Sammy Hagar, the legendary rock singer and former frontman of Van Halen, recently opened up about his regrets surrounding his relationship with the late guitarist Eddie Van Halen. In an interview, Hagar admitted that he would have made a greater effort to reconnect with Van Halen sooner if he had been aware of the extent of the guitarist’s health struggles.
“I wish I had reached out more,” Hagar confessed, expressing a sense of longing and regret. “I didn’t know how bad it was.” Hagar’s revelation offers a glimpse into the complex dynamics of their relationship, which was marked by both creative triumphs and personal challenges.
Their collaboration on the iconic Van Halen album 5150 remains a cornerstone of rock history, but their paths eventually diverged. Hagar’s admission of regret highlights the enduring impact of Van Halen’s music and the bittersweet nature of their legacy.
A Troubled Farewell
Hagar recently spoke about his final tour with Van Halen, a journey marred by tension and Eddie Van Halen’s struggles with substance abuse. In an interview with AZ Central, Hagar described the 2004 trek as a difficult experience, culminating in a particularly poignant moment at the last show.
“Eddie kind of lost it out there,” Hagar recalled. “I mean, he was in bad shape the whole tour. Not trying to bring up a sore subject, but he was not healthy and was very abusive to himself.” The guitarist reportedly lay down on stage and apologized to fans, admitting he was “outta gas.”
Reflecting on the tour’s aftermath, Hagar expressed a sense of disappointment and sadness. “I just sat there, shaking my head, going, ‘God, that was a terrible experience,’” he shared.
A Change of Heart
Despite the initial disappointment and hurt following his final Van Halen tour, Sammy Hagar has gained a new perspective over time. Looking back, he wishes he had a better understanding of Eddie Van Halen’s struggles with alcoholism and cancer.
“No one knew quite what was going on with the guy,” Hagar explained. “Now we know. And it’s a little bit easier to understand his frustrations and probably why he was turning to alcohol and drugs more than ever.” He acknowledged that Eddie was likely dealing with internal pain that was unknown to others.
Hagar confessed that he might have approached the situation differently if he had been aware of the full extent of Eddie’s struggles. “I would’ve probably tried even harder,” he said. “I would’ve maybe tried a little harder, maybe been a little more compassionate, instead of saying ‘Fuck it.’”
A Late but Meaningful Reconciliation
Sammy Hagar and Eddie Van Halen were able to reconnect in 2020, just months before Van Halen’s passing. While Hagar expressed a wish that they had reconciled sooner, he is grateful for the opportunity to revive their friendship.
“We had some really emotional moments on the phone, being very happy to be friends again,” Hagar shared. He emphasized the importance of this closure, stating, “For me, I can only speak for myself, it was so important that we had closure before he passed, because otherwise, I don’t know how I’d feel about it.”
Hagar now finds peace in remembering his friendship with Van Halen. “Now, I just go, ‘Hey, I miss Ed.’ I miss the music,” he said.