Sammy Hagar has finally spoken out about why he decided to replace his former drummer Jason Bonham with Kerry Aronoff.
In a new interview with Rolling Stone, Hagar explained his reason for keeping the new drummer in the band — he joined last minute but learned all the songs in an instant.
“Yeah, and that’s why he is still in the band. That’s why we’re moving forward with him,” Hagar explained. “There’s two reasons. Number one, he’s one of the greatest drummers on the planet. I think he’s been on more million-selling records than any musician in the world. And he did so well on this tour, and he plays with Joe on a full-time basis.”
“Keeping this ‘Best of All Worlds’ band together is difficult when you got Jason doing his thing, you got Joe doing his thing, you got Mike and I,” he continued. “We need our beach time and our taco nights, Taco Tuesdays and stuff. Trying to get it together, it really helps by having Kenny’s schedule be with Joe. If Joe’s available, Kenny’s available, and it’s not trying to put pieces together.”
Bonham said that he was ‘a little shocked’ when he learned that Hagar would be continuing with Kenny Aronoff. He stepped in as a temporary replacement after Bonham had to leave in late August due to a family emergency. Even after the change, there seems to be no hard feelings, as Bonham shared that he still loves Hagar ‘to bits.’
Bonham played with Sammy Hagar and his band for ten years. After Bonham’s departure, Kenny Aronoff made his debut with the band at the Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati on August 27.
