Sammy Hagar suggested for years that he didn't know the reason he and Eddie Van Halen couldn't mend fences after so much time apart.
He revealed in a recent radio interview with Chicago 95.5 FM's Angi Taylor Show that Eddie didn't know either.
"When I called him, after years of not speaking, back in February, I think, or January, whatever it was — before COVID — he said, 'What took you so long?' [Laughs] It put the biggest smile on my face. I said, 'Oh my God. Don't ask me.' That was just very touching to me: 'Hey, I've been waitin'."
Hagar has been gearing up for his annual Birthday Bash, which has gone virtual this year on pay-per-view. You can stream the concert on Saturday, October 17, via nugs.tv, or anytime within 48 hours of purchase.
A day after Eddie's death earlier this month, Hagar explained in a note to Howard Stern that the two former bandmates began talking again earlier this year. They kept their reconciliation private, though, over concerns that it would stir up reunion rumors.
Despite the fact that Hagar has repeatedly stated his desire for one more go-around with Van Halen, after reconnecting, he understood that Eddie's health was an obstacle in the way of another tour.
The Red Rocker added that he's grateful he reached out when he did and that Eddie answered. The idea of Eddie passing away without ever burying the hatchet, Hagar says, "would have been way too much for me, 'cause I'm still grieving my ass off..."
A number of Eddie's friends say he was optimistic throughout his long cancer battle and he was eager to get to a point where he could tour again.
Nuno Bettencourt recalled that Eddie dropped by his house early this year to say hello. While they were together, Eddie mentioned that he was eager to bring longtime Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony back to the band for one more tour with Van Halen's classic lineup.
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