Sammy Hagar has spent more than five decades navigating the highest peaks of hard rock, from his early solo days to Montrose, to fronting Van Halen at their commercial zenith, to launching Chickenfoot and The Circle. Through it all, he’s remained a singer with unmistakable grit and a guitarist whose chops are often underestimated. But according to Hagar, there’s one song in his catalog that separates casual players from serious musicians, a track he proudly claims to revisit often because so few can pull it off.
A Song That Demands More Than It Seems
Speaking about his most challenging material, Hagar singled out “Bad Motor Scooter,” the Montrose classic that helped define the band’s explosive debut in 1973. While the song may sound straightforward to the untrained ear, its signature riff, created through an innovative slide-guitar technique, turns it into a test many guitarists fail.
“Most people can’t play it,” Hagar has admitted. “I always play it, I love it, but it takes a feel you either have or you don’t.”
The track’s opening motif, built around a wah-driven pseudo-slide effect, was achieved long before Hagar had access to higher-end gear. The riff’s unusual phrasing and rhythmic push make it deceptively difficult, something countless players discover when trying to replicate Hagar’s raw, early style.
Sammy’s Secret: Feel Over Flash
Hagar has repeatedly said that while he’s not a shredder in the classical sense, he prides himself on having “a pocket, a groove, and attitude.” “Bad Motor Scooter” demands all three. Timing and swagger matter far more than speed, which is why many players who can sweep-pick their way through modern metal find themselves stumbling over the song’s old-school grit.
“It’s not about perfection,” Hagar explained. “It’s about attitude, that’s why a lot of people miss it.”
A Permanent Part Of His Live Legacy
Despite decades of hits across multiple bands, Hagar keeps “Bad Motor Scooter” in rotation as a celebration of where he came from and what shaped him. It’s a reminder of the chemistry he shared with Ronnie Montrose and the energy that made their debut album one of hard rock’s foundational blueprints.
“I always play it,” he said. “It just feels good, like coming home.”
A Challenge For Guitarists Everywhere
For fans, “Bad Motor Scooter” remains one of the most iconic riffs of 1970s hard rock. For guitarists, it’s a rite of passage, the type of song that looks simple on paper but exposes even skilled players when they attempt its swagger-heavy main hook.
And for Sammy Hagar, it’s the perfect encapsulation of his lifelong philosophy: rock isn’t about technique, it’s about feel. And that’s why this one song, the one most people can’t play, will always stay in his setlist.
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