Sammy Hagar

Nicknamed The Red Rock, Sammy Hagar is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist who rose to prominence in the 1970s with the hard rock band Montrose. Known for possessing extraordinary vocals, Sammy captivates his audience with his unique hard rock and heavy metal styles. He first gained commercial success after replacing David Lee Roth as the second lead vocalist of the famous band Van Halen and is known for his hit I Can’t Drive 55. Outside his music, Sammy is a successful businessman with multiple ventures including a restaurant chain and a rum and tequila brand.

Born in California in 1947, Sammy had a very turbulent childhood, his father suffered mentally after fighting in the second world war, which lead him to become an alcoholic. He would spend the family’s rent money on alcohol which meant Sammy had to move home nine times before his mother finally left his father for good. Sammy began working at an early age doing jobs such as picking fruit, mowing lawns, and delivering newspapers to earn money. He first discovered his passion for music during high school and taught himself to play a $40 guitar he had ordered from Sears.

Sammy took his inspiration from the Rolling Stones and the legendary surf guitarist Dick Dale. He moved to Riverside immediately after finishing high school and played for several local bands alongside his job at a music department store. He went on to play for a number of pre-Montrose bands including Bib Bang, Skinny, Dustcloud, Cotton and the Manhole among others. During this period, he would meet David Lauser and would start his own band. Unfortunately, within a short period, two of the band members were arrested on drug charges, a major setback that would result in Sammy having to drive a garbage truck for his father-in-law to make ends meet.

In 1970 Sammy experienced a profound metaphysical event that deeply impacted him, after consulting a psychic, he was informed that fame was awaiting him. Since that event, Sammy has experienced a prominent rise to success and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. Presently he is the lead singer of Chickenfoot and Sammy Hagar and the Circle. He is also the host of Rock & Roll Road Trip with Sammy Hagar on Mark Cuban’s network AXS TV.