If you are a fan of rock music, then you’re a fan of Van Halen. The band was founded by Eddie Van Halen and went onto becoming one of the most popular and influential American rock bands of all time.
Many musicians came and went through the group and each contributed to the band’s unique sound. One of the most popular musicians from Van Halen was Sammy Hagar. He served as the lead singer of the band for over a decade – replacing David Lee Roth.
He and Eddie Van Halen became good friends. Yet, there was a looming regret that Sammy Hagar has had since Eddie Van Halen passed away in October 2020.
Let’s look back at Van Halen’s incredible legacy and what Sammy Hagar’s huge regret was after Eddie Van Halen’s death…
HOW VAN HALEN GOT IT’S START
Eddie Van Halen and his brother Alex Van Halen were the son of Dutch musician Jan Van Halen. As one would expect, they grew up loving music and learned how to play instruments and write songs.
They formed a band in 1964 called The Broken Combs. They began performing at high school concerts and at local backyard parties. The band went through several different name changes until they finally settled on Van Halen in 1973. Previous names were Trojan Rubber Co., Genesis, and Mammoth.
The name ‘Van Halen’ wasn’t actually a choice of the two Van Halen brothers but of their lead singer, David Lee Roth. The band was now a tour-de-force and were playing in clubs and in concert halls – with crowds that included thousands of adoring fans.
The band was active from 1978 to 1998 and put out 11 albums. They put out their 12th and final album A Different Kind of Truth in 2012. They took a hiatus in 1998 and then reunited a few times throughout the 2000s and 2010s until Eddie Van Halen’s death in 2020.
Van Halen had several tours and became a worldwide phenomenon. Their first tour was the 1978 World Tour. With this concert, they toured around the United States, Canada, several cities in Europe and in Japan.
They had several tours throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Even in the 2000s, Van Halen hadn’t lost their popularity. They performed in the Summer Tour in 2004, the North American Tour from 2007 to 2008, the “A Different Kind of Truth” Tour from 2012 to 2013 and another North American Tour in 2015 – which would be their final tour.
With Eddie Van Halen’s death in 2020, the band Van Halen has now come to an end. Nevertheless, it’s likely that their music will continue to live on for several generations to come.
Apart from the Van Halen brothers, the band had several members who made it a success. While David Lee Roth became the lead singer who helped catapult the band to stardom, many fans also loved his replacement, Sammy Hagar.
Before we tell you more about the Sammy Hagar’s one huge regret, please ‘like’ this video and hit the subscribe button. Click the bell icon to get notifications from FactsVerse and watch more pop culture videos and interesting stories. Now, back to the video…
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SAMMY HAGAR COMES ONTO THE SCENE
Sammy Hagar was born on the 13th of October, 1947, in Salinas, California. His life couldn’t have been more different from Eddie Van Halen’s. Unlike his later bandmate, Sammy didn’t come from a musical family or even a stable one.
Sammy’s father, Bobby Hagar, was in and out of jobs and couldn’t keep the family stable. He was a heavy drinker and was often abusive toward his wife and children. Eventually, when Sammy was around 10 years old, his mother left his father and decided to raise her children on her own.
As a young boy, Sammy Hagar had to work several odds jobs just to help his family remain stable. His jobs included delivering newspapers, mowing lawns, and even picking fruit in fields. His escape was music which he very quickly became passionate about.
With his savings, he bought a $40 guitar and began teaching himself how to play the instrument. He would also try to sneak into concerts of his favorite rock bands including The Rolling Stones and Dick Dale.
After graduating from high school, he decided to move to Riverside, California to pursue his music career. He played in a variety of bands and began honing his musical talents. While this could have been the opportunity of a lifetime, none of these bands became hugely popular.
He eventually returned to Fontana with his wife and children. Sammy hadn’t given up on his dreams to pursue a career in music. He claims that one night he had an experience where he felt that mystical creatures were communicating with him – convincing him that he was destined for stardom.
Sammy later met a psychic who convinced him to move to San Francisco to pursue his music career.
