Sammy Hagar
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Sam Roy Hagar (born October 13, 1947), also known as the Red Rocker, is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He rose to prominence in the early 1970s with the
hard rock Hard rock or heavy rock is a heavier subgenre of rock music typified by aggressive vocals and Distortion (music), distorted electric guitars. Hard rock began in the mid-1960s with the Garage rock, garage, Psychedelic rock, psychedelic and blues ...
band Montrose before launching a successful solo career, scoring a hit in 1984 with " I Can't Drive 55". He enjoyed further commercial success as the lead vocalist of
Van Halen Van Halen ( ) was an American rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1973. Credited with restoring hard rock to the forefront of the music scene, Van Halen was known for their energetic live performances and the virtuosity of their guit ...
from 1985 through 1996, and from 2003 to 2005. In 2007 Hagar was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Van Halen. His musical style primarily consists of
hard rock Hard rock or heavy rock is a heavier subgenre of rock music typified by aggressive vocals and Distortion (music), distorted electric guitars. Hard rock began in the mid-1960s with the Garage rock, garage, Psychedelic rock, psychedelic and blues ...
and heavy metal. A lifelong entrepreneur, Hagar has founded four spirits brands and 13 restaurants. In 2008, with his wife, Kari Hagar, he founded a private non-profit focused on children's causes and hunger relief, the Hagar Family Foundation.


Early life

Hagar was born on October 13, 1947, to Robert Alton "Bobby" Hagar and Alberta "Gladys" ( Baio) Hagar in
Salinas, California Salinas (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Salt pan (geology), Salt Flats") is a city in the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Monterey County, California, Monterey County. With a population of 163,542 in the 2020 Census, Salinas is ...
, and was named after his maternal grandfather, Sam Roy Baio. Despite claims that Hagar is of Lebanese descent, the musician has stated he is of Irish and Italian descent. His family worked in the lettuce fields and he lived with his parents and three siblings in a labor camp until moving south to Fontana, California. There, his father Bobby had landed a job at the Kaiser Steel Mill, working in the open hearth. Bobby Hagar was an alcoholic boxer who held a record for being knocked down 20 times in a single fight. Friends said he was "mentally damaged" upon returning home from fighting in
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. "My father was the town drunk," said Hagar, who described his father as "a complete alcoholic and madman" who was abusive towards his wife. Hagar's mother would occasionally take the children to a nearby orange grove to sleep in the car when their father became too violent. The Hagar family moved frequently, as Bobby had a habit of spending the rent money on alcohol; Hagar recalls living in nine different homes in Fontana while growing up. When Hagar was ten years old, his mother Gladys took the children and left Bobby for good. Growing up, Hagar would pick fruit, deliver newspapers, and mow lawns to earn money. He excelled academically and discovered music while in high school, teaching himself to play guitar on a $40 instrument purchased from a
Sears Sears, Roebuck and Co., commonly known as Sears ( ), is an American chain of department stores and online retailer founded in 1892 by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck and reincorporated in 1906 by Richard Sears and Julius Rosen ...
catalog. He fronted his first band, the Fabulous Castilles, when he was 14 years old. At age 17, Hagar went to San Bernardino and sneaked in to see the 1964 US debut of
the Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for over six decades, they are one of the most popular, influential, and enduring bands of the Album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the band pione ...
at the Swing Auditorium. He also regularly attended concerts by surf guitarist Dick Dale at the Riverside National Guard Armory. After graduating from
high school A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary schools provide both ''lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper secondary education'' (ages 14 to 18), i.e., ...
, Hagar "wanted to get out of Fontana as quickly as I could". He moved to nearby Riverside and played in a handful of local bands, while also landing a job running the music department at a local store. Hagar first joined the Johnny Fortune Band as lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist and subsequently played in a string of other pre-Montrose bands including Big Bang, Skinny, Dustcloud, Cotton, Jimmy, the Justice Brothers, and Manhole. The Justice Brothers were the house band at a bar called "The Nightclub" in San Bernardino, before they relocated to San Francisco. During this period in Riverside, Hagar met drummer David Lauser, who would become his friend and musical partner for decades to come. Hagar then got married and moved to San Francisco. At some point after landing in San Francisco, two members of his band were arrested on drug charges, and Hagar found himself broke and without a band. He subsequently spent several months driving a dump truck for his father-in-law in New York as a means of supporting himself until he could put a new band together. In 1970, Hagar returned to Fontana with his wife and new baby, pursuing a career in music full-time. While in Fontana, he claims he was visited by "a ship and two creatures inside of this ship" while he lay in bed one night. "And they were connected to me, tapped into my mind through some kind of mysterious wireless connection", he said of the experience, adding "I was kind of waking up. They said, in their communication to each other, no words spoke, 'Oh, he's waking up. We've got to go.' They fired off a numerical code, but it was not of our numerical system. All of a sudden, pow, the connection instantly broke." The experience affected Hagar deeply and led him to travel to Yucaipa, California to consult a
psychic A psychic is a person who claims to use powers rooted in parapsychology, such as extrasensory perception (ESP), to identify information hidden from the normal senses, particularly involving telepathy or clairvoyance; or who performs acts that a ...
, who told Hagar that he needed to go back to San Francisco where fame was awaiting him.


