In a candid new interview with Rolling Stone‘s Andy Greene, Sammy Hagar addressed his absence from Alex Van Halen’s book Brothers, in which the Van Halen drummer expressed that the essence of the band ended when David Lee Roth left. Hagar, visibly moved by the sentiment, said, “It’s sad. I haven’t read the whole book, but I’ve seen all the excerpts, and I heard some of the interviews. It breaks my heart, because if I think what Alex is going through, losing his brother, never played with anybody else in his life, and then his health.”
Referring to Alex’s recent public appearances, where he has been seen walking with a cane, Hagar continued: “When I saw how rickety he is, I realized, ‘No wonder he’s not answering my call when I say, ‘Do you want to go out and play with us?” He can’t. That breaks my heart, because I can only put myself in those shoes and say, ‘What if I couldn’t sing and perform anymore?'”
Hagar, who built much of his life and career around performing, expressed deep empathy for Alex, stating: “The thing that I did my whole life, the thing I devoted my life to, the thing that made me rich and famous and gave me the most beautiful life on the planet, and all of a sudden I can’t do that anymore? I would feel like I was robbing the fans, to start with. When you put yourself in his shoes, I’m saying, ‘Okay, I feel sorry for him.'”
While he expressed understanding for Alex’s situation, Hagar also revealed his confusion about being left out of the narrative in Brothers, saying, “Why he left me out, I would like to hear him explain that someday, because I don’t get it completely. I know that he’s bitter about some things, whatever that is…” He went on to assert his claim over the Van Halen era that Alex and others have distanced themselves from, adding, “If you don’t want that era, that even gives me more justification to say I own it then.”
Hagar’s comments suggested that he and bassist Michael Anthony, who were both integral to the band’s success, have a responsibility to keep the music alive for fans. “No one else can do it, and he can’t do it even without me,” Hagar said. “It makes it easier for Mike and I to go out and play the songs on our own… We have the obligation to bring this to the fans to keep this music alive.”
Towards the end of the interview, Hagar reiterated his desire for reconciliation with Alex. “It’s on my bucket list that I will not take this to my grave, and I don’t want Al taking it to his grave,” he said. Hagar has made multiple attempts to reach out, including through Van Halen’s manager, Irving Azoff. “I’ve put the olive branch out there many times, and I just put it out again to Irving Azoff.”
Hagar clarified that he does not seek to reunite with Alex in a musical sense, explaining, “I want to be friends… I don’t want to play in a band with Al. I’m not asking for that. I can see that he’s not capable of doing that. If he was, I’d be happy to play with him, but it’s not what I’m looking for. I just want to be friends again.”
