Sammy Hagar recently shared his thoughts on the dynamic between Joe Satriani and Eddie Van Halen, explaining that while the two guitarists have vastly different styles, Satriani was the perfect choice for the Best of All Worlds tour due to his deep understanding of Van Halen’s music.
Hagar’s retrospective Best of All Worlds tour, featuring Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani, and Jason Bonham (who was later replaced by Kenny Aronoff), brought The Red Rocker back into the spotlight. The inclusion of Van Halen songs in the setlist was a highlight for fans, though Hagar admitted it might not have earned the approval of Alex Van Halen. Still, with two Van Halen alumni on board, the shows created an unforgettable party atmosphere that resonated with audiences.
A significant part of the spotlight was on Joe Satriani, who had the challenging task of honoring Eddie Van Halen’s legendary guitar work without trying to imitate it. Speaking in a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Hagar praised Satriani’s dedication to the material: “It really was, but he’s so good and he’s so focused. Joe’s a very serious musician, and so he took it serious, and he really brought it. Every night, I’m sitting there watching him do his long solos and stuff in a song like ‘5150.’ And I’m watching the fans and they’re checking him out, man. Their jaws are dropping, like, ‘Holy sh*t, he’s doing it.'”
Hagar further explained that Satriani brought his own flair to the music while staying true to the spirit of Van Halen’s songs and solos. “He brought his own thing to the music, but he honored the most important parts, the essence of the songs, and the essence of the solos. He didn’t play note for note. Some things were almost note for note, because a solo like ‘Jump’ is so iconic, ‘Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love’ is iconic. You can’t stray from that. Other than that, when Eddie jammed, Joe knew he was jamming and Joe jammed.”
Despite the differences in their guitar styles, Hagar acknowledged the unique connection between the two musicians. He explained, “Eddie and Joe don’t have the same style at all. A lot of people think, ‘Oh, yeah, he was a perfect match.’ No, he wasn’t a perfect match. There’s a lot of guys that play much more like Eddie than Joe, but I just knew Joe could do it and adapt.”
Hagar also elaborated on the distinction between Satriani’s approach and that of a mere mimic. “A 12-year-old kid that can probably play ‘Eruption’ and those songs. There’s plenty of them, I’ve seen them. They’re just mimicking the song. Joe knows what Eddie was doing, and so Joe does what Eddie was doing. He’s playing it in a musical sense, and feeling it, and knowing what it is.”
Hagar’s comments underscore the respect and admiration he has for both guitarists while emphasizing Satriani’s ability to blend his own style with the rich legacy of Van Halen’s music.
