Van Halen’s Sammy Hagar Explains Why He Doesn’t Respect David Lee Roth

One of the most popular feuds in rock lies between David Lee Rothoriginal vocalist of Van HalenIt is Sammy Hagar, his replacement. The band had huge success with both, but both always exchanged barbs in the press. They even made peace and went on a joint tour in 2002, but the relationship soured once and for all after that joint effort.

Roth doesn’t actually talk about Hagar that much, especially lately. The reverse is not true: Sammy criticizes his colleague in interviews to this day.

In 2021, when talking to the washington post (via Ultimate Guitar), Hagar, who sang in Van Halen from 1985 to 1996 and from 2003 to 2005, revealed one of his most acidic criticisms of his predecessor in the post. At the time, he said he doesn’t even respect Roth’s work because he cares about being just a celebrity, not a musician.

“We are very different. I have been married since I was young, I have children and grandchildren, I am a family guy. I don’t do drugs, I don’t party to death. I take my work seriously. When I go on stage, I’m ready. I don’t try to be a celebrity, a big star. I just want to be a good enough artist to be accepted into the celebrity world.”

In that sense, Sammy made it clear that Diamond Dave acts in a completely opposite way.

“I think (for him) it’s all about being a celebrity and having something that stands out. It’s a different style and I don’t respect the way he does it.”

Respect to David Lee Roth in Van Halen

That doesn’t mean, however, that Sammy Hagar disrespects David Lee Roth’s work with Van Halen. Especially because it involved other people: guitarist Eddie Van Halen, bassists Michael Anthony (until 2006) and Wolfgang Van Halen (from 2006) and drummer Alex Van Halen.

“I respect what he did in Van Halen. So, don’t get me wrong. He was great for the band and has a great voice. He doesn’t sing well anymore, but on the first few Van Halen records, he was great, he sounded great, I loved the way he sang, his attitude and persona.”

Embarrassment with recent performance

In another interview, now from 2023, to the podcast Wild Ride (via Igor Miranda website), Sammy Hagar went further and said he felt embarrassment when checking out how David Lee Roth has been singing lately. Roth, it should be remembered, is 68 years old, while Hagar is 75.

“He’s a showman, but he doesn’t take care of his own voice. He never took care of himself, took vocal lessons or warm-ups. I was embarrassed when I saw him sing on his last tours.”

In his statement, he also criticized the personality of the singer, whom he replaced in Van Halen.

“He’s not a fun person, he doesn’t get along with anyone. I don’t know what the problem is. It seems like he’s always trying to make other people around him feel bad. I tried to get us to make up, but it was no use.”