Sammy Hagar recently opened up about a deeply personal moment involving his relationship with Eddie Van Halen. As reported by NME, Hagar revealed that a major reunion in rock history was closer than fans ever realized.
When asked whether he would have worked with Eddie again had the guitarist not passed away, Hagar shared that Eddie had privately told him he wanted to reunite and make new music. “100 per cent. We talked about it,” Hagar said. “Eddie even said to me: ‘Man, we made some great music together. I’ve been fighting this [cancer] for 10 years. I’ve got to beat this, and next year, let’s get together, make some new music and go out and make some noise together’. Then he said: ‘But please don’t tell anyone, and especially don’t tell Al [Alex Van Halen].’”
Hagar explained that Eddie’s insistence on keeping the conversation private hinted at strain between the Van Halen brothers. “I’m going: ‘Wow, I guess him and Al aren’t getting along right now’. I mean, those brothers – it was rockier between those two more than between me and them. I never told anyone because I wasn’t going to betray Eddie.”
According to Hagar, Eddie’s vision went far beyond a simple reunion. “Eddie wanted to go out and bring everyone out – do Sam and Dave [Lee Roth, original Van Halen frontman] and have [Eddie’s son] Wolfie open and do the whole nine yards,” Hagar explained. “It would have been a dream come true for the fans. I’m sad it never happened. I’m sad we never got to do the Sam and Dave tour with Van Halen.”
Hagar believes the tour failed to materialize largely because of creative conflicts with David Lee Roth. He noted that “if Dave had been more user-friendly, we could have done it, but he doesn’t play well with others!”
Eddie Van Halen’s long battle with cancer ultimately prevented the reunion from happening. Before his death in October 2020, he had expressed to Hagar — as reported by Sanila C Broadcasting — his desire to reconnect creatively: “Next year, we’re gonna get together — we’re gonna make some noise. Let me beat this s***, and let’s do it.”
His passing ended the possibility of any future collaboration. Over the years, Hagar has expressed profound regret over the missed opportunity and fondly remembers the creative spark he shared with Eddie during their years together in Van Halen, as noted by AZ Central.
In the years since Eddie’s death, Hagar has continued to pay tribute to his former bandmate through various musical endeavors. In 2024, he toured with Michael Anthony to celebrate Van Halen’s legacy and reconnect with longtime fans, as covered by Sonic Perspectives. Hagar described the tour as a meaningful way to honor his time with the band and said the experience would have been even more special if Eddie were still alive.
Most recently, Hagar launched “The Best of All Worlds Tour – The Residency” in Las Vegas in 2025. Running from April 30 to May 17, the residency features Hagar alongside Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani, Kenny Aronoff, and Rai Thistlethwayte. The show offers fans a close-up celebration of Hagar’s career while continuing to honor the enduring legacy of Van Halen.
