Guitarist Stevie Salas recently looked back on receiving separate business offers from two iconic rock figures, sharing the stories in an interview with Guitar World.
Salas described how both Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth approached him with potential collaborations, though neither partnership ultimately moved forward. When Hagar reached out, Salas was flown to San Francisco and stayed at Hagar’s home as they began writing together. Creative differences quickly surfaced over the style of the album.
“With Hagar, I was a Montrose fanatic, so when he called me, he flew me to San Francisco, picked me up himself in his Porsche, and I stayed at his house,” Salas explained. “We started to write together, and I wanted to write a Montrose album, and he wanted to write an album more like the Eagles – and I hate the Eagles. No disrespect, but I didn’t like the Eagles, so that didn’t work for me.”
His experience with David Lee Roth was just as unexpected. Salas remembered how surreal the initial phone call felt and noted the unusual musical direction Roth wanted to take.
“I was a Van Halen nut, but when Roth called me, I was vacuuming, and I thought when he called, somebody was taking the piss,” Salas said. “But it was him. I turned the vacuum cleaner off, and was like, ‘Oh, shit…’”
In the end, Salas chose not to move forward with Roth either, citing concerns about the project’s direction and his own prior commitments.
“Roth talked to me for about an hour, but he kind of sounded like he was out of his mind. He was talking about making a blues album, like B.B. King, and I’m thinking, ‘What am I doing?’ I had a recording contract, and I was like, ‘Shit…’ and didn’t like where Dave was going. I didn’t like the ‘Skyscraper’ album, and I just didn’t think it was what I wanted to do.”
Although both David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar—Van Halen’s two most famous frontmen—sought him out, Salas’s decision to turn down the offers underscores his commitment to pursuing only the projects that align with his creative instincts. His long and highly successful career has evolved independently of any long-term collaboration with either singer or with Van Halen.
Salas has built an impressive résumé, contributing to more than 70 albums alongside major artists such as George Clinton, Rod Stewart, Mick Jagger, and Justin Timberlake, according to his official biography. His career demonstrates that he has never struggled to find high-profile opportunities, giving him the freedom to choose work that fits his artistic identity.
Beyond his extensive session work, Salas has carved out a strong presence as both a touring and recording artist. He toured as lead guitarist for Rod Stewart and has been involved in numerous major projects, as highlighted by Guitar World. His solo albums, including Colorcode and Back from the Living, gained significant traction in Japan and Europe, solidifying his reputation outside of session performances.
Salas’s brief collaboration with Sammy Hagar reflects his unwavering stance on artistic integrity. Though he did work with Hagar for a short period, he chose not to pursue a longer partnership because their musical visions clashed. Hagar wanted to make a record in the style of the Eagles, while Salas, a devoted Montrose fan, wasn’t interested in that direction. This willingness to decline opportunities that don’t match his creative goals has played a major role in shaping his career.
Salas’s story illustrates the importance of artistic compatibility and vision. Even when legendary musicians approach, he has shown that staying true to one’s creative path can lead to a rich and fulfilling career that spans decades.