Musical career


Montrose (1973–1975)

While playing in a San Francisco cover band, Hagar was discovered and recruited to join Montrose, a new band being put together by noted session guitarist Ronnie Montrose. Hagar appeared on the band's debut and
sophomore In the United States, a sophomore ( or ) is a person in the second year at an educational institution; usually at a secondary school or at the college and university level, but also in other forms of Post-secondary school, post-secondary educatio ...
albums, which included the first song Hagar ever wrote, " Bad Motor Scooter". After conflicts arose between himself and Ronnie Montrose during a European tour, Hagar was fired. Bassist Bill Church, whom Montrose had fired after the first album, and drummer Denny Carmassi eventually followed Hagar out of Montrose, playing with his backing band as he embarked on a solo career.


Solo career (1976–1987, 1997, 2008, 2013–2014)

By the late 1970s, Hagar was enjoying moderate success as a solo artist on
Capitol Records Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007), and simply known as Capitol, is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-base ...
under the tutelage of A&R man Carter, with such albums as '' Nine on a Ten Scale'' and hits such as "Red", which would build his persona and style, leading to his nickname as "the Red Rocker". However, Hagar felt that Carter did not play to his strengths as "a heavy-metal guy" and instead tried to generate Top 40 hits (such as a cover of Otis Redding's " (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay") with little success. Hagar opened for
Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...
during their 1978/1979 " Don't Look Back" tour, and was scheduled to continue in San Bernardino, California. Prior to the show, Hagar was replaced on the bill by the up-and-coming Los Angeles club band the Knack. Hagar split with Carter for his 1979 '' Street Machine'' album which he self-produced. But after it and 1980's '' Danger Zone'' failed to break out, Hagar felt that Capitol was not supporting him sufficiently. Hagar also penned songs that became hits for other bands, notably the top 10 rocker for Rick Springfield, " I've Done Everything for You". Bette Midler recorded two Hagar songs, "Keep on Rockin" and "Red". Eddie Van Halen approached Hagar when they played a festival together in 1978 and told him that Montrose was his favorite band, referring to himself as a "Montrose freak". Hagar has said that Eddie had been heavily influenced by Montrose, saying "Not his soloing as much as the chording – yeah, he took some of that big open chord thing rom Montrose The big open A, the big open D, the big open E. Everything as open as you could make it, to make it as heavy as possible with one guitar. And that was pretty much Ronnie's style, too." Hagar left Capitol for the newly formed
Geffen Records Geffen Records (formerly The David Geffen Company from 1980 to 1992 and Geffen Records Inc. from 1993 to 2004) is an American record label, founded in late 1980 by David Geffen. Originally a music subsidiary of the company known as Geffen Pi ...
and made some personnel changes, including enlisting long-time friend and former Justice Brothers bandmate David Lauser as his drummer. His first Geffen release, '' Standing Hampton'', was his biggest-selling album to date and went platinum on the strength of songs such as " There's Only One Way to Rock". The follow-up, '' Three Lock Box'', generated his first pop Top 40 hit single and his highest-charting solo single on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, " Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy", which peaked at No. 13 in early 1983. Hagar continued to enjoy commercial success in the 1980s, with perhaps his best-known song, " I Can't Drive 55", from his 1984 album '' VOA'', reaching No. 26 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 Singles Chart and garnering heavy AOR airplay. By this time, Hagar had become a headlining act in many parts of the United States and Europe. In 1987, Hagar had his first No. 1 hit on the ''Billboard'' Album Rock Tracks with "Give to Live" from '' I Never Said Goodbye'', released after he had joined Van Halen.


