Sammy Hagar has opened up about the turbulent atmosphere that surrounded VAN HALEN’s Balance recording sessions. In a candid interview shared on YouTube, the Red Rocker painted a vivid picture of just how strained the band’s relationships had become at the time, especially with Eddie Van Halen.
A Studio Filled with Tension
For Hagar, the sessions were far from enjoyable. The frontman described how entering the studio became a difficult experience, largely due to the friction between bandmates.
“It’s so crazy because to go into the studio and not want to be there is just was for me was it was tough,” Hagar said. “But Bruce Fairbairn felt the tension between Ed and me and Mike and Ed. You know, Mike would put a bass part down and Ed would go in there and listen to it like [closely]. Bruce would go, ‘There’s nothing wrong with that note.’ I mean, Ed just wanted to crucify Mike.”
According to Hagar, producer Bruce Fairbairn was forced to act as a mediator. He frequently stepped in to defend Michael Anthony, whose bass parts were often criticized by Eddie.
Disruptions During Vocal Sessions
Hagar explained that the problems didn’t end there. Eddie frequently disrupted his vocal takes, making it nearly impossible to focus.
“Ed and I weren’t getting along ‘cuz he was disruptive when I was trying to do vocals,” he continued. “He’d come in before I was done and start making comments and I’d be like in there waiting to sing and he’d be have the mic turned off. He’s talking to Bruce telling him, ‘I want Sam to do this. I want Sam to do that.’ And Bruce would be arguing with him like, ‘Ed, get out of here.’ He’d finally he’d say, ‘Ed, get out of here. We got this.’”
These interruptions grew so intense that Fairbairn eventually decided to move the recording elsewhere.
Relocating to Canada
To escape the escalating tension, Fairbairn and Hagar traveled to Canada to finish the vocal tracks. They worked at Bryan Adams’ studio, which provided the peace and quiet needed to complete several key songs.
“And it really would piss me off because I’m sitting there waiting for Ed to stop complaining about something he hasn’t even heard yet,” Hagar explained. “So Bruce said, ‘F-ck this. Come on, we’re going to Canada.’ And him and I went up to and I went Brian Adams’ house where he had a vocal booth in his studio and a board. That’s it. So, I did ‘Can’t Stop Loving You.’ I did ‘Don’t Tell Me What Love Can Do.’ I did ‘Deja Vu’ there.”
Recognition Despite Conflict
Despite the arguments, there were moments when the music itself brought the band back together. Hagar recalled Eddie’s reaction upon hearing some of the finished songs.
“I remember Ed hearing ‘Don’t Tell Me What Love Can Do,’” he said. “I remember Ed looking at Al going, ‘Yeah this is pretty good. We can’t poke holes at this, man.’ And I was sitting there, man. I was waiting. It was good that you know, Ed, no matter what kind of mood we got in at the end, him, Al, Mike, and I, any of us, if something was good you had to it, you know.”
This acknowledgment highlighted that, beneath the personal struggles, the band members still respected the power of a strong performance.
The End of an Era
Released in 1995, Balance would go on to be VAN HALEN’s last studio album with Sammy Hagar. The conflicts Hagar described ultimately foreshadowed his departure from the band in 1996.
While the record contained hits like Can’t Stop Loving You and Don’t Tell Me (What Love Can Do), fans now have a clearer picture of just how difficult it was to create.
Hagar’s reflections add another layer to VAN HALEN’s complex history, showing how even at the height of their success, internal tensions were pulling the band apart. For many fans, Balance represents both a musical triumph and the closing chapter of the Hagar era.
