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I think reading from his book, the answer is he got a lot from Leffler.
Leffler saved him, and even though Hagar was a mid-level album and touring act for a very long time in the late 70s to early 80s, I think he was probably making really good money. Maybe even more than the guys in Van Halen, who were splitting it four ways, and on a not-very-good deal apparently with Warners.
I think Leffler had Hagar on good record and touring contracts, and as the sole or main songwriter on most of his stuff, he would be making good money on album sales that were less than Van Halen's albums. He was also getting big bucks for the odd song here and there on film soundtracks in the 80s - he was on a few of those - and some of those things netted him quite large sums of money. He had a song on 'Footloose' I think - a big film.
I don't know how much these things are worth. But, there is an example that comes to mine - a British songwriter named Nick Lowe. Little known, probably - bit of a journeyman songwriter, like Hagar was before Van Halen - but I remember reading something about one of his songs titled '(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding'. Someone did a cover version of it in the film The Bodyguard - it was never a hit song for Lowe himself. So, it wasn't like it was a big famous song the film producers had to pay more than usual to make use of ... but the success of the movie, and the fact that it was on the soundtrack to the movie, made him multi-millions. I think I read many years ago he said he had made more than £5m from that alone.
So, look at Hagar, and look at all those films - some big hits like Footloose, some cult films like Heavy Metal, or Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and you ask yourself, why was this guy getting songs on all these movies?
Answer - Ed Leffler. Van Halen made copious amounts of money when he was in charge of their affairs. He renegotiated record contracts, extracted the maximum from promoters etc. Who was Van Halen's manager before that? Dave used to say they didn't have a manager, but it was the ex-Sex Pistols US Tour road manager who was employed by Warners more as a heavy duty rough 'em up kind of guy, Noel Monk.
A business-savvy guy like Ed Leffler? I don't know, but I wouldn't have thought so.
Leffler saved him, and even though Hagar was a mid-level album and touring act for a very long time in the late 70s to early 80s, I think he was probably making really good money. Maybe even more than the guys in Van Halen, who were splitting it four ways, and on a not-very-good deal apparently with Warners.
I think Leffler had Hagar on good record and touring contracts, and as the sole or main songwriter on most of his stuff, he would be making good money on album sales that were less than Van Halen's albums. He was also getting big bucks for the odd song here and there on film soundtracks in the 80s - he was on a few of those - and some of those things netted him quite large sums of money. He had a song on 'Footloose' I think - a big film.
I don't know how much these things are worth. But, there is an example that comes to mine - a British songwriter named Nick Lowe. Little known, probably - bit of a journeyman songwriter, like Hagar was before Van Halen - but I remember reading something about one of his songs titled '(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding'. Someone did a cover version of it in the film The Bodyguard - it was never a hit song for Lowe himself. So, it wasn't like it was a big famous song the film producers had to pay more than usual to make use of ... but the success of the movie, and the fact that it was on the soundtrack to the movie, made him multi-millions. I think I read many years ago he said he had made more than £5m from that alone.
So, look at Hagar, and look at all those films - some big hits like Footloose, some cult films like Heavy Metal, or Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and you ask yourself, why was this guy getting songs on all these movies?
Answer - Ed Leffler. Van Halen made copious amounts of money when he was in charge of their affairs. He renegotiated record contracts, extracted the maximum from promoters etc. Who was Van Halen's manager before that? Dave used to say they didn't have a manager, but it was the ex-Sex Pistols US Tour road manager who was employed by Warners more as a heavy duty rough 'em up kind of guy, Noel Monk.
A business-savvy guy like Ed Leffler? I don't know, but I wouldn't have thought so.
Seriously though, it's hard to argue with his business success. The Van Halens screwed themselves in the Cabo Wabo Cantina deal. The place was struggling and they panicked and wanted to be bought out. Sam gutted it out and turned the place around, then the Van Halens complain about losing out on the deal!
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