The only thing Sammy Hagar likes more than driving over 55 is hosting his own birthday bashes, it appears. And why not.
At 78 years-old now, and millions of records sold, who can blame the guy for celebrating another trip around the sun at his long-time rock club in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico?
If you could pull in the type of musical talent Sammy could, you'd do it too.
Last week Sammy hosted a four-night (10/7, 10/9, 10/11, 10/13) blow out at the 600 capacity Cabo Wabo, where the Red Rocker played many of his own hits, several bangers he made with Van Halen, and plenty of covers.
Backing him was his Van Halen amigo, Michael Anthony on bass and backing vocals; Vic Johnson (The BusBoys, Hagar’s Waboritas, The Circle) on guitar; and Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp, Bob Dylan, John Fogerty) held it together on drums.
But check out these guests.
Belinda Carlisle
The Go-Go's singer played two of her best-known songs, "We Got The Beat," her first hit; and then "Heaven is a Place on Earth," from her debut solo album.
She must have really enjoyed the show and Cabo because she joined Sammy and the gang on both night 3 and night 4.
She'll be touring around Europe next spring. Get your tix on her website.
Jerry Cantrell
Who would have thought the co-founder and primary songwriter of Alice in Chains would become such good pals with Sammy. Jerry Cantrell, who gave us such grungy riffs and is 20 years Sammy's junior has actually appeared alongside Hagar for more songs as a guest than anyone other than Michael Anthony.
Cantrell first jammed with Sammy in 2003 for a DVD release party in Anaheim.
He then played at two of his birthday bashes in 2012 (where he played a Dead song among others), followed by an impromptu jam in Cabo last year (where he played a Skynyrd tune among others).
In 2024 he also played a birthday bash gig (where he played a Beasties hit among others). Then this year he joined the fun for three of the four bashes playing "Rooster," "Would?" and more.
Joey Belladonna
Another strange bedfellow was Anthrax's singer Joey Belladonna who did his best on Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love."
Belladonna has sung alongside Sammy on a few tunes in the past in Cabo, including "Rock Candy" from Hagar's Montrose days, and "Best of Both Worlds" from the Van Hagar era.
Chad Kroeger
Maybe you're the kind of person to say, sure, I'll take an evening of Sammy, but what I could really use is a little Nickelback in my night.
Night four of the bash Chad Kroeger first sat in on drums as they riffed through the opening of Van Halen's "Hot For Teacher," and then he grabbed the mic to lead the crowd into Metallica's "Enter Sandman."
Johnson's solo was shockingly good and Aronoff hit everything perfectly.
Michael Anthony
When you're in a band with one of the greatest guitarist since Hendrix, a drummer with a flaming gong, and David Lee Roth running around doing the flying splits, it's easy to get overlooked.
But Michael Anthony was doing way more than holding down the bottom during his run in Van Halen, he was also the primary background singer that helped shape so many of your favorite songs from "Beautiful Girls" to "Panama" to "Dance The Night Away."
For the bash, Sammy didn't play any of the DLR era VH songs, but Michael Anthony did. And he nailed them.
Beginning with the deep cut "Somebody Get Me A Doctor" to the deeper cut, "I'm One," the bassist, in shorts and barefooted belted out David Lee Roth's parts. Phil X (Bon Jovi, Triumph) shredded on guitars.
Steve Nowicki
Steve Nowicki is a Van Halen superfan who also happens to work for Howard Stern.
Last month he flew to Vegas to meet Sammy and he got to play a little for him backstage.
He must have impressed him because there was Steve in Baja on night 3 of the bash playing "Best of Both Worlds" with Sammy.
In a few weeks Hagar will be playing his last gig of the year, a benefit for his youth music foundation in Fontana, California, on Oct 29. Then next year he will return to a Vegas residency at the Park MGM. Get your tickets on his website.
