Sammy Hagar recently responded to his former bandmate Alex Van Halen’s insults by sharing a post on Instagram featuring Green Day’s “American Idiot” playing in the background.
The post showed Hagar mimicking the “three wise monkeys” to address the situation. “Hear No Evil. See No Evil. Speak No Evil,” Hagar wrote in the caption.
Following the post, a fan commented on the band’s history, praising Hagar and bassist Michael Anthony while downplaying the other members’ contributions. Hagar replied to defend the band’s original singer, David Lee Roth.
“With all due respect don’t forget about Dave in the beginning,” Hagar responded. “He was really important to bringing Eddie’s guitar genius to the masses.”
Another fan commented on the band’s dysfunction, questioning why Alex Van Halen seemed to favor Roth over Hagar despite past issues regarding a planned Eddie Van Halen tribute concert. Hagar agreed that the situation was confusing.
“It certainly is puzzling the way things have been handled and one has been said, but yes, humans being good,” Hagar replied.
Hagar’s measured response follows a new escalation in the longstanding dispute between the former Van Halen bandmates.
Alex Van Halen criticized Hagar during an interview with Brazilian journalist Marcelo Vieira for Roadie Crew. When asked about Hagar’s 2011 memoir, Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock, Alex said, “I don’t know what he wrote, and I don’t want to know. In my opinion, Sammy Hagar is a complete idiot.”
The comment revived tensions that have continued for decades. Hagar served as Van Halen’s lead singer from 1985 to 1996, and the former bandmates have repeatedly disagreed over the group’s history and internal relationships.
The feud resurfaced after the publication of Hagar’s memoir and continued during later discussions about possible Van Halen reunions.
The disagreement has also involved plans for an Eddie Van Halen tribute concert. Wolfgang Van Halen said in 2022 that the proposed event “never even got off the ground” and suggested that David Lee Roth’s involvement was a major obstacle.
Hagar has not appeared interested in prolonging the latest exchange. Along with describing Alex’s comment as “unnecessary,” he used the Green Day track and the “three wise monkeys” imagery to signal that he would rather avoid another public feud.
