Meta Description: Sammy Hagar reveals he would have reconnected with Eddie Van Halen sooner if he’d known the extent of the guitarist’s health issues. Discover how Hagar reflects on their final tour and their emotional reunion in 2020.
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Sammy Hagar admits he would have reconnected with Eddie Van Halen sooner if he had known the severity of the guitarist’s health woes. In a revealing interview with AZ Central, Hagar reflected on his last tour with Van Halen in 2004, a trek overshadowed by tension and Eddie’s struggles with substance abuse. The tour’s finale was especially poignant, with Eddie reportedly lying down on stage, apologizing to fans for being “outta gas.”
“Eddie kind of lost it out there,” Hagar, also known as the Red Rocker, recalled. “He was in bad shape throughout the tour, not trying to bring up a sore subject, but he was not healthy and was very abusive to himself.”
Hagar described feeling dejected during the plane ride after the tour’s final stop. “I just sat there, shaking my head, thinking, ‘God, that was a terrible experience.’”
Sammy Hagar Regrets Not Knowing More About Eddie Van Halen’s Health Issues
Though the singer was “disappointed” and “hurt” after his last tour with Van Halen, time has softened Hagar’s perspective. He now wishes he had understood more about Eddie’s battles with alcoholism and cancer.
“No one knew quite what was going on with Eddie,” the frontman explained. “Now we know, and it’s a bit easier to understand his frustrations and why he might have turned to alcohol and drugs more than ever. He knew things we didn’t know, or he was feeling things we didn’t understand. God bless him.”
Hagar added, “I almost wish I had known more about what was going on with him. I probably would’ve tried even harder. I tried as hard as I could to connect with him, get him healthy, but I would’ve maybe tried a little harder, maybe been a little more compassionate, instead of saying ‘Forget it.’”
Hagar and Van Halen’s Emotional Reconnection in 2020
Despite their rocky past, Hagar and Eddie managed to reconnect in 2020, just months before the guitar legend’s passing. Although Hagar wishes they had mended their relationship sooner, he’s grateful they were able to rebuild their friendship.
“We had some really emotional moments on the phone, and I was so happy we were friends again,” Hagar admitted. “For me, it was crucial to have that closure before he passed. Otherwise, I don’t know how I’d feel now. I’d be waking up at night, thinking, ‘I wish we could’ve fixed that.’ Now, I just miss Ed. I miss the music.”
