thinks.
As far as the article goes, it's nothing new. There must be a dozen threads with the same type of interview in it. Same old shit.

[Pacfanweb]

I'm glad it wasn't just me who thought Eddie's playing was "off".

I agree. I saw them twice, in Greensboro and Pittsburgh, and there were more than a few times during both shows that I was wondering what the hell Eddie was playing.

You can't fault Sammy for telling it like it is.

The ONLY reason that Van Halen isn't touring with a new album this year is Eddie.

You have to look at the constant in the equation: Eddie.

Original VH...Dave, Mike, Eddie, Alex
Okay, we know that Dave left and Eddie was glad. He also tried to get rid of Mike.
So that leaves Eddie and Alex as the main players and possible culprits.

Van Hagar...Sammy, Mike, Eddie, Alex.
Now we know that Eddie ran Sammy off, still wanted Mike gone, and even fired Alex at least once.

Now we're left with Eddie as the main problem.

VH3...Gary, Mike, Eddie, Alex.
We all know how this one turned out. Eddie gets almost total control, finally, and we get VH3.

Now Eddie gets total control after Gary, and we get 6 years of nothing.
Sammy sucks it up and makes the phone call, and we get 3 new songs and a tour.
By every single account, Eddie screws this up.
Sorry, but it keeps coming back to Eddie. Sure, Dave is probably a royal pain to work with. Maybe Sammy is sometimes, too...but both Dave and Sammy have managed to keep at least most, if not all of their bands together for years now.
And Eddie is doing what? Jamming with Kenny Chesney, and doing porn soundtracks.
While Sammy and Mike tour, Dave tours, and Alex probably wishes he was on tour with them.

Looks like there should be a way for some of the family..starting with Alex, to get some intervention in there, preferably in the form of an involuntary committment. That's what EVH needs, IMO.
I think he still has "it", but "it" is being masked by alcohol and drugs.

Maybe he needs Ted Nugent to come in and lay down the law like he did to Sebastian Bach on Supergroup, only with some dudes from the local rehab with him.

[Edson]

I agree. I saw them twice, in Greensboro and Pittsburgh, and there were more than a few times during both shows that I was wondering what the hell Eddie was playing.

You can't fault Sammy for telling it like it is.

The ONLY reason that Van Halen isn't touring with a new album this year is Eddie.

You have to look at the constant in the equation: Eddie.

Original VH...Dave, Mike, Eddie, Alex
Okay, we know that Dave left and Eddie was glad. He also tried to get rid of Mike.
So that leaves Eddie and Alex as the main players and possible culprits.

Van Hagar...Sammy, Mike, Eddie, Alex.
Now we know that Eddie ran Sammy off, still wanted Mike gone, and even fired Alex at least once.

Now we're left with Eddie as the main problem.

VH3...Gary, Mike, Eddie, Alex.
We all know how this one turned out. Eddie gets almost total control, finally, and we get VH3.

Now Eddie gets total control after Gary, and we get 6 years of nothing.
Sammy sucks it up and makes the phone call, and we get 3 new songs and a tour.
By every single account, Eddie screws this up.
Sorry, but it keeps coming back to Eddie. Sure, Dave is probably a royal pain to work with. Maybe Sammy is sometimes, too...but both Dave and Sammy have managed to keep at least most, if not all of their bands together for years now.
And Eddie is doing what? Jamming with Kenny Chesney, and doing porn soundtracks.
While Sammy and Mike tour, Dave tours, and Alex probably wishes he was on tour with them.

Looks like there should be a way for some of the family..starting with Alex, to get some intervention in there, preferably in the form of an involuntary committment. That's what EVH needs, IMO.
I think he still has "it", but "it" is being masked by alcohol and drugs.

Maybe he needs Ted Nugent to come in and lay down the law like he did to Sebastian Bach on Supergroup, only with some dudes from the local rehab with him.

what he said!!!!

[Wickett]

"I've never seen such a personality change in any person I've ever known in my life," Hagar said. "The guy used to be the sweetest, humblest guy and the most considerate musician. This guy, when he put on a guitar, even if he had been drinking in the past, he still was always in condition to really know the song and know what he was doing. He just wasn't like that (on the last tour). I don't know what happened."


In all the comments that SH has made recently, I don't remember seeing it put this way.. it's just heartbreaking.. no other way to put it.

[belikemike]

I'm actually wondering if Eddie really does have a meth addiction. The guy gets really skinny before the '04 tour...could've been the cancer treatment, but maybe not. His whole attitude is out of whack. This isn't normal for a guy who has been drinking and playing well his whole life and who was never known for mood swings when drinking. Something is missing from the equation methinks.

I don't know about meth, never heard anything of the sort. I think the reality is he's drowning his pain with alcohol.
Ed got what he wanted with VH3, and he, I think was thrilled with it. But his public was not. Nor was his record company.
He works on another record with Gary and is basically FORCED by Warner Brothers to shelf it and get Dave or Sammy back. He tries (again) with Dave, probably doesn't really want to. Then comes cancer.
Then comes another try with Dave (probably desparate to get some music out, but not really wanting to work with Dave). Then comes a divorce with his wife.
He's also apparently letting go of Mike from the band.
Then the Sammy-Al thing comes together, and my hunch is that Eddie "went along" with his brother. Sam made sure Mike was part of the deal in the end.
Nothing going Ed's way, is the way I see it. I'm certain that Ed had no real interest in doing the 2004 tour, and probably did it to satisfy his brother to a large degree.
My hunch is Eddie is one very PISSED OFF guy, feeling pressure from his ex-wife, his health, his brother, his record label and his fans to do things he doesn't want to do and it all ends up with him heavily self-medicating and not putting in the effort he needed to.
I can understand his point -- absolutley nothing has gone his way for a long time.
Now he gets a chance to do some music for that movie. It probably really inspired him to be able to create on his own terms.
My hunch is EVH really wants nothing to do with a reunion with Sam, or Dave, or Mike for that matter.
At some point, he'll be probably basically once again be forced into another one. If that is the case, and he is forced into doing something, I won't expect any better than we had in 2004.
It's sad, but I think a realistic take from Ed's point of view. If somehow Ed could make himself happy once again (through what circumstance I have no idea), then I'd expect a much more enthusiastic effort from him.