Sammy Hagar Reveals Why Jason Bonham Had to Leave The Best of All Worlds Tour; Praises Fill-In Drummer Kenny Aronoff

Sammy Hagar wrapped up the North American leg of his The Best of All Worlds Tour with an August 31 concert in the St. Louis suburb of Maryland Heights, Missouri. For the last four shows of the trek, acclaimed drummer Kenny Aronoff filled in for Jason Bonham, who had to leave the tour because he had a family emergency back home in the U.K.

In an interview with St. Louis-area radio station KSHE before the August 31 gig, Hagar revealed why Bonham was forced to exit the tour.

“Jason’s [family emergency] was a sudden thing,” he told KSHE DJ Favazz. “His mother had a stroke and went into a coma, and it’s serious. So [his] whole family went over there [to the U.K.] And he held out for two or three days, and he says, ‘I gotta go. I gotta go.’ I said, ‘You go. Go.’”

Hagar also spoke glowingly of Aronoff, whom the Red Rocker noted has been his backup drummer for a long time.

[RELATED: Sammy Hagar Thanks Fill-In Drummer Kenny Aronoff for “Sav[ing] the Day” After Jason Bonham Misses Show Due to Family Issue]

“[H]e’s the only guy that you can hand a set list of 24 songs and in 24 hours he can play ’em,” Sammy said.

Hagar pointed out that Aronoff “had about 24-hour notice” that he was need to fill in for Bonham.

“And he came in the first night. … He got there at six in the morning,” Sammy continued. “We played that night in Cincinnati, and he did a 90-percent perfect show. I swear to you, I make more mistakes every night than he did. So that’s big hats-off to this guy.”

More About Kenny Aronoff

As previously noted, Aronoff’s participation in The Best of All Worlds shows constituted a reunion of sorts of the Hagar-led supergroup Chickenfoot. Sammy’s group for his 2024 current trek included his ex-Van Halen bandmate Michael Anthony on bass and guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani. Anthony and Satriani also were members of Chickenfoot, along with Hagar and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith.

When Chickenfoot toured in 2011 and 2012, however, Smith wasn’t able to participate in the trek because of his commitments to the Chili Peppers. Aronoff was hired to fill in for Smith on Chickenfoot’s tours during those years.

“I just love playing with [Kenny], ‘cause he’s so enthusiastic,” Hagar told Fazazz. “He’s the most enthusiastic guy.” Sammy then imitated Aronoff, manically saying, “Oh man, we’re gonna kill it! Oh, don’t worry about me.” He added, “He’s, like, foaming at the mouth. He’s crazy.”

Aronoff May Join Hagar for The Best of All Worlds Tour’s Japan Dates

Hagar also revealed that depending on what’s happening with Bonham’s family situation, Aronoff may continue to play with his band when The Best of All Worlds Tour heads to Japan for three shows later in September.

“[Jason has] got to be there [in the U.K.] till [his mother] either comes through or… whatever,” Sammy noted. “I shouldn’t be talking about his personal business, but he’s got a medical emergency with his mother. You don’t ignore that. So, we got Kenny, thank God. And if we have to go to Japan with him, we’ll go to Japan.”

Those shows are scheduled for September 20 in Nagoya, September 22 in Osaka, and September 23 in Tokyo.

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