A never-published interview with the Red Rocker Sammy Hagar. At the time of this interview in 1997, Hagar was 50 years old, freshly out of Van Halen, and promoting his new album Marching to Mars and his upcoming tour. In the interview, Hagar talks in detail about how he saw the break-up between him and Van Halen, his dislike for manager Ray Daniels, and his new musician best buddy Mickey Hart.

00:00 - Intro to Sammy Hagar interview

01:21 - Why his new album is not more aggressive after being fired from Van Halen

03:38 - Detailed backstory on why it ended with Van Halen and him

05:16 - How manager Ray Danniels wanted more than his fair share of money

07:08 - All about greed and lack of integrity

07:47 - What he thinks Eddie Van Halen lied about

08:43 - Why did he still thank Van Halen on his new album

09:50 - The support of his fans

10:34 - His disappointment in Eddie and Alex Van Halen

11:50 - How does he think the upcoming Van Halen record with Gary Cherone will do

12:55 - How Eddie Van Halen is a musician, not a songwriter

13:38 - How Van Halen hired a 72-year-old to help with lyrics

14:00 - All the producers’ Van Halen went through

14:44 - If Van Halen’s next album fails with Cherone how will Hagar feel

15:43 - How Michael Anthony was mistreated in Van Halen

16:50 - What Los Tres Gusanos is

17:13 - What are the stand-out songs on his new album Marching to Mars

18:28 - How he got together with Grateful Dead’s Mickey Hart

19:49 - Mickey Hart as a musician

20:28 - His touring plans

21:37 - The business side of his tour

22:51 - Did he get to talk to David Lee Roth and the difference in their Gary Cherone stories

24:15 - When he finally busted Eddie Van Halen

25:02 - What would he change if he were the overlord of pop music

26:40 - What else does he have going on

#64 Sammy Hagar 1997 | The Post-Van Halen Interview