Former Van Halen singer Sammy Hagar has said he wants to make peace with his former bandmate Alex Van Halen, despite recent public attacks between them. Hagar’s comments were shared in an interview via Billboard.
Hagar spoke about the ongoing tension with Van Halen, who had called him a “complete idiot” in a previous interview. Hagar explained his desire to move past the conflict and unite the two eras of the band.
“I’ll put out an olive branch right now, and say it again a million times — I would love to bury the hatchet with Alex,” Hagar said. “I would love to be friends again. If we played music, mo’ better. That would be awesome…. But I’m willing to forget anything and everything and be friends and bring the two (Van Halen) eras together like they should be.”
Hagar framed his push for reconciliation as part of a larger vision. “It’s the crack in the world I wrote about 50 years ago. He’s sticking with it, and why? I’m trying to get rid of that. Unification over separation. Let’s unify this world. That’s my dream and wish; if I could find a way to do that, there you go. _That_ might be my future.”
Hagar made these comments in the context of his ongoing rift with Van Halen. His remarks show his willingness to set aside past disagreements for the sake of the band’s legacy.
The tension between Hagar and Van Halen stretches back over two decades. Hagar has not spoken to Van Halen in 21 years and has wondered if jealousy plays a role in the silence. Hagar joined Van Halen in 1985 as lead vocalist, replacing David Lee Roth, and recorded four studio albums with the band—”5150,” “OU812,” “For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge,” and “Balance”—all of which topped the U.S. chart. He performed with the band from 1985 through 1996 and again from 2003 to 2005, with 2004 marking the last time he performed with them.
The conflict intensified when Van Halen drummer Alex Van Halen released his autobiography, Brothers, in 2024. Hagar called it “blasphemy” that his years in the band were ignored. Around the same time, Van Halen said Hagar wasn’t “doing the band justice” with his Van Halen-focused Best of All Worlds tour. Hagar suggested that Van Halen might feel sidelined while he and bassist Michael Anthony continue performing Van Halen songs live.
In September 2026, Van Halen publicly attacked Hagar during an interview. Hagar reportedly invited Van Halen to join his tour in an effort to heal old wounds, but when he received no response, the Red Rocker expressed his displeasure. Hagar announced plans to end his two-year Best of All Worlds tour and return it to the road, though he emphasized he is not done with Van Halen and will always play five or six songs from the band.
