Sammy Hagar

Nicknamed ‘The Red Rocker,’ Sammy Hagar remains the personification of a good-time hard rock party boy. Born in Salinas, California on October 13, 1947, he first came to prominence in 1973 as the vocalist in Montrose, a hard rock band founded by guitarist Ronnie Montrose. Signed to Warner Bros. Records, Montrose released their self-titled album to great acclaim in 1973. Sammy Hagar also appeared on the group’s second album, Paper Money (1974), but tensions with Ronnie Montrose led to Sammy Hagar being fired from the band. Signing with Capitol Records, he began his solo career with the release of Nine on a Ten Scale in 1976. Although he had a built-in audience thanks to his work with Montrose, Sammy Hagar’s first few albums – including Sammy Hagar (1977), Musical Chairs (1977), Street Machine (1979), and Danger Zone (1980) – were only moderately successful. However, one of his songs, “I’ve Done Everything for You,” was covered by Rick Springfield and became a hit single, reaching number 8 on Billboard’s Hot 100. After leaving Capitol and signing with Geffen Records, Sammy Hagar released the album Standing Hampton (1982), which proved to be a commercial success and landed in the Top 30. His next album, Three Lock Box, was released later that year and that squeaked into the Top 20. The album included the number 13 hit “Your Love is Driving Me Crazy.” Sammy Hagar’s solo success was at its highest peak when he released the single “I Can’t Drive 55” and the album VOA in 1984. Also released that year was the album Through the Fire, which found him collaborating with guitarist Neal Schon, bassist Kenny Aaronson, and drummer Michael Shrieve. Surprisingly, Sammy Hagar put his solo career on hold when he joined hard rock band Van Halen, replacing their original vocalist, David Lee Roth. Between 1988 and 1995, he recorded three number 1 albums with Van Halen: OU812 (1988), For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991), and Balance (1995). After leaving Van Halen, her returned to his solo career with the Top 20 album Marching to Mars (1997). He then formed a new band – Sammy Hagar & The Waboritas – and released four albums: Red Voodoo (1999), Ten 13 (2000), Not 4 Sale (2002), and Livin’ It Up! (2006). He then formed supergroup Chickenfoot with guitarist Joe Satriani, bassist Michael Anthony (Van Halen), and Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) and released two Top 10 albums: Chickenfoot (number 4) and Chickenfoot II (number 9). More albums followed including two albums with his band The Circle, which featured Michael Anthony, Jason Bonham, and Vic Johnson (The Busboys). Sammy Hagar has also started several businesses outside the music business including his own nightclub, the Cabo Wabo brand of tequila, and several others.

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