Sammy Hagar Criticizes Alex Van Halen’s Book: “It Is a Sham Because There Can Never Be a Van Halen History Without Sammy Hagar”

Sammy Hagar Criticizes Alex Van Halen’s Book: “It Is a Sham Because There Can Never Be a Van Halen History Without Sammy Hagar”

In a recent statement that is sure to stir up fans and critics alike, rock legend Sammy Hagar criticized Alex Van Halen’s new book, “Brothers: A Van Halen Story.” The book, penned by Alex, explores the iconic band’s history from his perspective, highlighting the band’s early years, their rise to stardom, and their eventual ups and downs. However, Hagar, who was a key member of the band for over a decade, feels that his role in Van Halen’s story has been drastically overlooked in the narrative Alex has presented. For Hagar, this omission isn’t just a minor detail—it’s a significant flaw that misrepresents the true legacy of Van Halen.

Sammy Hagar’s criticism centers on the idea that there can never truly be a Van Halen history without acknowledging his contributions to the band. From 1985 to 1996, Hagar fronted Van Halen, replacing David Lee Roth and helping to lead the band through one of its most commercially successful periods. Hits like “Why Can’t This Be Love,” “Finish What Ya Started,” and “Right Now” are part of the band’s enduring legacy, and for many fans, this era of Van Halen is just as important as their earlier days with Roth. Hagar’s dismissal of the book, therefore, is not just about his exclusion but also about what he sees as a fundamental misunderstanding of the band’s true history.

Hagar has made it clear that he doesn’t expect to be the sole focus of Van Halen’s legacy. His issue is not about seeking recognition, but about the fairness of the narrative. He argues that by leaving him out of the story, Alex Van Halen is presenting a skewed version of the band’s history. Hagar’s tenure with the group was marked by immense commercial success, and his distinctive voice and songwriting contributions reshaped Van Halen’s sound. His absence from Alex’s account feels to Hagar like a purposeful erasure, and he is not shy about calling it a “sham.”

One of the key points in Hagar’s criticism is the idea that the Van Halen legacy is not solely about Eddie Van Halen’s guitar playing or Alex’s drumming. While both were undeniably central to the band’s success, Hagar argues that without the chemistry between all the members, particularly him as the frontman, Van Halen would not have achieved the success it did during the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. Hagar’s vocals added a new dimension to the band’s sound, which appealed to a broader audience and helped propel them into a new era of rock dominance.

The exclusion of Hagar from Alex’s book is especially perplexing given that the band experienced such a dramatic transformation during his time in Van Halen. The shift from the party-animal rock antics of Roth’s era to a more polished, radio-friendly sound in the Hagar years marked a defining period for the band. The success of albums like 5150 and OU812 with Hagar at the helm helped redefine the band’s sound and brought them to new heights in terms of both record sales and stadium tours.

Hagar’s frustration also comes from the fact that, throughout his time with Van Halen, he was integral not just as a singer, but as a collaborator and co-writer. His input into the band’s songwriting process is often overlooked, but songs like “Love Walks In” and “When It’s Love” reflect a depth of collaboration that went beyond just Eddie Van Halen’s guitar. This aspect of the band’s creative process is essential to understanding the full scope of Van Halen’s impact on rock music, and Hagar believes that Alex’s book fails to capture it.

Despite his criticism, Hagar’s comments are less about bitterness and more about setting the record straight. The Van Halen story, according to Hagar, cannot be told properly without acknowledging the contributions of all its members. In his eyes, the band’s success in the Hagar era was not just the product of Eddie’s musical genius but also a result of the collective effort of the entire band, including Hagar himself. His vocal talent, stage presence, and songwriting skills were vital to Van Halen’s success during that time, and to ignore this is a disservice to the fans who supported the band during these years.

At the heart of Hagar’s comments lies a larger question about how history is written, particularly when it comes to bands with complex dynamics like Van Halen. The Van Halen saga is full of drama, internal conflicts, and lineup changes, and as a result, different versions of the band’s story are constantly being told. Sammy Hagar’s take on the band’s history is one that emphasizes fairness and inclusivity, arguing that any true account of Van Halen must include all the voices that contributed to its legacy—especially his own.