Sammy Hagar Responds to Eddie Van Halen’s Billboard Interview: ‘Fuck You, You’re a Liar’
Former Van Halen singer Sammy Hagar has taken issue with some of Eddie Van Halen’s statements to Billboard in the magazine’s current cover story and has labeled his ex-bandmate “a liar.”
Specifically, it was what Eddie Van Halen said about former bassist Michael Anthony that got Hagar “so pissed” (his words), claiming that he had to show Anthony how to play all his parts and that this is a big part of why he’s no longer in the band. He also downplayed the role of Anthony’s backing vocals in creating the group’s signature sound. (Eddie Van Halen’s son Wolfgang now plays bass in Van Halen.)
Hagar responded to the guitar legend’s comments Friday (June 19) with a two-minute video posted to Facebook.
“It’s really irritating to see them go after Mikey. Mikey didn’t do anything — ever — to Van Halen,” Hagar said. “Mikey was the most loyal guy in the band. He was the first guy there at rehearsal, the last guy to leave…. [He was] a hundred percent dedicated; never did anything to hurt those guys. And they try to hurt him again, and again, and again.”
He continued, “For Eddie to say he had to show [Michael] what to play and had to teach him all those songs, that is the biggest line of bullshit I’ve ever heard in my life. I was in that band for eleven years, there was never a video camera involved of Eddie showing him what to play…. I don’t know why they go after him like that.”
Hagar currently plays with Anthony in The Circle, which also features drummer Jason Bonham and guitarist Vic Johnson. He continued his message, saying, “Michael Anthony is a bad mother—-er. Fuck you, Eddie Van Halen, for saying that about Mikey. You’re a liar.”
Watch the full video here:
In Eddie Van Halen’s Billboard interview, he told writer Chuck Klosterman, “Every note Mike ever played, I had to show him how to play. Before we’d go on tour, he’d come over with a video camera and I’d have to show him how to play all the parts.”
He continued, “Mike’s voice is like a piccolo trumpet. But he’s not a singer. He just has a range from hell. Mike was just born with a very high voice. I have more soul as a singer than he does. And you know, people always talk about Mike’s voice on Van Halen songs, but that’s a blend of Mike’s voice and my voice. It’s not just him.”
Meanwhile, Anthony offered his own rebuttal, keeping it diplomatic: “I am proud to say that my bass playing and vocals helped create our sound. I’ve always chosen to take the high road and stay out of the never-ending mudslinging, because I believe that it ultimately ends up hurting the Van Halen fans.”
A rep for Eddie Van Halen was unavailable for comment on the Hagar video.
