In a recent conversation with Full Metal Jackie, Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine said that singer Sammy Hagar’s Montrose era is way better than his era along with Van Halen.
Here’s what Mustaine said:
“We did a cover song of one of Sammy’s songs. A lot of people didn’t know Sammy before he did his time in Van Halen. I know him from back when he played in Montrose and, after that, in his solo career. I was never convinced with the Van Halen tracks because I’d heard Sammy sing on Montrose, and that man can sing.
”Oh my God. He was one of my favorite singers forever and ever. ”I Got the Fire” is one of my favorite Montrose songs. It’s such a heavy song. Even Iron Maiden covered it.
”I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to do ”This Planet’s on Fire” by Sammy?’ I contacted him and asked him, ‘Would you mind singing on it and maybe putting down some guitars?’
”So he returned and said, ‘Sure, I’ll sing on it. I ain’t playing guitar because I heard you two shredders, and you leave the stuff like it is.’ I was flattered because I think Sammy’s a great guitar player.”