Van Halen started their one and only reunion tour with Sammy Hagar 20 years ago today, June 11th, 2004, at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Sammy and Alex Van Halen sat down for an interview in Greensboro the day before the tour started and Alex admitted it was tough not talking to Sammy over the eight years following his unexpected departure in 1996.
Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony, who had remained friends with Hagar, played a key role in the reunion, convincing him to call Alex in 2003, which he did. That led to the former bandmates spending a day together with their families, and, it was on that day that Hagar told Alex that he (Hagar) should call Eddie. Alex dialed him up and handed Hagar the phone.
Three of those songs, "It's About Time," "Up for Breakfast," and "Learning to See" were included on The Best of Both Worlds compilation, which was released in July 2004.
Ironically, despite Michael Anthony being the bridge to the reunion, he wasn't on good terms with Eddie and Alex and Hagar made it clear he wouldn't tour without his buddy. So, the brothers forced Anthony to give up his licensing rights to the band and to take a pay cut.
That tour, which ended on November 19th, 2004 in Tucson, Arizona after 80 shows, was the last time Hagar played with Van Halen as it unraveled due to Eddie's drinking and treatment of Hagar.
While Alex missed Hagar during their time apart, he remains very private and doesn't respond to Hagar who has said he has reached out on numerous occasions.
Meanwhile, Hagar and Anthony are still the best of friends and bandmates in The Circle, which will honor their time in Van Halen with The Best of All Worlds tour this summer. It starts on July 13th in West Palm Beach, Florida and comes to North Texas on August 22nd at Dos Equis Pavillion in Dallas.
Speaking of Sammy Hagar....
Sammy Hagar has expanded his annual Birthday Bash at his Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico on October 11th and 13th to include two shows in Las Vegas on October 4th and 5th at The Palms. You can find all the details at RedRocker.com .
Hagar turns 77 on October 13th. NOTE! Below video of Sammy Hagar is NSFW.