Sammy Hagar discusses “the most complete album ever made”
Sammy Hagar, also known as the Red Rocker, is a multifaceted artist whose career spans decades, marked by musical prowess, entrepreneurial ventures, and an unwavering passion for rock ‘n’ roll. Born in Salinas, California, Hagar embarked on a remarkable journey that solidified his status as a rock icon.
Hagar’s musical journey began in the early 1970s when he gained prominence as the lead vocalist of Montrose, a hard rock outfit that garnered attention for their energetic performances and raw sound. His powerful vocals and dynamic stage presence quickly established him as a force to be reckoned with in the rock music scene.
While departing from the band wasn’t of his volition, it turned out to be a hidden advantage, enabling Hagar to thrive as a musician. Hagar delved into a prolific phase in the ensuing years, releasing numerous solo albums that bolstered his reputation and eventually attracted Van Halen’s attention as they searched for a new vocalist.
Despite a successful solo career, the allure of a decade-long stint as Van Halen’s frontman proved irresistible. Though he rejoined the band between 2003 and 2005 after his initial departure in 1995, it’s his individual work under his name that remains his proudest achievement.
Hagar also enjoys delving into his various aspirations, which helped significantly shape his life and career. Specifically, while once discussing a handful of albums he couldn’t live without, he praised the prowess of American musician Jeff Buckley and his gorgeous album Grace. “This album doesn’t really need explanation,” Hagar told SPIN. “Jeff Buckley’s only album is one of the greatest, most complete albums ever made. Listen to the whole thing. It’s so emotional, it never fails to get under my skin. It can still give me goosebumps, choke me up and inspire me to go deeper as an artist”.
He added: “It’s also one of the loneliest records – it’s most powerful to listen to all alone with headphones. It’s not the kind of album that you think of cranking up in the car when you’re driving down the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) with your buddies – it’s a solo experience. His vocal performance during ‘Lilac Wine’… God — that song! He sounds like he’s crying. You can feel his pain during that vocal performance. I can feel his pain just thinking about that song now. I often think about what he would have created if he’d stuck around a little longer.”
As his only album, it’s intriguing how many of Buckley’s compositions revolved around themes of mortality, frequently delving into references to death and hauntingly, allusions to drowning. One of which, the titular track, directly discusses the notion of facing death, asserting that “I’m not afraid to die”. However, in a 1994 interview at the Pacific Club, Buckley clarified that this was not to be perceived morbidly: “It’s about not fearing death, or fearing any of those countless slings and arrows that you suffer sometimes on this Earth, because somebody loves you. You’re not afraid to go.”