HSAS (1983–1984)

In 1983 and 1984, Hagar and guitarist Neal Schon of Journey formed the supergroup HSAS (Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve) along with former Foghat bassist Kenny Aaronson and former
Santana Santana may refer to: Transportation * Volkswagen Santana, an automobile * Santana Cycles, manufacturer of tandem bicycles * Santana Motors, a former Spanish automobile manufacturer * Sailboat designs by W. D. Schock Corp ** Santana 20 ** Santan ...
drummer Michael Shrieve. HSAS did a small Christmas tour to benefit local charities and released an album, '' Through the Fire''. The tracks which appeared on the album were recorded live, but crowd noise was removed during the mixing process to create the feel of a studio album. As intended from its start, HSAS was a short-lived project. One song in particular, a cover of " A Whiter Shade of Pale", received some airplay, peaking at No. 94 on the '' Billboard'' Hot 100 Singles chart as "Top of the Rock" became an under-the-radar airplay favorite on AOR stations and in markets such as
Seattle Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...
.


Van Halen (1985–1996)

In 1985 after parting ways with vocalist David Lee Roth, the remaining members of the band Van Halen contacted many potential replacements. In July, given Eddie Van Halen's appreciation of Montrose and at his car mechanic's suggestion, the band auditioned and quickly hired Hagar to fill the opening. With Hagar at the front, Van Halen produced four multi-platinum, number 1 ''Billboard'' charting albums: '' 5150'', '' OU812'', '' For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge'', and '' Balance'', as well as many chart hits, including nine number 1 Mainstream Rock hits. During Hagar's stint as Van Halen's vocalist, the band was often informally referred to by fans as "Van Hagar" as a way to distinguish the band from the previous David Lee Roth era. Internal disputes eventually led to Hagar's departure from the band in June 1996. Hagar disagreed with a decision to record two new tracks for a greatest hits album after the band had agreed to take time off following their 1995 world tour. This issue was pushed by Van Halen's new manager Ray Danniels,
Alex Van Halen Alexander Arthur Van Halen ( , ; born May 8, 1953) is an American musician who was the drummer and a co-founder of the rock band Van Halen, which was formed in 1972 by Van Halen and his younger brother Eddie Van Halen, Eddie under the name "Ma ...
's brother-in-law, who was brought in after the death of their longtime manager Ed Leffler. Hagar wanted instead to record a new studio album, but only after Eddie, Alex, and Hagar's pregnant wife had all dealt with their respective medical issues. Eventually the band decided to record two songs for the '' Twister'' soundtrack. The process was acrimonious and ultimately resulted in only one song, " Humans Being" - the other, "Between Us Two", ended up unfinished and replaced with an instrumental played by Eddie and Alex - along with the end of Hagar's tenure. Among the problems were how Hagar was with his wife in Hawaii, where they had arranged for a natural delivery of the baby, but the couple would eventually relocate to San Francisco after Hagar endured three trips to California to work on the songs, and arguments with Eddie regarding rewriting his lyrics and issuing a greatest hits album.""Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love"
David Huff, '' Guitar World'' (April 1997)
Van Halen would then bring David Lee Roth back to record two new songs for said compilation, '' Best Of – Volume I''. When Van Halen again parted ways with Roth, instead of rehiring Hagar, the band hired Gary Cherone, the former lead singer of Extreme, also managed by Danniels.


Los Tres Gusanos (1993–1996, 2002, 2005–present)

Having jammed as a trio in 1992, Hagar, drummer David Lauser, and Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony formed the harmony-singing rock band Los Tres Gusanos (in English, the Three Worms) in 1993. Playing a mixture of Hagar, Van Halen, and cover songs at Cabo Wabo and in San Francisco the band got together a few times a year. Initially active until 1996, Los Tres Gusanos regrouped in 2002, then again in 2005, and has performed together many times since. Lauser has gone on record to say, "Los Tres Gusanos will never die and rumors abound that they may resurface in Cabo soon." Musician Robert Berry stood in for Michael Anthony in 1996 and 1998 while the bass player fulfilled his touring commitments with Van Halen. Los Tres Gusanos has played at the BAMMIES (aka the California Music Awards) and is known for its live performances. Similarly, neither band has ever made any official releases, although a number of unofficial bootleg live recordings have been widely circulated on CD and download, though these tend to be credited to Van Halen even when Hagar refers to Los Tres Gusanos by name during the recorded performances. In 2021, Hagar claimed that, during the early years of Los Tres Gusanos' formation, he was offered a spot singing for metal band
Pantera Pantera () is an American Heavy metal music, heavy metal band formed in Arlington, Texas in 1981 by the Abbott brothers (guitarist Dimebag Darrell and drummer Vinnie Paul), and currently composed of vocalist Phil Anselmo, bassist Rex Brown, an ...
that did not come to fruition.


