Grammy winner Sammy Hagar reconnected with his late, great bandmate Eddie Van Halen before passing away on October 6, aged 65, after a decade-long battle with cancer.
The 73-year-old singer-guitarist replaced famed Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth from 1985–1996 and then reunited with the rock band from 2003–2005 before Eddie “broke my heart.”
After Sammy’s desperate calls to Van Halen’s brother, manager and friends didn’t return, comedian George Lopez contacted Hagar.
Grammy winner Sammy Hagar (L) reconnected with his late, great bandmate Eddie Van Halen (R) before passing away on October 6, aged 65, after a ten-year battle with cancer
“George is a good friend and he was Eddie’s friend and he said,” Sammy, Eddie’s in bad shape, he loves your brother, you should get in touch, “The Circle frontman told Variety Saturday.
‘I said,’ Give me his fucking number and I’ll make sure to call him. ”
The 59-year-old Grammy nominee met the Amsterdam-born, Pasadena-raised guitarist in 2011, and they played golf weekly before Eddie donated one of his Frankenstrat guitars to George in 2016.
Bad blood: The 73-year-old singer-guitarist replaced famed Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth from 1985-1996 and then reunited with the rock band from 2003-2005 before Eddie ‘broke my heart’ (photo in 1988)
Changed his number: After Sammy’s desperate calls to Van Halen’s brother, manager and friends did not return, comedian George Lopez contacted Hagar (photo in 2004)
“I said,” Why don’t you respond? I got in touch, “asked Rock & Roll Road Trip presenter Van Halen.
“And Ed said,” Why didn’t you call me? Don’t goddamn call me my brother, call me! ” And I said, “I love you man,” and it was like, boom, we were good. It was a beautiful thing. ‘
Sammy also confirmed rumors that Van Halen was planning a group reunion tour before the Grammy winner’s health took a turn for the worse.
The Circle frontman told Variety Saturday: ‘George (L, pictured in 2019) is a good friend and he was Eddie’s (R) boyfriend and he said,’ Sammy, Eddie is in bad shape, he loves your brother, you must out. ” I said give me his damn number and I’ll make sure to call him
Strange Couple: The 59-year-old Grammy nominee (L) met the Amsterdam-born, Pasadena-raised guitarist (R) in 2011, and they played golf weekly before Eddie donated one of his Frankenstrat guitars to George in 2016 (pictured in 2017). )
“I’ve been pushing for that for 10 years,” Hagar said.
‘And move [any differences] aside. Let’s give the fans the greatest band in the world, you know what I mean? You don’t get bigger than Van Halen, and the fans deserve to see everything, hear every song. ‘
‘The Red Rocker’ has worked hard to promote Santo Tequila with co-founder Guy Fieri and he is recording his 19th studio album, Lockdown 2020, due out next year.
The host of the Rock & Roll Road Trip asked Van Halen, “I said,” Why don’t you respond? I got in touch. ” And Ed said, “Why didn’t you call me? Don’t goddamn call me my brother, call me!” And I said, “I love you man,” and it was like, boom, we were good. It was a beautiful thing ‘(pictured in 1987)
‘I’ve been pushing for that for 10 years’: Sammy also confirmed rumors that Van Halen was planning a group reunion tour before the Grammy winner’s health took a turn (photo 1995)
‘The Red Rocker’: Hagar has worked hard to promote Santo Tequila along with co-founder Guy Fieri and he is recording his 19th studio album, Lockdown 2020, due out next year (photo December 11)