The Killers Team Up with Sammy Hagar, Eddie Vedder to Cover Two Rock Classics

The Killers surprised concertgoers with two special collaborations during their Ohana Festival set in Dana Point, California, on Friday (September 29). Sammy Hagar, famed guitarist and former Van Halen lead vocalist, joined the hit rock outfit for an energetic rendition of his band’s anthemic hit.

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Hagar teamed up with The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers for a rendition of Van Halen’s 1986 single, “Why Can’t This Be Love.” The track was Van Halen’s first release featuring Hagar, who stepped in to replace founding member David Lee Roth. 

But Hagar wasn’t the only special guest who took the stage during The Killers’ performance in Dana Point, California. Later in the set, Pearl Jam frontman and Ohana Festival founder Eddie Vedder took the stage to perform a cover of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ No. 1 hit from 1981, “The Waiting.” 

The Killers have kept their version of “The Waiting” in frequent rotation in their live setlists in recent years, and previously performed the song with Vedder in 2017. Watch a segment of their performance, captured by a fan and shared on Instagram, below: 

In August, The Killers released their new single “Your Side of Town,” which marks their first release since the one-off release “Boy” in 2022. The band hasn’t released a full LP since their seventh studio album, Pressure Machine, dropped in 2021.

It’s unclear if more new music will be coming sooner than later, but it seems that the hitmakers’ may be enjoying some free time in the months ahead. Aside from upcoming performances in Austin and São Paulo, Brazil, The Killers’ tour schedule is currently empty for 2024.

Watch The Killers and Sammy Hagar perform “Why Can’t This Be Love” below:

Photo by Chris Phelps, Courtesy of The Oriel Co.