Two decades after the turbulent Van Halen reunion tour of 2004, Sammy Hagar still carries the emotional weight of that experience. What was meant to be a triumphant return of the “Van Hagar” era, with the classic lineup reunited after nearly a decade apart, quickly became, in Hagar’s words, “one of the worst experiences of my life.”
In a candid reflection, Hagar opened up about the personal and professional chaos that surrounded that tour, a moment in rock history that should have been celebratory, but instead became a painful reminder of how far the band had drifted from its glory days.
“Eddie definitely wasn’t functioning very well during the Van Halen reunion tour in 2004,” Hagar recalled. “It was really sad to see. He wasn’t in good shape, mentally or physically. I went into that tour hoping we could bring the magic back, but it was nothing like the band I’d known.”
The Reunion That Fell Apart
When the tour was announced, fans were ecstatic. Hagar was back on vocals, Michael Anthony returned on bass, and Eddie and Alex Van Halen were ready to hit the road for the first time in years. But behind the scenes, tensions were brewing.
“There was no joy, no real connection,” Hagar admitted. “We were supposed to be celebrating the music, but it turned into a nightmare. Eddie was struggling so much, and it was heartbreaking. I loved that guy, he was a genius, my brother in music, but he wasn’t himself. Every night felt like a battle just to get through the show.”
The tour, which sold out arenas across North America, was marked by erratic performances and backstage friction. Hagar said the atmosphere was toxic and emotionally draining.
“I’ll be honest, I couldn’t wait for it to be over,” he said. “That’s not how I wanted to remember Van Halen. We’d made so much great music together, 5150, OU812, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, and to see it end like that was painful.”
On His Relationship With David Lee Roth
In the years since, Hagar has often been asked about his relationship with David Lee Roth, the flamboyant original Van Halen frontman who preceded and later succeeded him. The two shared a tour in 2002, the infamous “Sam & Dave” co-headlining run, that was fraught with rivalry.
“Dave and I are just two completely different animals,” Hagar said. “He’s an entertainer, more of a showman, and I’m more about the music and the singing. I’ve never had anything against him personally, but we were never close. We had a lot of mutual respect as frontmen who kept Van Halen alive in different eras, but that’s where it ends.”
Still, Hagar has softened in recent years, especially in light of Eddie Van Halen’s passing in 2020.
“After Eddie died, I let go of all the old grudges,” he said. “It made me realize how short life is. Whatever differences Dave and I had, or I had with anyone in that band, none of it matters anymore. The music is what lasts.”
Moving Forward With Gratitude
Today, Hagar continues to tour and record with his all-star band The Circle, and his recent “Best of All Worlds” project celebrates the music of Van Halen’s Sammy-era with renewed pride.
“I look back and I’m grateful for everything, even the hard times,” Hagar reflected. “Van Halen gave me some of the best years of my life, and some of the toughest. But that’s rock and roll. You take the good with the bad. And in the end, I’ll always love Eddie. I’ll always love that music.”
The wounds of the 2004 reunion may never fully heal, but Sammy Hagar’s honesty and perspective reveal a man who’s come to terms with his past, and who still carries the spirit of Van Halen in every note he sings.
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