Sammy Hagar has shared more details about how he rekindled his friendship with Eddie Van Halen earlier this year, before the legendary guitarist's untimely death.
Hagar had previously stated that his last contact with Van Halen was at the end of their ill-fated reunion tour in 2004. But a mutual friend put the two back in touch at the beginning of the year, Sammy explained in a new interview with KSHE in St. Louis.
Sammy shared his gratitude for being able to reconnect with Eddie. He said, "Yeah, it's really a sad thing. It was a tough one. But if I wouldn't have contacted Ed and we buried the hatchet like that and became friends again, I'm not sure how I could have taken it. It would have been devastating."
He also detailed how he and Eddie got back in touch with one another. Sammy explained, "I reached out to Eddie because... George Lopez, the comedian, who I've known for a long time and who also is dear friends with Eddie, calls me up and says, 'Sammy, I need you to call Eddie. I played golf with him. He's not doing good,' blah blah blah. And everyone knew Eddie wasn't doing good.
"He said, 'I just was with him, and he said he loves you and he's so disappointed that you haven't reached out to him.' I said, 'I reached out to all these people. I reached out to Alex [Van Halen].' I didn't have Eddie's contact number. I reached out to all these people: 'Tell Eddie I love him. I hope he's doing well.'
"So George says, 'Here's his number. Call him.' So I call him. And Eddie said, my favorite line from Eddie in a long time, he goes, 'What took you so long?' I go, 'I reached out to Al. I reached out to everybody.' He's going, 'You didn't call me.' And I said, 'Oh, man. Ed, I love you.' And it was just one big love fest from then on.
"That was back in the beginning of the year, before Covid. So, yeah, we've been texting and talking about Wolfie and his new record, and about us and the things we did and how great the stuff is."
Wolfgang Is Van Halen Now Says Sammy Hagar (2022 In Review)
Wolfgang Van Halen Wants To Widen The Breadth With New Album
Wolfgang Should Play Eddie Van Halen Tribute Concert Says Satriani (2022 In Review)
Sammy Hagar Approached To Do A Van Halen Residency (2022 In Review)
GETSOME! - Nothing Personal of Course
Heroes & Monsters - Heroes and Monsters
Jared James Nichols - Jared James Nichols
Root 66: Sicard Hollow - Brightest of Days
Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros. - Live in Colorado, Vol. 2
KISS Releasing Historic Live Recording
Luke Combs Shares 'Growin' Up and Gettin' Old' To Announce New Album
Walk off the Earth Deliver 'My Stupid Heart'
Atreyu Take A Swim With 'Drowning' Video
Queen Revisit Live Aid Rehearsals On The Greatest
Green Day Stream Expanded Nimrod 25th Anniversary Reissue
Young The Giant And Milky Chance Announce North American Tour
Singled Out: The Crystal Casino Band's City That Sleeps