The real reason Jason Bonham left the Sammy Hagar tour suddenly is now known.
A user recently left a comment under Hagar’s Instagram post where he posted a video from a recent show, writing, “Wow, man. You changed the kick drum heads. Jason is his own man. His dad is in there plenty. It’s been a long time. And you smacking those high notes right in the tune, Sammy. Dammy. Nothing like a tour to get the chops flowing? You sound great, man! Hope, you do another leg & or tour brother.”
“I felt uncomfortable leaving the heads the same without Jason playing the kit he’ll be back,” Hagar replied to the comment. “Prayers for his mother in order my friend. Thank you.”
Bonham also left a comment, writing, “I’m in UK with my family as we navigate a very difficult situation. I need all your prayers right now.”
Jason recently left Hagar’s tour because of a family issue. Kenny Aronoff took his place. “Tonight I’m going to dedicate this to the Bonham family in England,” Hagar stated before the song ‘Eagles Fly’ in the concert at Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati. “Hope everything works out okay over there and to our brother Jason.”
Hagar worked with Aronoff before in his band Chickenfoot. Aronoff replaced Chad Smith on their tour from 2011 to 2012 because Smith was busy with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Chickenfoot released two albums between 2009 and 2011 and toured the U.S.
“The cool thing about this band is that the level of musicianship is so high. Everybody’s been in so many bands that we’re starting at such a high experienced level… There’s a lot of stuff that you don’t have to discuss,” Aronoff previously talked to Ultimate Classic Rock about playing in Chickenfoot.
He continued, “It’s like if you took a bunch of NFL players and put them together, they’re already starting with a lot of experience, so it’s just a matter of making it gel… it gels so well, personality-wise and musically.”
On The Best of All Worlds tour, Hagar, Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani, and Rai Thistlethwayte are performing together. They play mostly Van Halen songs, some of Satriani’s music, and Hagar’s solo hits. The tour ends on August 31 in St. Louis, Missouri.
