Sammy Hagar
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Samuel Roy Hagar (born October 13, 1947 in Monterey, California, USA), better known as Sammy Hagar, is a U.S. rock guitarist, singer, and composer.
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Biography
After a brief career as a boxer in the footsteps of his father, Sammy became interested in the burgeoning Southern California music scene, fronting his first band, "The Fabulous Castiles". Hagar's first major success, however, came from his work with the group Montrose on their debut and sophomore albums, including the Hagar-penned song "Bad Motor Scooter". After difficulties with the band's founder, Ronnie Montrose, during a European tour, Sammy departed from the group with bassist Bill Church and drummer Denny Carmassi in tow.
Hagar commenced a solo recording and touring career to increasing success, enjoying hits such as Red, Heavy Metal, Three Lock Box, and perhaps his best-known song I Can't Drive 55, a gripe against the (now-repealed) federally-imposed speed limit of 55 miles per hour on all U.S. highways. In 1983-84 Sammy Hagar and Neal Schon formed HSAS (Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve) along with former Foghat bassist Kenny Aaronson and former Santana drummer Michael Shrieve. HSAS did a small Christmas tour to benefit local charities and which released one album, Through the Fire. As intended from its start, HSAS was a short-lived project. One song in particular, a cover of Whiter Shade of Pale received some airplay but never charted.
After parting ways with popular vocalist David Lee Roth, the remaining members of the band Van Halen contacted many people looking for a vocalist. Thanks to Eddie's appreciation of Montrose and his car mechanic's suggestion, they auditioned and quickly hired Hagar to fill the opening. With Hagar at the front, Van Halen produced four multi-platinum albums: 5150, OU812, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, and Balance as well as many number 1 hits. Yet, trouble in paradise eventually ensued, culminating in 1996. Hagar disliked using new songs on the Twister soundtrack and the then-forthcoming Best of Volume 1 CD. Hagar wanted to do a new studio album instead, but only after Eddie, Alex, and Hagar's pregnant wife all got their medical issues dealt with. Also, Van Halen's new management seemed to clash with the band. Things were never sorted out, and the band split up.
Determined to rise from the ashes, Hagar went on to produce several new solo records after parting ways with Van Halen in 1996. After the successful "Heavyweights of Rock" tour (2002), where he co-headlined with David Lee Roth, (and jokingly suggesting the name the "Sans Halen Tour") Hagar started thinking about his former Van Halen bandmates, calling Alex in late 2003 from a tip by a mutual friend. In early 2004, Van Halen with Sammy Hagar was announced to the general public, culminating with a highly anticipated summer tour and a 2-CD Best Of album, entitled Best of Both Worlds featuring three new Van Halen tracks fronted by Hagar.
The subsequent tour brought on more problems, most notably Eddie Van Halen's alleged fall back to alcohol resulting in a somewhat infamous final show in Tucson, Arizona. As the show ended, Eddie smashed his guitar on stage sending shrapnel into the audience. This caused tensions to flare up backstage after the show and eventually sidelined possibilities for a future new album.
In 2005, Hagar continued to play with The Waboritas as he toured the Atlantic coast and the Midwest in May with Van Halen bass player Michael Anthony in the cover band, Los Tres Gusanos. In August, Hagar went on another mini-tour starting in Clarkston, Michigan and then hitting the southwest before finishing at his own Tahoe Wabo Cantina. Hagar plans to release a solo album called "Livin' It Up" in March of 2006 with The Waboritas and tour in support with Michael Anthony in the Van Halen tribute band, The Other Half, which plays both Hagar and Roth era tunes.
Trivia
- Hagar owns a nightclub and restaurant in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico called Cabo Wabo, where the video for the 1999 hit song "Mas Tequila" (from the Red Voodoo album) was filmed. Hagar plays at the club during his annual autumn "Birthday Bash". Hagar has also opened another nightclub in the franchise in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, and markets a highly successful line of premium tequilas by the same Cabo Wabo name.
- The album I Never Said Goodbye was originally untitled, until MTV ran a contest to name the album. Future presses of the CD appeared with the new title.
- In the 90's, the British Heavy Metal band Iron Maiden has covered live Space Station #5 and I've Got The Fire. These tracks were later recorded in studio and released as B-Sides. Both Sammy Hagar covers were gathered and rereleased on the Best of the B-Sides Iron Maiden compilation sold in 2002.
Politics
The title track off his album, VOA is a patriotic, pro-American tune, and he, and his brother, have suggested in interviews that Sammy supports the Republican Party. According to newsmeat.com he is said to have contributed $2000 to the Bush-Cheney campaign. He has acknowledged that he is a close friend of Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, to whom he contributed $4500 over the course of almost 15 years. It is also well known that he has shared the stage with country performer, Toby Keith, who himself contributed $2000 to Bush-Cheney.
Discography
- Montrose (Montrose)
- Paper Money (Montrose)
- Nine on a Ten Scale (beginning of solo career)
- Sammy Hagar
- Musical Chairs
- All Night Long
- Street Machine
- Danger Zone
- Turn Up the Music
- Red Hot
- Live 1980
- Standing Hampton
- Rematch (And More)
- Three Lock Box
- VOA
- Through the Fire (Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve)
- 5150 (Van Halen)
- I Never Said Goodbye (Edward Van Halen produced/played bass, Mike sang backup, made while Hagar was a member of Van Halen)
- OU812 (Van Halen)
- For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (Van Halen)
- Live: Right Here, Right Now (Van Halen, including Sammy singing some Dave-era songs)
- Unboxed (1994, two new solo songs)
- Balance (last studio album with Van Halen)
- Best of Volume 1 (Van Halen, includes "Humans Being" from Twister)
- Marching to Mars (first post-VH solo album, Montrose performs on "Leaving the Warmth of the Womb")
- Red Voodoo (first album with backing band: Waboritas)
- Ten 13
- Not 4 Sale
- Live! Hallelujah (with guest spots by Mike and one by Gary)
- Best of Both Worlds (Van Halen, three new songs)
- The Essential Red Collection (two unreleased solo songs)
- Let Me Take You There (Single; On-Stage Fanatics only)
- Livin' It Up
External links
- The Number One Sammy Hagar Discography
- Official Sammy Hagar Website
- Official Van Halen Website
- Sammy Hagar at the Internet Movie Database
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