Van Halen's Alex Van Halen Slams Sammy Hagar: 'Complete Idiot!'
In a shocking revelation that should send tremors through the rock community, legendary VAN HALEN drummer Alex Van Halen has unleashed a scathing critique of former frontman Sammy Hagar, branding him a "complete idiot." This bombshell was dropped during an interview with Brazilian music journalist Marcelo Vieira, who had the honor of translating Alex's memoir, "Brothers," into Portuguese.
During their deep dive into the tumultuous history of one of rock's most iconic bands, Alex was asked about various autobiographies penned by his bandmates. While he had some praise for David Lee Roth's "Crazy From The Heat," calling it a fun take on Roth's eccentric persona, his opinion of Hagar's "Red: My Uncensored Life In Rock" was far less forgiving. "I don't know what he wrote, and I don't wanna know," he spat, leaving no room for interpretation regarding his feelings about Sammy's literary contributions.
The animosity between the two rock titans isn’t a new chapter in their saga. Back in June 2021, Hagar expressed regret over the candid nature of his book, admitting that he wished he had focused solely on the positive aspects of his relationship with the late Eddie Van Halen. "I would only put the good of Eddie Van Halen, because he was such a brilliant, genius guitar player," Hagar reflected, acknowledging the darker moments he exposed in his memoir.
In a world where rock stars often sugarcoat their narratives, Hagar did not shy away from discussing Eddie's struggles during their time together. He described Eddie as a "sweet guy" when they first met but acknowledged the tumultuous reality behind the scenes, saying, "If we’d have known he was sick then, then I would have understood... But he was impossible. He was on a track of just wild." It’s a stark contrast to the more forgiving view of their shared history that Alex seems to hold.
As the years roll on, tensions remain palpable. Hagar's tenure with VAN HALEN from 1985 to 1996 produced chart-topping albums, but the relationship between the band members has been anything but smooth. The last time the original lineup performed together was during a 2004 tour, a reunion that Hagar later described as riddled with "miserable, back-stabbing dark crap." With Alex’s recent comments, it’s clear that the wounds of the past still run deep.
As the metal community watches this feud unfold, one can’t help but wonder if there’s any hope for reconciliation between these two titans of rock. For now, it seems the only thing certain is that the rivalry is alive and well, echoing the chaos and brilliance that defined VAN HALEN.