Sammy Hagar recently addressed criticism from Alex Van Halen regarding his era with Van Halen. He responded to fan concerns in a statement shared on Instagram.
A Van Halen fan questioned Alex Van Halen’s dismissive comments about Sammy’s legacy with the band and his involvement in a potential new Van Halen album with Steve Lukather. The response came after this inquiry.
“Mikey and I are with you, period,” Hagar said. “My guess is this thing will never happen! It’s just a typical Alex cock block to anything Mikey and I are doing! Steve Lukather stated many times he would never play one note on guitar to do with Eddie!”
Hagar’s comments became more pointed as he addressed Alex Van Halen’s mental state and their ongoing relationship.
“Alex is not mentally healthy obviously, I feel sorry for him!” he continued. “But Mikey and I will carry on with the legacy for the people as long as we can.”
The tensions between the former bandmates stem from ongoing disputes over Van Halen’s legacy and recent project exclusions. These issues have deepened the rift between the surviving members.
AXS TV reported that Hagar and Michael Anthony were not asked to participate in Alex Van Halen’s archival Van Halen recordings project. This exclusion has added fuel to the already strained relationship between the former bandmates. Hagar expressed disappointment at being left out of the planned release.
Parade confirmed that Steve Lukather is working with Alex Van Halen to complete unreleased Van Halen material featuring Eddie Van Halen’s guitar parts and Wolfgang Van Halen on bass. This collaboration has become a point of contention, particularly given Hagar’s claims about Lukather’s previous statements regarding working on Eddie’s material.
Alex Van Halen’s stance on the Hagar era has been consistently dismissive. He previously stated he was “not interested” in joining Hagar’s Best of All Worlds tour, saying those performances were “not doing the band justice.” This attitude reflects the broader divide between Alex’s vision of Van Halen’s legacy and Hagar’s continued efforts to honor the band’s music.
Meanwhile, Hagar and Anthony continue their partnership through the Best of All Worlds Band. Recent reports indicated they have a six-date Las Vegas residency beginning March 11 at Dolby Live at Park MGM. Their ongoing collaboration demonstrates their commitment to preserving and performing Van Halen’s catalog despite the exclusion from Alex’s archival project.
The exchange highlights ongoing tensions between former Van Halen members regarding the band’s legacy and future projects. No clear resolution appears in sight as both sides pursue separate paths forward.
