Anyone who knows their rock history knows that the beef between Sammy Hagar and Van Halen may never end. Old rock bands used to split in the ugliest fashions. Moreover, those grudges can last an entire lifetime. Members of Creedence Clearwater Revival are still jabbing at each other to this day after issues over 50 years old.
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A similar discontent lasts between Hagar and Alex Van Halen of the band. The pair haven't spoken to each other in over 20 years despite being with the band from 1985 to 1996 and 2003 to 2005. Now, Sammy is laying out why he believes that rift still exists between them.
Recently, Hagar spoke with Rolling Stone about retiring and choosing to go the Las Vegas residency route instead of a proper farewell tour. Obviously, with Van Halen being such an integral part of his career, he explains why there's still bad blood there. Ultimately, he argues that Alex's spinal injury and his inability to perform makes the drummer thorny towards hashing things out.
Sammy Hagar Dishes on Why He Thinks Van Halen Will Never Get Back Together
"I think Al's angry because I'm out doing it, and Mike [Anthony, former Van Halen bassist] and I are out doing it, and he can't," Hagar says. "He's not a singer. He's not a guitar player. He is not really a band leader."
He seems like he doesn't want to play drums or can't play drums anymore, and he can't go write a new record. Alex wasn't the songwriter in the band," Sammy adds. "He was the drummer. Eddie and I wrote the songs. Dave and Eddie wrote the songs, and so we can go out and do them. And I think that really bothers him that Mike and I are still out there doing it. I would feel bad. If I put myself in his shoes, I would feel terrible if I couldn't do it anymore."
Regardless, Sammy Hagar wants to preserve the Van Halen legacy while he still can. Consequently, he understands if he and Alex will never patch things up. All he asks is for the drummer to stay out of his way. "I'm out there selling Van Halen records and keeping the name alive, keeping the music alive," Hagar says. "I'm making you money. Just leave me alone. I'll leave you alone. Everything's good."
