WARF
12-26-2005, 12:08 AM
Sammy Hagar excerpt from "Maximum Guitar" July 1997.
We had a band meeting and they asked me what I wanted to do for the next five years. I said, "I'd like to not do a greatest hits record. I'd like us to make a new record in June, have it ready by October for a Christmas release and tour the first part of the year. That's almost a two-year cycle. After that, I'd like to do another Van Halen record and tour South America and other places we've never been. Then I want to reevaluate what I want to do, because, at some point in my life, I want to do another solo record."
They started screaming things like, "You'll be in your fifties by then! We'll be in our late forties! You're crazy if you think you can do another solo record." I looked at them calmly and said, "Well, I'd like to." They said, "If you want to be in this band, you have to say right now that you will never do another solo record." I said, "I will not say that. I can't even tell you if I'll be in this band tomorrow. I can't tell you anything." Then Eddie said, "See, you never want to commit!"
I said to Eddie, "I've been in this band for 11 years. You know damn well that I don't make plans. I do one thing at a time because that's the way I am. I don't know what's going to happen two, three years down the road. But I can tell you from my heart and soul that at this moment I want to be in this band for the rest of my life. I want this band to stay together longer than the Stones. I want Van Halen to be the biggest band that ever lived in rock history, and I want to be part of it."
Then Alex jumped up and said, "So you're doing it for the money!" I shook my head and said, "Do it for the money? Are you crazy?" He then shot back, "Okay Sammy, would you do a solo record for free?" I told him I damn sure would do one for free, and then he said, "Okay, then, give us the money." I stared at him with a "fuck you" look, and it seemed like Al wanted to fight me. Then he left the room. Eddie, all choked up, said, "Sammy, go outside and tell Al you're sorry. He just wants you to be a brother."
I told Eddie I was a brother and that I'd go outside and talk to Al. I went out and we hugged. I told him I was sorry I got pissed off, and we talked about some pretty soulful stuff. We buddied back up again, hugged once more, and that was it. I ended up saying I'd never do a solo album again. I told Ray I'd re-sing "Between Us Two" for the greatest hits record. I swear to God I was trying to keep this band together. It ended up being the last band meting we'd ever have.
We had a band meeting and they asked me what I wanted to do for the next five years. I said, "I'd like to not do a greatest hits record. I'd like us to make a new record in June, have it ready by October for a Christmas release and tour the first part of the year. That's almost a two-year cycle. After that, I'd like to do another Van Halen record and tour South America and other places we've never been. Then I want to reevaluate what I want to do, because, at some point in my life, I want to do another solo record."
They started screaming things like, "You'll be in your fifties by then! We'll be in our late forties! You're crazy if you think you can do another solo record." I looked at them calmly and said, "Well, I'd like to." They said, "If you want to be in this band, you have to say right now that you will never do another solo record." I said, "I will not say that. I can't even tell you if I'll be in this band tomorrow. I can't tell you anything." Then Eddie said, "See, you never want to commit!"
I said to Eddie, "I've been in this band for 11 years. You know damn well that I don't make plans. I do one thing at a time because that's the way I am. I don't know what's going to happen two, three years down the road. But I can tell you from my heart and soul that at this moment I want to be in this band for the rest of my life. I want this band to stay together longer than the Stones. I want Van Halen to be the biggest band that ever lived in rock history, and I want to be part of it."
Then Alex jumped up and said, "So you're doing it for the money!" I shook my head and said, "Do it for the money? Are you crazy?" He then shot back, "Okay Sammy, would you do a solo record for free?" I told him I damn sure would do one for free, and then he said, "Okay, then, give us the money." I stared at him with a "fuck you" look, and it seemed like Al wanted to fight me. Then he left the room. Eddie, all choked up, said, "Sammy, go outside and tell Al you're sorry. He just wants you to be a brother."
I told Eddie I was a brother and that I'd go outside and talk to Al. I went out and we hugged. I told him I was sorry I got pissed off, and we talked about some pretty soulful stuff. We buddied back up again, hugged once more, and that was it. I ended up saying I'd never do a solo album again. I told Ray I'd re-sing "Between Us Two" for the greatest hits record. I swear to God I was trying to keep this band together. It ended up being the last band meting we'd ever have.