The song – which features Hagar on vocals, Michael Anthony on bass, Joe Satriani on guitar and Kenny Aronoff on drums – remained little more than a rough iPhone recording, some scribbles, and a vivid memory of a dream before the Red Rocker decided it was time to finish it with help from Satriani.
“I thought, ‘I’ll never write a song with Eddie again. This is the closest I can come to it,'” Hagar says. “When I told Joe about the dream and played him the thing he went, ‘Oh man. Hell yeah. Let’s finish that. That’s a cool song.'”
Rather than being a somber farewell, the song is a celebration and expression of appreciation – for the fans, and for the unforgettable chapter they shared in Van Halen.
“This song is my final bow to that part of my life,” says Hagar. “It’s not meant to be anything more than a thank-you – with love, with respect, and with one hell of a guitar solo.” Hagar also shared that Satriani’s contribution to the track brought a unique emotional energy. “Joe was the perfect partner to help me shape the sound – he brought in that big, emotional, guitar-driven energy that feels like Eddie’s spirit but is entirely of Joe’s creation. With Michael Anthony’s thundering bass and stellar Van Halen-esque background vocals and Kenny Aronoff’s relentlessly powerful driving rhythms, the song really came together on all levels.”
Hagar and the band will launch “The Best Of All Worlds Tour - The Residency” at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas on April 30.
Add some Sammy Hagar to your collection here.
See also:
Sammy Hagar releases new song inspired by Eddie Van Halen dream
Sammy Hagar announces Best Of All Worlds Las Vegas Residency
Stream final song written by Alex and Eddie Van Halen
Alex Van Halen announces Brothers book events
Search Van Halen at hennemusic