Sammy Hagar & the Waboritas (1996–2005)

Hagar produced several solo records after the split with Van Halen in 1996. He hit No. 1 on the
Mainstream Rock Tracks Mainstream Rock is a music chart published by '' Billboard'' magazine that ranks the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations in the United States. It is an administrative category that combines the " active rock" and " heritage rock" ...
chart in 1997 with "Little White Lie". In 1999, he formed a long-term band, called the Waboritas: David Lauser returned on drums, as did Jesse Harms on keyboards, and new to the mix was former Bus Boys guitarist Vic Johnson, and former Tommy Tutone bassist Mona Gnader. Subsequent tours were known for spontaneity; such as improvising " Folsom Prison Blues" by
Johnny Cash John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American singer-songwriter. Most of his music contains themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially songs from the later stages of his career. ...
at the IC Light Amphitheatre in
Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, second-most populous city in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia) and the List of Un ...
after the noise of a train disturbed the show. In the summer of 2002, Roth and Hagar teamed up in the Song for Song, the Heavyweight Champs of Rock and Roll Tour (also known as the 'Sans-Halen' or 'Sam & Dave' Tour). The tour attracted media and audience fascination because it seemed more improbable than even a Van Halen tour with Roth or Hagar. The tour drew large crowds and featured no opening acts; Roth and Hagar alternated as the first act. Roth contrasted his personality with Hagar's: "He's the kind of guy you go out with to split a bottle with a friend. I'm the kind of guy you go out with if you want to split your friend with a bottle." Michael Anthony guested with Hagar's Waboritas numerous times and sometimes even sang lead. During performances, Hagar teased Anthony by asking, "Do the brothers know you're here?" Anthony never played with Roth. Gary Cherone appeared on occasion. Hagar released a live album ('' Live: Hallelujah''), featuring vocals by Mike and Gary, and a documentary DVD, ''Long Road to Cabo'', about touring with Roth. "I thought that tour would be really cool, and it wasn't," Hagar said. "He othwas so pompous and demanding. He's a strange guy."


Planet Us (2002–2003)

In 2002, with Van Halen still unreformed at this point, Hagar joined again with guitarists Neal Schon of Journey and later
Joe Satriani Joseph Satriani (born July 15, 1956)Prato, Greg"Joe Satriani – Music Biography, Credits and Discography". ''AllMusic''. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved May 28, 2014. is an American rock music, rock guitarist, composer, and songwriter. Early in hi ...
to form a new side project called Planet Us, along with Van Halen member Michael Anthony on bass and Deen Castronovo (also of Journey) on drums. Despite having big intentions, the band only recorded two songs and played live a few times before dissolving when Hagar and Anthony reunited with Van Halen. The two songs, "Psycho Vertigo" and "Peephole", would not see release until Schon's Soul SirkUS released "Peephole" on 2003's "World Play" and Hagar's 2008 effort, '' Cosmic Universal Fashion''.


Reunion with Van Halen (2003–2005)

After the successful tour with David Lee Roth, Hagar started thinking about his former Van Halen bandmates, calling Alex in late 2003 following a tip from a mutual friend. In 2004, Van Halen toured with Hagar while releasing a 2-CD greatest hits album, titled '' The Best of Both Worlds'', featuring three new Van Halen tracks fronted by Hagar. The subsequent tour brought on more problems, however, most notably Eddie Van Halen's alleged relapse into alcoholism. The relationship between Hagar and Van Halen eventually got so strained that they completed the tour using two separate charter jets, one for Hagar and Michael Anthony and one for Eddie and Alex. The tour ended with a somewhat infamous final show in
Tucson, Arizona Tucson (; ; ) is a city in Pima County, Arizona, United States, and its county seat. It is the second-most populous city in Arizona, behind Phoenix, Arizona, Phoenix, with a population of 542,630 in the 2020 United States census. The Tucson ...
. As the show ended, Eddie smashed his guitar on stage sending shrapnel into the audience. This caused tensions backstage after the show, eliminating the possibility of a new album being recorded. Hagar said in an interview (and later confirmed in greater detail in his 2011 autobiography) that Eddie had changed and was not the same person anymore.


Sammy Hagar & the Waboritas (2005–present)

In 2005, Hagar continued to play with the Waboritas as he toured the Atlantic coast and the Midwest and added ex-Van Halen bass player Michael Anthony. Hagar's 2006 tour with the Waboritas also included a segment with Anthony, playing as a band called ''the Other Half'' (a reference to Hagar and Anthony being the half of Van Halen that was not Van Halen by name) for a set of songs in the middle of the show, including both Hagar- and Roth-era tunes. Hagar released an album and DVD called '' Livin' It Up! In St. Louis'' with the Wabos on July 25, 2006. Hagar has a longstanding and strong relationship with St. Louis. He often credits St. Louis fans and the radio station KSHE in St. Louis with helping to launch his professional career.


