Sammy Hagar to Record New Music Without Concern for Sales

First breaking into the music industry in 1972, Sammy Hagar is still going strong. After a stint with hard rock band Montrose, Hagar launched a solo career, notching a hit in 1984 with “I Can’t Drive 55.” Now, 76, the Red Rocker is currently in the midst of his Best of All Worlds Tour with Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony, guitarist Joe Satriani, and drummer Jason Bonham. And the former Van Halen frontman says plans are in the works for new music.

During an Aug. 15 appearance on the Bogus Otis podcast, Sammy Hagar affirmed that fans can definitely expect new material from himself and his tourmates. “Yes. I guarantee it,” he said.

Hagar added that the music industry has changed since he got his start in the ’70s—the primary difference being, he said bluntly, that “records don’t sell.”

“I’ve made a couple of my best records of my life, my last two solo records, and I’m lucky to sell 50 or 60,000 records,” said the “Give to Live” singer. “You go and make a record nowadays just to lose a couple hundred thousand bucks.”

Fortunately, Hagar isn’t in it for the money—or even artistic fulfillment. “But I need a tax write-off, so it really helps,” he said. “‘I made too many this year. Let’s go make a record.’”

Sammy Hagar replaced David Lee Roth as Van Halen’s lead vocalist in 1985. With the Red Rocker at the helm, Van Halen spawned four multi-platinum albums that reached the top of the charts. Unfortunately, infighting drove Hagar out of the band in 1996. Eight years later, he reunited with his bandmates for an ill-fated reunion tour. That endeavor came to an unceremonious end when Eddie Van Halen smashed his guitar onstage in Tucson, Arizona.

That was the last time Hagar shared a stage with the Van Halen brothers. However, during a recent interview with AZ Central, Hagar revealed that he and the iconic guitarist reconciled before Eddie Van Halen’s death in 2020.

“[It] was so important that we had closure before he passed, because otherwise… I’d be waking up in the middle of the night once in a while going, “Man, I wish we could’ve fixed that,” Hagar said. “Now, I don’t have to do that. Now, I just go, “Hey, I miss Ed.” I miss the music.’”

Featured image by Javier Vicencio/Eyepix Group/Shutterstock

Source: AZ Central, Bogus Otis podcast