Sammy Hagar Has Co-Written an “Emotional” New Tribute Song for Eddie Van Halen That He Plans to Release in 2025

Sammy Hagar paid homage to Van Halen’s legacy on his 2024 The Best of All Worlds Tour, and now the Red Rocker has revealed that he and his current touring band are recording a new song that pays tribute to the late Eddie Van Halen.

The news follows a recent message posted on Hagar’s social media pages in which he teased a new music project with bassist Michael Anthony, guitarist Joe Satriani, and drummer Kenny Aronoff. The post also included video of clips of Hagar and Anthony working in the studio.

Sammy explained to Rolling Stone that because Satriani had to study Eddie’s playing to prepare for the recent tour, the new track sounds like it could be a classic Van Halen song.

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“I said, ‘Let’s take ‘5150,’ let’s take this, let’s take that, the essence of all these things,” and [Satriani] crushed it with me,” Hagar noted. “I mean, it was like this could be a song that Eddie and I would’ve written. It’s not copying nobody, but … [Joe] knows where Eddie was coming from and now he knows his style. When you hear the intro on this song, you’re going to s—, man. It’s just as iconic as anything I’ve ever been involved with.”

Hagar Reveals the Status of the New Tune

Hagar told Rolling Stone that the new track, which they’re still recording, likely will be released as a single. He also revealed that getting the lead vocals down has been a challenge for him.

“We’re working on it right now. Mike and I just finished the bass and the background vocals,” Sammy reported. “I took a shot at a lead vocal, but I don’t know if it’s done yet. Joe’s got his parts done. Kenny played drums. I gotta tell you, it was emotional singing it, because the song, it’s about Eddie. That’s the best I can put it. It’s a thank you to him, and it’s a thank you to the fans, and it’s a thank you to that era.”

As for when the song will be released, Hagar said he’s hoping before the start of the Las Vegas residency.

He added, “[It] should be out in the first of the year, maybe February or March.”

Hagar and Anthony Performed During Halftime at the Las Vegas Raiders Game

In other news, Hagar and Anthony celebrated their upcoming Las Vegas residency by performing during halftime at the Las Vegas Raiders’ home game against the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium this past Sunday, November 24. Sammy and Mike performed versions of Hagar’s solo hit “I Can’t Drive 55” and the Van Halen classic “Right Now.”

Several members of the military who participated in the Raiders’ “Salute to Service” reenlistment ceremony joined Hagar on stage to help him sing the latter song. You can check out footage of the performance on Hagar’s Instagram page.

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More About Hagar’s 2025 Las Vegas Residency

As previously reported, Hagar’s The Best of All Worlds residency will run from April 30 through May 17, 2025. The nine-date engagement will take place at the Dolby Live venue at the Park MGM hotel and casino.

Hagar says the Vegas show will feature a different set list. The engagement will give Sammy and the Best of All Worlds band the chance to dig deeper into the Van Halen catalog, as well as his own solo career and his work with Montrose and the supergroup Chickenfoot.

Prior to the Las Vegas residency, Hagar has a couple of other shows scheduled for 2025. The first will take place on February 21 at Lucas Oil Live venue in Thackerville, Oklahoma. The second will be an April 27 performance at the Stagecoach Music Festival in Indio, California.

Tickets for Hagar’s upcoming concerts are available now via various outlets, including StubHub.

Sammy Hagar Wants Peace With Alex Van Halen: ‘I Will Not Take This to My Grave’

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— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) November 25, 2024

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