Chickenfoot (2008–present)

In 2008, Hagar formed a supergroup named Chickenfoot with Michael Anthony,
Red Hot Chili Peppers The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1982, consisting of Anthony Kiedis (vocals), Flea (musician), Flea (bass), John Frusciante (guitar), and Chad Smith (drums). Their music incorporates elements of a ...
drummer Chad Smith, and guitar virtuoso
Joe Satriani Joseph Satriani (born July 15, 1956)Prato, Greg"Joe Satriani – Music Biography, Credits and Discography". ''AllMusic''. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved May 28, 2014. is an American rock music, rock guitarist, composer, and songwriter. Early in hi ...
. Their self-titled debut album was released in June 2009 and debuted at No. 4 on the ''Billboard'' Music Chart.


Sammy Hagar and the Circle (2014–present)

Hagar formed a new supergroup in 2014, featuring Michael Anthony, Waboritas guitarist Vic Johnson, and drummer Jason Bonham. The group was named Sammy Hagar and the Circle as according to Hagar, "this band has kinda taken me full circle in my career", featuring tracks from his solo hits, along with Montrose, Van Halen, and Chickenfoot.
Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were an English rock music, rock band formed in London in 1968. The band comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones (musician), John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham. With a he ...
songs were also featured in homage to Led Zeppelin due to the fact that Jason is the son of Zeppelin drummer
John Bonham John Henry Bonham (31 May 1948 – 25 September 1980) was an English musician who was the drummer of the rock band Led Zeppelin. Noted for his speed, power, fast single-footed kick drumming, distinctive sound, and feel for groove, John Bonh ...
. Focusing on Sammy Hagar and the Circle meant Chickenfoot would be put on hiatus, helped by the fact the other supergroup gave Hagar some frustration in "spending a half-million on a record, writ ngand record ngfor six months. It's a lot of work, and then to not sell many records." Sammy Hagar and the Circle began touring in 2014, with a live recording released on the album, ''At Your Service'' in May 2015. In August 2015, it was reported that the Circle were having discussions about making a studio record to follow up their live album, with Hagar stating, "I want to see what he Circlecan do in the studio, I've got a vibe on what I think this band will be, and it ain't classic rock, believe it or not. I want to play, like American folk rock, with a heavy edge. Remember the Band? Yeah, write lyrics about America, and about the world. I just have a feeling that this band might be able to do that really well. We'll find out." Sammy Hagar and the Circle's debut studio album ''Space Between'' was released May 10, 2019, on BMG. The album debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart, No. 1 on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart, No. 1 on Billboard's US Independent Albums chart, and No. 1 on Billboard's Top Rock Albums chart. The sales start marked Hagar's third-largest sales week since Nielsen Music began tracking data in 1991.


Other ventures


Television appearances

*In 1998, Hagar made a one-time guest appearance in the CBS police drama '' Nash Bridges'', assuming the role of a bartender in a gay bar for the season 4 episode "Imposters". *In 2007, Hagar starred in a number of National Automotive Parts Association (NAPA) commercials with Nextel Cup drivers
Michael Waltrip Michael Curtis Waltrip (born April 30, 1963) is an American former professional stock car racing driver, racing commentator, racing team owner, amateur ballroom dancing competitor and published author. He is the younger brother of three-time NASC ...
and Dale Jarrett. The campaign centered around Hagar's song "I Can't Drive 55", changing the words to "I Can't Drive the 55", a reference to Waltrip's car number 55. *Hagar covered the
Patti Smith Patricia Lee Smith (born December 30, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, poet, painter, author, and photographer. Her 1975 debut album '' Horses'' made her an influential member of the New York City-based punk rock movement. Smith has fu ...
song " Free Money" early in his career. In 2007, Smith and
Van Halen Van Halen ( ) was an American rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1973. Credited with restoring hard rock to the forefront of the music scene, Van Halen was known for their energetic live performances and the virtuosity of their guit ...
were both inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. "Free Money" was prominently featured in a video montage of Smith's performances. At the end of the induction show, Hagar jammed with Smith to her song " People Have the Power". *Hagar appeared in '' Celebrity Ghost Stories'' on
The Biography Channel FYI (stylized as fyi,) is an American basic cable channel owned by A&E Networks, a joint venture between the Disney Entertainment subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company and Hearst Communications (each owns 50%). The network features lifestyle p ...
. He told of how he was awakened by his estranged father, drunkenly pounding on his door and demanding to see his new grandson. Hagar angrily sent him away. Moments later, the loud knocking resumed but when Hagar opened the door, it was a bandmate telling him that his father had been found dead earlier that night. *Hagar made a guest appearance with Chickenfoot on the '' Aqua Teen Hunger Force'' episode "IAMAPOD" in 2010. *In 2012, Hagar appeared in episode 30 of the third season of American Restoration in which he commissioned Rick to create a custom rum dispenser out of a restored vintage refrigerator. *Hagar made an animated guest appearance in " Covercraft", a 2014 episode of ''
The Simpsons ''The Simpsons'' is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening, James L. Brooks and Sam Simon for the Fox Broadcasting Company. It is a Satire (film and television), satirical depiction of American life ...
''. *Hagar acted as a guest mentor on Adam Levine's team on the 11th season of the NBC talent show, '' The Voice''.


