SAMMY HAGAR: 'I Love Playing Music And I Love VAN HALEN'

Jeb Wright of Classic Rock Revisited recently conducted an interview with Sammy Hagar. An excerpt from the chat follows:

Classic Rock Revisited: Tell me how it was touring with Michael Anthony?

Sammy: It was awesome but it wore me out. If you listen to my voice then you can tell that I have a cold. Luckily, it was at the end and I made it through. It was the hardest vocal tour that I have ever done in my life but it is also the most rewarding show that I have ever done. I think my fans would have to vote this as the best Sammy tour in history. I really took them through a historical journey. We went from MONTROSE to the new single "Sam I Am" and every point in-between. We had an hour of VAN HALEN songs with Michael Anthony, who allowed me to feel comfortable playing an hour of VAN HALEN in a three-hour show. The reason I was comfortable was because I had half the band with me; that is why we called it THE OTHER HALF. Ed [Van Halen] and I wrote all of those songs together but I only felt comfortable playing that much VAN HALEN because Mike was there. I would never go out and just do a show of all VAN HALEN the way our man Diamond Dave [David Lee Roth] does.

Classic Rock Revisited: Was having the two of you called THE OTHER HALF any kind of a statement to the VAN HALEN brothers?

Sammy: Not really. A lot of people thought it was a slam but it wasn't. I originally had two halves of the rings from the VAN HALEN logo but I started getting a lot of criticism from my management. Some of my friends said, "You shouldn't be doing that. It makes it look like you're making fun of it." So, I chilled. It was really just me saying, "Hey, if these guys don't want to come out and play then I am going to find somewhere to play." If the VAN HALEN thing ain't gonna do it — I am not going to leave eleven years of my song writing out of my show. I play about two hours and twenty minutes with the WABORITAS and we play about four VAN HALEN songs. With Mike, it allowed me to play about ten VAN HALEN songs so it was great. I really, really think it was the coolest thing that we have done. A lot of people thought that we were burning the brothers and that we were separating from them. Fuck that. If they want to go out and play then they just need to call me up. If they would make it available and make it user friendly then I am in. I love playing music and I love VAN HALEN. I really didn't do it to cause trouble or make a statement. The only statement I am making is that these songs deserve to be heard — the fans want to hear them.

Classic Rock Revisited: Why is playing with Mike different than just playing the songs with other people?

Sammy: We like the same shit. We like our tequila and we like screwing around and making jokes and having fun. Mike and I just laugh all day and all night. Mike is one of the most clever guys you have ever met. He never really speaks on stage so no one ever gets to know his personality. You can tell just by looking at him that he is a fun guy but he is also very witty. If there is a beach and we have a day off then Mike and I are on it. If there is a bar then we are in it. If there is music then we are on stage playing it.

Read the entire interview at www.classicrockrevisited.com.