Jason Bonham reveals he was “shocked” to be fired by Sammy Hagar
Drummer Jason Bonham has opened up about his departure from Sammy Hagar‘s Best of All Worlds band, explaining that he was shocked to have been ousted by the musician after a decade together.
Hagar previously replaced Bonham with Kenny Aronoff when Bonham had to step out of a series of live tour dates to support his ill mother. Aronoff was initially slated to be a temporary replacement while the band waited for Bonham to return, but the son of the late Led Zeppelin legend John Bonham soon confirmed his permanent departure on social media.
Though specific details surrounding his reason for being replaced remained uncertain, Bonham recently shared his views on the matter, revealing that the new lineup was a surprise, especially considering that he had been an integral part of Hagar’s live band for almost ten years.
Speaking to Ultimate Classic Rock, Bonham said Hagar fired him over the phone. “Sammy rang me awhile ago,” the musician said. “He was asking about my mom, but then he said, ‘Y’know, I’m not gonna do much next year,’ blah, blah blah, ‘and I’m gonna go with Kenny.'”
Recalling his initial reaction, he continued: “I was a little shocked, I must say. I’d be lying to you if I wasn’t a little sad, because we were on fire at the end of the tour. And I got a little upset. That was strange, after ten years of being with him.”
Nonetheless, Bonham continues to admire Hagar from afar and still speaks to him occasionally to check-in. Confirming he still loves his musical partner “to bits,” he added that he has learnt a lot from Hagar about “business,” being “positive,” never “taking no for an answer,” and “always believing in yourself.”
Elsewhere, Hagar recently announced a special nine-show Las Vegas residency in 2025 despite experiencing a significant business setback regarding his tequila venture. However, he maintains excitement about the new tour, where he will be joined by Aronoff, alongside Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani, and Rai Thistlethwayte.
Taking place between April 30th and May 17th, the shows are expected to adopt a main focus on the Van Halen discography, with a sprinkling of tunes from Hagar and Satriani’s respective solo ventures.
Discussing their setlist plans with Rolling Stone, Hagar explained that every night is going to be a night to remember: “Every night the set list will be a little different. I think the fans are going to go, ‘Oh, my God, he played that on Friday night? Oh, man, I should have went Friday!'”
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