Business interests

*In the 1990s, Hagar bought a mountain bike store and built another one named Sausalito Cyclery, soon rated the number 1 independent bike store in California. Hagar designed a mountain bike called the "Red Rocker", built with a red frame by Gary Fisher and black components with no chrome. *Hagar owns a nightclub and restaurant in Cabo San Lucas,
Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...
, called Cabo Wabo Cantina, where the video for the 1999 hit song "Mas Tequila" (from the 1999 ''Red Voodoo'' album) was filmed. Hagar plays at the club during his annual autumn "Birthday Bash". Hagar also has opened another nightclub in the franchise in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, and markets a highly successful line of premium tequilas by the same
Cabo Wabo Cabo Wabo is a nightclub, restaurant and bar company founded in 1990 by American rock musicians Sammy Hagar, Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony (musician), Michael Anthony, (the band Van Halen's lineup from 1985-1996) and business ...
name. Cabo Wabo Cantina opened in Fresno on August 29, 2008. However, it closed a few months later when the operator had a falling out with Hagar. *In early 2009, Hagar opened "Sammy's Beach Bar & Grill" at Harrah's Casino in St. Louis. He opened other locations at the McCarran Airport in Las Vegas, Hopkins International Airport in Cleveland, Kahului Airport in Maui, and the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. Hagar donates all of the profits of both locations to local charities. *It was announced on May 7, 2007, that Hagar was selling an 80% interest in his Cabo Wabo Tequila to Gruppo Campari, the world's seventh-largest spirits company, for $80 million (). Skyy Spirits of San Francisco, a vodka producer and subsidiary of Milan's Gruppo Campari will market Cabo Wabo globally, with continued participation by Hagar. Gerry Ruvo, president and chief executive of Skyy Spirits said "Sammy has done a fantastic job building the brand, so we are going to obviously spend time with him and work with him to continue our efforts to take the brand to an even larger level, both here in the U.S. and, more important, globally." Ruvo said Great Britain, Spain, Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan, Germany, and Italy are considered key expansion markets for Tequila. Hagar created Cabo Wabo Tequila to serve patrons at his Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. He began to distribute it in 1999. In 2007, his company sold 147,000 cases, making it the second-best-selling premium Tequila in the United States, he said in a telephone interview. Cabo Wabo Enterprises, based in
Novato, California Novato (Spanish language, Spanish for "Novatus") is a city in Marin County, California, United States, situated in the North Bay (San Francisco Bay Area), North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 c ...
, earned about $60 million in sales in 2007. In 2010, he sold the remaining 20% interest in Cabo Wabo Tequila to Gruppo Campari for $11 million (bringing the total to $91 million). *In the summer of 2010, Hagar opened a beach bar at the Ballys Casino on the Atlantic City beach, which suffered extensive damage in Hurricane Sandy, and was not reopened. *When asked how he has balanced being a rock star and tequila mogul, Hagar responded: "I always had other people doing everything. It was my palate and my concept. I would go in taste and say, 'Leave this in the barrel a little bit longer.' That was my job. I could do that right before I went on stage. That's a perfect time to do it, as a matter of fact!" *In November 2011, Hagar launched ''Sammy's Beach Bar Rum'' in Hawaii. It is distilled on Maui by Hali'imaile Distilling Company. It is currently being rolled out to other North American markets. *In 2009, Hagar and celebrity chef Tyler Florence opened a restaurant together in
Mill Valley, California Mill Valley is a city in Marin County, California, United States, located about north of San Francisco via the Golden Gate Bridge and from Napa Valley. The population was 14,231 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Mill Valley is lo ...
. Called El Paseo, it is a steakhouse, with Hagar's contribution being focused on the wine and music selection. * In 2015, Hagar launched a weekly radio show called ''Sammy Hagar's Top Rock Countdown'', supported by Envisage Radio Group, where he puts together various-genre playlists of his favorite songs. As of August 2018, the show has been syndicated across 90 radio stations. *In 2016, Hagar launched a new television program on Mark Cuban's network AXS TV. The show, ''Rock & Roll Road Trip with Sammy Hagar'', follows Sammy around on the road talking with musical and entertainment guests as well as a jam session on each episode. Season Four kicked off in May 2019. The first episode of Season 5 aired in April 2020. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, production was paused but will resume when it can be done safely. *In 2019, Hagar teamed up with
Guy Fieri Guy Ramsay Fieri (, ; Ferry; born January 22, 1968) is an American restaurateur, author, and an Emmy Award winning television presenter. He co-owned three now-defunct restaurants in California. He licenses his name to restaurants in cities a ...
to launch Santo tequila brand.


