Sammy Hagar Delivers Harshest Critique Yet of David Lee Roth
Society of Rock
Sammy Hagar’s latest interview with NME made something clear: whatever bridge once connected him and David Lee Roth has long burned down, and Hagar isn’t looking back. He didn’t dance around the topic or soften the edges. Instead, he spoke with the bluntness that has followed him through every era of his career. It wasn’t just about the past tour, the old tension, or the usual personality clash — it was about everything that has piled up over two decades.
The possibility of a Van Halen-related reunion has hovered in the background ever since Eddie Van Halen’s passing in 2020. Fans held on to hope, imagining Alex Van Halen, Roth, and Hagar putting their differences aside for one last run. Hagar made it clear that this fantasy exists only in the minds of fans. From Alex’s health issues to Roth’s unpredictability, the idea wasn’t just unlikely — it was impossible.
What stood out most was Hagar’s tone. He wasn’t angry. He wasn’t dramatic. He simply sounded done. At 77, Hagar has nothing to gain from keeping old feuds alive, and that makes his critique even more striking. He knows exactly where he stands with Roth, and he doesn’t see a scenario where that changes.
View this post on Instagram
Why Hagar Won’t Share a Stage With Roth Again
When Hagar talks about the 2002 “Sam & Dave Tour,” it’s as if that summer left a mark he still hasn’t shaken. He described Roth as “miserable” and said the public persona — loud, flashy, grinning — didn’t match the real person behind the scenes. According to him, Roth wasn’t just moody; he was constantly playing mind games, which drained the atmosphere around the entire project.
Hagar didn’t hide his concerns about Roth’s current vocal struggles either. He acknowledged what many fans have noticed: Roth hasn’t been in top form for years. Hagar avoided cruelty, but he didn’t dodge the truth. He said he wouldn’t want to bring Roth onto a high-ticket tour only to feel obligated to apologize to audiences afterward. For Hagar, that crosses a line of respect for fans.
He also pointed out that Alex Van Halen is no longer physically capable of touring. Selling equipment, dealing with mobility problems, and limiting public appearances — all of it tells Hagar there’s no point chasing a reunion. With those pieces off the board, Roth becomes the last remaining factor, and even then, Hagar wants no part in reviving that partnership.
View this post on Instagram
How the Reunion Fell Apart Behind Closed Doors
After Eddie passed in October 2020, there was a moment where a Van Halen revival seemed within reach. Roth and Alex reportedly rehearsed together and tried to figure out what a tribute tour might look like. For fans, it looked like the closest thing to closure they’d get. But behind the curtain, tempers ran hot. Alex reportedly snapped during rehearsals, telling Roth he had to work “as a community” instead of acting like the center of the universe.
That argument killed the spark. Once tension between those two men resurfaced, the vision collapsed almost immediately. There were no more rehearsals, no further planning, no attempt to patch things up. The fragile hope evaporated before Hagar could even enter the conversation. It confirmed to everyone involved that the old dynamic still hadn’t changed.
The more practical side of the story didn’t help either. Alex’s spinal injury in 2022 shut the door entirely. He could barely move, let alone play drums across a full tour. He later said he didn’t want to become a “jukebox” for the past, which hinted at deeper frustrations with the idea of reliving old hits. By the time these details surfaced, the reunion wasn’t just unlikely — it was already buried.
View this post on Instagram
Long-Running Tension, Old Respect, and a Few Jokes Still in the Mix
Hagar’s critique wasn’t random. For years, he has hinted that Roth’s voice hasn’t aged well and that his onstage persona feels more like a performance than a reflection of who he really is. Still, Hagar has never denied Roth’s place in rock history. He understands how critical Roth was to Van Halen’s early identity, even if he believes the singer has drifted from that legend.
But the rivalry has always had a strange mix of bitterness and humor. Even when they trade shots, there’s an underlying acknowledgment that neither man fully escaped the other’s shadow. Roth himself made jokes on stage about Eddie Van Halen’s “ghost” visiting him, poking fun at Hagar’s earlier comments. It was a light moment in a long, messy story.
At this point, Hagar seems focused on his current band. With Joe Satriani, Michael Anthony, and Kenny Aronoff beside him, he feels like he has a lineup that honors Van Halen’s music without the old drama. To him, this new phase isn’t a consolation prize — it’s the closest he’s come to the fire he once shared with Eddie. And maybe that’s why he doesn’t feel the need to mend anything with Roth.
View this post on Instagram
