Former Van Halen lead vocalist Sammy Hagar has released a five-LP Van Halen box set titled 'The Collection II'. The 75-year-old musician joined the rock band in 1985, replacing former frontman David Lee Roth. Van Halen, already one of the biggest rock bands in the world at the time, consisted of guitarist Eddie Van Halen, drummer Alex Van Halen, and bassist/vocalist Michael Anthony. Together, they produced four multi-platinum albums during Hagar's tenure, including "5150," "OU812," "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge," and "Balance." However, the “Van Hagar” era came to an acrimonious end in 1995.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Hagar expressed his excitement over the remastered versions of his Van Halen albums featured in "The Collection II". He particularly praised the warm and analog sound of albums like “5150” and "OU812," which were recorded without any digital equipment. Hagar also reflected on the highs and lows of his time with Van Halen, mentioning that recording "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" was a struggle due to personal issues with his ex-wife. Despite the challenges, Hagar acknowledged the understanding and pressure from the Van Halen brothers, which allowed them to continue making music together.
Hagar's memoir, "Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock," revealed the toll his commitment to Van Halen had on his marriage to his first wife, Betsy Berardi. He took a year off from the band to care for Berardi after she suffered a nervous breakdown. However, tensions between Hagar and Eddie during the recording of their final album, "Balance," intensified, leading to their eventual split.
The release of “Balance” in 1995 was followed by a tour, marking Hagar's fifth and final tour with Van Halen. Hagar's memoir detailed the excesses of his rock star lifestyle on the road, including drug use, sex with groupies, and alcohol abuse within the band. Hagar admitted that he doesn't remember much from those touring days, but mentioned the constant partying and the close proximity of his house to Eddie's in Malibu, which often led to more festivities.
After Hagar's departure, Van Halen faced skepticism from fans on whether they could successfully replace their original lead singer, David Lee Roth. However, Hagar's debut album with the band, "5150," became a massive hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and achieving six-times platinum certification. Hagar attributed the success to his own popularity as a solo artist and the appeal of Eddie Van Halen's guitar playing. He believed that their collaboration brought in a new audience, despite some resistance from hardcore guitar fans.
Tensions between Eddie and Hagar continued to rise during the recording of songs for the movie "Twister," eventually leading to Hagar's departure from the band in 1996. The circumstances of his exit remain disputed, with Eddie claiming Hagar quit and Hagar maintaining he was fired. They briefly reunited in 2003 to record new tracks for a greatest hits album and embarked on a successful tour, but their relationship soured once again, resulting in Hagar leaving the band for the second time.
The estrangement between Hagar and Eddie lasted for years until they reconciled a few months before Eddie's death in October 2020. Hagar expressed gratitude for being able to mend their relationship before Eddie passed away, stating that it meant a lot to be able to say "I love you" to each other. Rhino Records recently released "The Collection II," a five-LP box set featuring remastered versions of Hagar's four studio albums with Van Halen, along with rare and bonus tracks. Hagar had long pushed for the remastering to happen, but tensions with the band delayed the project.
In conclusion, Sammy Hagar's release of "The Collection II" brings a reflection on his time with Van Halen, the ups and downs of their collaboration, and the bittersweet end of the “Van Hagar” era. The release of the remastered albums allows fans to rediscover the warm and analog sound that characterized Van Halen's music during Hagar's tenure. Despite the challenges and conflicts, Hagar and Eddie were able to reconcile before Eddie's death, leaving a bittersweet and meaningful legacy for their fans.