Author

In March 2011, Hagar released an autobiography entitled ''Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock'', written with the assistance of rock critic
Joel Selvin Joel Selvin (born February 14, 1950) is an American San Francisco-based music critic and author known for his weekly column in the ''San Francisco Chronicle'', which ran from 1972 to 2009. Selvin has written books covering various aspects of po ...
. On April 3, 2011, it reached No. 1 on the ''New York Times'' Best Seller list of hardcover nonfiction. During an interview with the ''American Rock Scene'', Hagar announced the forthcoming paperback version of ''Red'' would include an additional chapter, stating that he "didn't want to release the same book again." In September 2015, Hagar released the cookbook ''Are We Having Any Fun Yet? – The Cooking & Partying Handbook''. The book contains food and drink recipes, along with pictures and stories of Hagar's cooking memories.


Backing bands

During his solo career, Hagar has had a number of backing bands. Many played with him on a regular basis as more than just guest musicians. Generally these musicians also record most of the backing vocals for Hagar's albums. The most notable and longest standing group of Hagar's is called the Waboritas who were founded in 1997 for the ''Marching to Mars Tour''. Also, time spent in Van Halen interrupted Hagar's solo career; it was on hiatus from 1985 to 1996 other than small returns to studio work in 1987 and 1993. When Hagar went on tour with Van Halen in 2004, the band were paid to be held on reserve for Hagar after the tour, despite the band going into a temporary hiatus for the duration Hagar put the Waboritas on lifetime salary/vacation again, with the understanding that when he wanted to play with them they would be there ready to play, in 2009 following Hagar's involvement in the band Chickenfoot. Initially, Hagar reported he would only occasionally play with the Wabos from then on, for shows at Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, particularly his annual birthday concert. However, due to commitments of other members of Chickenfoot slowing the band's progress, Hagar has performed more than he initially planned to with the Wabos lineup. Note on lineups, Hagar sometimes played all guitar parts on records, hence the list of guitar players having gaps.


Sammy Hagar and the Circle (2014–present)

* Vic Johnson – guitar, backing vocals * Michael Anthony – bass, backing vocals * Jason Bonham – drums


The Waboritas (2003, 2004–2009, 2010–present)

* Vic Johnson – guitar (1997–2003, 2004–2009, 2010–) * Mona Gnader – bass (1997–2003, 2004–2009, 2010–) * David Lauser – drums (1981–1985, 1987, 1993, 1997–2003, 2004–2009, 2010–)


Former band members

;Guitar * David Lewark (1976–1977) * Gary Pihl (1977–1985) * Glenn Ross Campbell (ex- Juicy Lucy) ;Bass * Bill Church (1976–1985) * Jonathan Pierce (1993, 1997) ;Drums * Scott Mathews (1976–1977) * Chuck Ruff (1977–1980) * Denny Carmassi (1977, 1997) * Billy Carmassi ;Keyboards * Alan Fitzgerald (1976–1979) * Geoff Workman (1980) * Jesse Harms (1984–1985, 1987, 1997–2003) ;Guess spots/Vocals * Jason Penrod marching to mars tour Veterans memorial auditorium in Columbus, Ohio (July, 8th 1997)there were also 3 other people on stage as well. ; 99.7FM the Blitz Columbus Ohio. Www.Setlist.fm, Photos, tickets, and paperwork from the event.


Equipment

Hagar previously endorsed Yamaha guitars, which produced a line of Hagar signature guitars named the Yamaha AES620 SH. The guitar is based on Yamaha's AES620 and features a number of modifications requested by Hagar, including a Seymour Duncan JB pickup in the bridge position, a "Cabo Wabo" inlay at the 12th fret and custom translucent red finish. In addition to his signature model, Hagar also plays a handmade AES920 solid-body guitar. Previously, Hagar collaborated with Washburn Guitars, which made a Hagar signature guitar named Washburn RR150, which featured Seymour Duncan pickups and a piezo pickup incorporated into the bridge. In recent years, Hagar has switched to Gibson Guitars, having two signatures by them: the "Red Rocker" Les Paul, and the Sammy Hagar Explorer. Hagar has used Crate Amplifiers, which marketed a Hagar signature 120-watt amplifier named Crate BV120RH Red Voodoo Amp Head. Currently, he uses Blackstar and Marshall amps, making use of the Marshall Vintage Modern 2466 head and Blackstar Series One 100-watt head.