He took the psychic’s advice and began his music career in San Francisco. He first played in a band called Montrose and later had a solo career. But his big break came when singer David Lee Roth stepped down from the band Van Halen – and the group was on the lookout for a replacement.
Sammy Hagar served as the lead singer of Van Halen from 1985 to 1996 and later from 2003 to 2005. The band had a revival once he joined and he helped continue their legacy after the ever-popular David Lee Roth stepped aside.
During his time with Van Halen, Sammy Hagar became one of the world’s most prominent rock musicians, singers, and songwriters. He also developed a close friendship with his bandmate, Eddie Van Halen.
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EDDIE VAN HALEN’S LIFE AND LEGACY
Eddie Van Halen became interested in rock music during his teens – particularly being inspired by the British Invasion – bands such as The Beatles, The Dave Clark Five, and The Rolling Stones.
He taught himself music and decided to start a band with his brother. Eddie was a hardworking musician and songwriter who helped create one of the greatest rock bands of all time.
He was born in the Netherlands to a native Dutch father and a mother who was from Indonesia. The family lived together for several years in the Netherlands but decided to emigrate to the United States in the early 1960s – after his parents felt social stigma due to their mixed-race relationship.
Eddie Van Halen grew up in California and this was where he would spend much of his life. He also became responsible for helping create the popular rock music scene that came out of the Golden State.
The band Van Halen became hugely popular in the 1970s and 1980s – thanks to Eddie’s excellent songwriting skills and musicianship. The talent of David Lee Roth also was a huge factor in Van Halen’s success.
Naturally, it was a setback for the band when David Lee Roth left. However, Sammy Hagar was a great replacement and he helped take the band to new heights. Eddie Van Halen and Sammy Hagar also became great friends.
Eddie Van Halen performed music for much of his life. While Van Halen didn’t release an album after 2012, they occasionally would reunite for performances.
Apart from his professionalism, Eddie Van Halen sadly had a few health problems. He began smoking and drinking during his teens. He struggled with drug abuse and alcoholism for much of his life. These habits, of course, lead to serious health problems.
These health problems eventually took their toll. He was hospitalized in 2019 after suffering from throat cancer for a few years. Eddie died of a stroke on October 6, 2020, at the age of 65.
He was surrounded by his brother and his close family members including his wife, Janie, ex-wife Valerie Bertinelli, and his son, Wolfgang.
SAMMY HAGAR’S REGRET
After Eddie Van Halen’s death, Sammy Hagar has had 1 huge regret.
Sammy Hagar published his memoirs in 2011 and in it, he discussed his relationship with Eddie Van Halen. He has since expressed regret for discussing some of Eddie Van Halen’s dark personality in the memoirs.
He stated that he regrets writing about Eddie’s darker side now that he is gone and that if given the chance to re-write the memoir, he would only portray his former bandmate in a positive light.
The two of them had a falling out and had their issues while working together, which sometimes strained their friendship. Luckily, before Eddie Van Halen’s passing the two of them met and put their differences aside.
While Sammy Hagar wasn’t there with Eddie Van Halen during his last moments, the two of them were friends again and had made peace. Nevertheless, Sammy Hagar regrets what he wrote and felt there were somethings better left unsaid.
Perhaps there’s a lesson in there for us all…
Eddie Van Halen is remembered as one of the world’s greatest rock musicians and songwriters. Van Halen remains one of the most popular rock bands of all time. Sammy Hagar still performs on occasion and has even recorded albums. He released an album called Space Between in 2019 and Lockdown 2020 which was released in 2021.
Both Eddie Van Halen and Sammy Hagar led troubled but ultimately, rewarding lives. They strived for excellence and achieved heights that few entertainers manage to reach. They both serve as a great inspiration for all of us.
Now, let’s hear from you:
Are you a fan of Van Halen?
In fact, here’s what we’d like to know:
Do you think that their music is still appreciated today?
Or do we need to share their music with the younger generations?
Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments.
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