Band relationships often resemble marriage relationships, at least half the time. Although you may not be tying the knot or starting a family, the experience of encountering the same individual daily on the road is profound. Collaborating in the studio to bring something new to life fosters an unexpectedly intimate bond between two people. Many bands often face the unfortunate fate of ending up in divorce court. Sammy Hagar expressed his lack of control over the situation when he departed from Van Halen.
By the end of Hagar’s tenure in the band, it seemed that their status as a hard rock powerhouse had diminished. Despite their exceptional musical abilities, Balance didn’t achieve the same level of commercial success as 5150 did almost ten years earlier. With ‘Can’t Stop Lovin‘ You’ as their hit, they seemed on track to be an ordinary dad band. However, Eddie’s distinctive guitar solos saved them from that fate.
Hagar found working on the song ‘Humans Being‘ for the movie Twister disappointing. All he wanted was a chance to catch a break. Despite the soundtrack’s success, Hagar left Van Halen due to numerous disagreements, primarily with Eddie.
However, Hagar’s actions were not entirely justified in this situation. Given that Eddie and Alex Van Halen hailed from the Netherlands, they might have been disinclined to collaborate with an individual known for creating songs such as ‘Amsterdam’. This song contained lyrics about indulging in recreational substances in their homeland.
It was the end of the line for Eddie, prompting him to reach out to Hagar and inform him that the band no longer wanted him in the group. It may have appeared to be the perfect moment, but for Hagar, this completely blindsided her.
Hagar described feeling blindsided and forced out of the group during his interview with Rolling Stone. He stated, “I was informed that I had quit according to Eddie.” The phone rings, and I’m lying there with my brand-new baby. He says, ‘You know, you’ve always wanted to pursue a solo career, so go ahead and embrace it.’ And when he said that, I jumped out of bed in sheer terror.
Then again, perhaps Eddie simply desired a reason to relax and unwind. Hagar and David Lee Roth had already limited him to their desires. Perhaps the third time would bring better luck with Gary Cherone. Three proved to be a disastrous number for him, resulting in one of the most notorious blunders in rock history on Van Halen III.
Despite reuniting with the band briefly, Hagar maintained that he had never intended to leave in the first place. He clarified, “It wasn’t a situation where he told me, ‘You’re fired‘.” He just informed me that you’re leaving the band. It appears that you have decided to depart from the band. We’re moving forward without you. Oh well. I had no say in the matter.
Despite everything, Sammy Hagar demonstrated a remarkable capacity for forgiveness and reconciliation. He ultimately reconciled with Eddie and spoke highly of his former bandmate following his passing. The Hagar years of the band may seem like a distant memory. However, one can’t help but wonder what could have happened if the band had reconciled instead of engaging in conflicts and seeking answers later on.