Personal life

Hagar married his first wife, Betsy Berardi, on November 3, 1968. They have two sons. In 1994, the couple divorced after 26 years of marriage. He married his current wife, Kari Hagar, on November 29, 1995, and together they have two daughters. In 2008, they founded the Hagar Family Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on children's causes and hunger relief for families in need. He is the cousin of
Christian metal Christian metal, also known as white metal, Jesus metal, or heavenly metal, is heavy metal music distinguished by its Christian-themed song lyrics and the dedication of the band-members to Christianity. Christian metal is typically performed by ...
singer Ken Tamplin, who has performed with
Joshua Joshua ( ), also known as Yehoshua ( ''Yəhōšuaʿ'', Tiberian Hebrew, Tiberian: ''Yŏhōšuaʿ,'' Literal translation, lit. 'Yahweh is salvation'), Jehoshua, or Josue, functioned as Moses' assistant in the books of Book of Exodus, Exodus and ...
, Shout and Magdallan and on his own. He is a long-time
Ferrari Ferrari S.p.A. (; ) is an Italian luxury sports car manufacturer based in Maranello. Founded in 1939 by Enzo Ferrari (1898–1988), the company built Auto Avio Costruzioni 815, its first car in 1940, adopted its current name in 1945, and be ...
enthusiast and owns a 2008 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano F1. He owns the 1982 Ferrari 512BB that appeared in his "I Can't Drive 55" music video. In January 2024, Hagar appeared on an episode of PBS' ''
Finding Your Roots ''Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.'' is an American documentary television series hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr. that premiered on March 25, 2012, on PBS. In each episode, celebrities are presented with a "book of life" that is com ...
'' in which he was informed that his Y-DNA did not match any men with the surname Hagar. His Y-DNA matched 27 men with the last name Belcher. Further analysis determined that his great-great-grandfather, born in
Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
in 1845, was fathered by a Belcher and not the Hagar named in the paper records.


Discography


Studio albums

*'' Nine on a Ten Scale'' (1976) *'' Sammy Hagar'' (1977) *'' Musical Chairs'' (1977) *'' Street Machine'' (1979) *'' Danger Zone'' (1980) *'' Standing Hampton'' (1982) *'' Three Lock Box'' (1982) *'' VOA'' (1984) *'' I Never Said Goodbye'' (1987) *'' Marching to Mars'' (1997) *'' Red Voodoo'' (1999) *'' Ten 13'' (2000) *'' Not 4 Sale'' (2002) *'' Livin' It Up!'' (2006) *'' Cosmic Universal Fashion'' (2008) *'' Sammy Hagar & Friends'' (2013) *'' Lite Roast'' (2014) *'' Space Between'' (2019) *'' Lockdown 2020'' (2021) *'' Crazy Times'' (2022)


with Montrose

*'' Montrose'' (1973) *'' Paper Money'' (1974)


with Van Halen

*'' 5150'' (1986) *'' OU812'' (1988) *'' For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge'' (1991) *'' Balance'' (1995)


with Chickenfoot

*'' Chickenfoot'' (2009) *'' Chickenfoot III'' (2011)


References


Sources

* *setlist.fm July 8th 1997 / 99.7FM The Blitz Columbus, Ohio. July 8th 1997 / Veterans Memorial auditorium Columbus, Ohio July 8th 1997.


Further reading

*


External links

*
Sammy Hagar Discography
* * *
Sammy Hagar's Political Contributions
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hagar, Sammy Sammy Hagar 1947 births Living people American heavy metal guitarists American male singer-songwriters American male guitarists American rock songwriters Fontana High School alumni Guitarists from California Singer-songwriters from California Chickenfoot members Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve members Montrose (band) members Planet Us members Van Halen members Sammy Hagar & the Waboritas members Sammy Hagar and the Circle members Businesspeople from California American people of Italian descent American people of Irish descent American autobiographers 20th-century American male singers 20th-century American singer-songwriters 21st-century American male singers 21st-century American singer-songwriters 20th-century American guitarists 21st-century American male writers 20th-century American businesspeople 21st-century American businesspeople People from Fontana, California People from Salinas, California Kings of Chaos (band) members