Sammy Hagar Time, and I’M Always Playing Acoustic Guitar
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ISSUE #30 MMUSICMAG.COM ISSUE #30 MMUSICMAG.COM Q&A A great vocal performance. was singing live. Playing with Denny and ’em up. But I play differently when I have a The hardest song I sang. Jay wrote that, and Bill without Ronnie [Montrose, who died different sound. “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” he’s a young guy, and he sings in this really last year] was a double-edged sword. On was a classic example of playing live in the high voice. I sing high, but I scream when one side it was, “Wow, it’s so much more studio, and I overdubbed the solo. John I sing high, and I didn’t want to scream it. comfortable,” because Ronnie was never made me play a Strat. I said, “I can’t play I wanted it to be sensitive. So I tried to do easy to be around—he was always intense, Strats—I’m a Les Paul guy.” So I played a something on that song I haven’t ever done. serious and quiet. Yet we missed him bad. Strat through this little Fender. He stretched I tried to do it on the Van Halen song, “Take me to play with a cleaner sound. When it Me Back (Déjà Vu”). Eddie wrote that in a Why choose John Cuniberti? was done I went, “I never heard myself play higher key, and I didn’t want to scream it. I John built my studio, and Chickenfoot like that—I sound like Clapton!” struggled with that. I had the same problem recorded parts of both CDs there. I had no with “Not Going Down.” I can’t say I’m not idea he was really a producer, I thought he What was the Four Decades of Rock happy with the vocal but, when I hear it, I was just a studio-building kind of guy. Then tour like? hear my struggle. Joe [Satriani] said, “He did my Surfing With I did a 15-city tour, and on one show I had the Alien record,” and I said, “That’s the best Denny, Bill and Dave Meniketti playing the Was there a musician wish list? record you ever made.” I decided to use him Montrose stuff. Then I went into my Red It was one guy at a time, because I never because I wanted somebody who knew my era with Mona Gnader and Vic, and then had the big picture in mind until the record studio, and he built it. Michael Anthony came out and we did the was nearly done. I just thought, “I’m gonna Van Hagar stuff. It was my favorite show I’ve call Kid Rock for ‘Knockdown Dragout.’” The Was John excited to do the album? ever done—it felt great. same thing for “All We Need Is an Island”—I When I asked him, he went, “Well, I’m not thought, “I’m calling Mickey Hart, because sure.” Finally he said, “OK, I’ll work with you Plans for another Chickenfoot record? I need this Tahitian drums thing.” Looking for a couple of weeks and we’ll see how it It looks like January’s on the agenda. Joe’s back, I’m totally jacked because it’s like I’ve got a supergroup on every song. I would never record a solo record again any other R andee St. way. I’ll be calling all my friends every time. I wasn’t even thinking about duets, but now N for my next record there is a wish list. icholas What was your songwriting process? I always have so many ideas. I built my own studio when I left Van Halen, so I’ve had the convenience of being able to write and go in the studio anytime. I write lyrics all the SAMMY HAGAR time, and I’m always playing acoustic guitar. The Red Rocker marks a milestone with an album full of famous friends “Father Sun” is my favorite song I’ve written in 100 years—it’s the new Sammy Hagar! It takes in the Montrose and Led Zeppelin IN 1973, SAMMY HAGAR RECORDED jamming with friends on my birthday at my hair—sure, I’ve gained a few pounds, but influences on the heavy part, and on the one of the great rock screams of all time Cabo Wabo [Hagar’s nightclub in Mexico] I don’t see any reason to stop doing this.” other side it’s my island lifestyle with my feet on the intro of Montrose’s “Rock Candy.” for 22 years. Suddenly the album started At 65, Hagar’s still screaming with Olaf Malzahn/DPA/Landov in the sand. It’s who and what I am today. It was only the first of many howls to come happening and I went, ‘Oh, this is what I’ve the best of them. from a 26-year-old kid who would go on to been doing on my birthday.” Were you in the studio with the artists? a singular career that included hit records For Hagar, hitting the 40-year career What song came together first? I recorded with Taj, and I was there with Onstage in Duesseldorf, Germany, 2012 as a solo artist and as frontman for bands mark is a testament to his spirit. “I’m still a “Going Down” with Chad Smith, Mike Neal, Mike and Chad. With Kid Rock, I sent like Van Halen and Chickenfoot. Four rebellious kid at heart,” he says. “If somebody Anthony and Neal Schon. Every time I’ve it to him and he sent it back. I invited Nancy goes.” I thought, “Wow, decades later there’s no end in sight—and to tells me I have to do something, I say, ‘No, ever been in Cabo, and whether Slash, Jerry Wilson because I was going to re-record what a stiff prick.” But I ‘I’m totally jacked commemorate the milestone, he’s released I don’t.’ When I got into playing music, I Cantrell or Stephen Stills was there, that’s “All We Need Is an Island.” I sent her my came to find out he just Sammy Hagar & Friends. did it for all the right reasons—it’s what I the one song we always played. And I got demo of me just singing with acoustic guitar didn’t like working with because it’s like I’ve got a Working for the first time with producer wanted to do. But did I have any idea I’d Denny Carmassi and Bill Church [drummer and Mickey’s drums. I thought she’d come bands because of all John Cuniberti, Hagar recorded with such be doing this 40 years later? In Montrose, and bassist from Montrose respectively] up with some interesting harmonies. But the trips and the drugs. supergroup on every song.’ guest stars as Kid Rock, Taj Mahal and we looked at 40 as being, ‘That’s it. playing on this song “Not Going Down” that she was kind of embarrassed and went, “I We had a great time. He Nancy Wilson. “I never considered doing Goodbye. When you get fat and lose your Jay Buchanan wrote, because it sounded like really love working by myself because that made this thing sound a record like this,” Hagar says. “I’ve been hair, you can’t be a rock star anymore.’ I got a Montrose tune to me. way I can do stupid stuff.” I understand that right, because I would have used much been writing, and I’m writing lyrics at all because singing is very weird. What she sent heavier guitar sounds and done more of a times. He’s going to start sending me stuff to me is what’s on the record. heavy rock record. He would say, “Nah, turn and I’ll send him lyrics, and we’ll walk in with it down. We need a cleaner sound.” five or six ideas. As for the rest of the songs, ‘When it was done I went, “I never heard myself play And Denny Carmassi and Bill Church? we’ll create them on the spot with the four like that—I sound like Clapton!”’ Oh yeah. We did that live as a mutha. It was How else did he influence you? of us in a room. Vic [Johnson, guitar], Denny and Bill—and I I’m a Blackstar and Marshall guy, and I crank –Steven Rosen 24 25 M mag 30.indd 24 10/17/13 7:40 AM M mag 30.indd 25 10/17/13 7:40 AM.