Sammy Hagar Reveals Eddie Van Halen Inspired New Song in a Dream

Sammy Hagar shares a remarkable experience where Eddie Van Halen came to him in a dream to help write a new song, showcasing their enduring bond.

The Dream That Sparked a New Track

Sammy Hagar has recently revealed a captivating story about how Eddie Van Halen, his late bandmate, appeared to him in a dream and helped him write a new song. This track is titled "Encore, Thank You, Goodnight," set to be released this Friday, April 25.

In this dream, Hagar explains that Eddie shared a unique guitar lick with him, which became the foundation of the song. "About two months ago, I had this dream and Eddie came," Hagar recounted. "He’s going, ‘Man, let’s write some music!’ I said, ‘Yeah, fuck it, man. Here, let’s go!’”

A Harmonious Reunion in Dreamland

Hagar described the experience as surreal but incredibly inspiring. He remembered how Eddie demonstrated a harmonic slide to a chord, almost like playing a slide guitar. “We wrote a song with that lick,” Hagar continued. “I remembered it. I got up in the morning and I wrote the song. I used the fuckin’ lick that he showed me in the song.”

A Legacy of Brotherhood

Hagar's connection with Van Halen has always been strong, as he served as the band's vocalist and guitarist during two separate stints from 1985-1996 and 2003-2005. The band eventually broke up in 1996, and their 2004 reunion tour ended on a tense note. However, Hagar later revealed that he and Eddie rekindled their friendship before Eddie's passing in 2020 due to cancer.

Reflecting on their relationship, Hagar noted that the loss of Eddie would have been incredibly challenging had they not made amends before his death. He stated, “Dealing with his loss would have been way too much for me to process had the two not settled their long-standing feud beforehand.”

The Strained Relationship with Alex Van Halen

Unfortunately, Hagar has not had the same rapport with Eddie's brother, Alex Van Halen. In 2022, he mentioned that he doesn't communicate with Alex and criticized him for ignoring the "Van Hagar" era of Van Halen in his memoir, "Brothers." Hagar believes that failing to recognize the music created during their collaboration is unfair to Eddie's legacy.

Hagar expressed on social media, “Alex is not doing his brother’s musical legacy justice by not acknowledging all the No. 1 albums and some great music Eddie and I wrote together — not Alex — but Eddie and I wrote together. To not acknowledge [those] 10 years of music is blasphemy to his brother’s musicianship, songwriting, and legacy.”

What’s Next for Sammy Hagar?

In addition to the new song, Hagar recently announced plans for a Las Vegas residency, which comes on the heels of a bizarre incident where $1 million worth of his tequila was hijacked. He also has an upcoming appearance at Black Sabbath’s final live show on July 5, featuring the band’s original lineup, including Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi.

FAQs

• How did Sammy Hagar and Eddie Van Halen meet? They met when Hagar joined Van Halen as lead vocalist in 1985, forming a legendary rock partnership.
• What was the significance of the song "Encore, Thank You, Goodnight"? This song reflects Hagar's tribute to Van Halen and showcases their musical collaboration, even beyond life.
• When did Eddie Van Halen pass away? Eddie Van Halen passed away in October 2020 after a long battle with cancer.
• Are there any other recent projects by Sammy Hagar? Yes, Hagar announced a Las Vegas residency and will perform at Black Sabbath's final show.
• What did Hagar say about Alex Van Halen's memoir? Hagar criticized Alex for not acknowledging the "Van Hagar" era in the memoir, believing it does a disservice to Eddie's legacy.

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