Sammy Hagar: "Van Halen is miserable"

After spending most of 2004 back with Van Halen, Sammy Hagar says he's in no hurry to do it again. The group did tour North America and record three new songs for a greatest hits album, but Hagar told us that what he once called a "continuation" has reached its conclusion - and he puts the blame solely on guitarist Edward Van Halen:
[ click here to listen if you have a Backstage Pass] "I don't get along with Eddie anymore, and that's all there is to it. I think the whole world knows that he's changed. And I don't know what his problem is, but he's miserable and he likes to make everyone around him miserable. And I'm the happiest guy on the planet, and anybody who makes me miserable I don't want to be around. And so, that's a simple way to put it." Hagar did not completely rule out the possibility of working with Van Halen again, however: "Maybe he'll change, you know. He used to be a great guy. He used to be a fun guy and wasn't miserable. You know, I mean, he went through the cancer thing and all that, but he should be grateful and not miserable. That's the way I look at it. Maybe he'll change. If he changes, we can do it again."

Hagar resumed touring as a solo act this year. His The Tequila Made Me Do It tour, during which he'll play with both Montrose and his own band, the Waboritas, begins August 6th in Clarkston, Michigan. He also operates another group, Los Tres Guzanos, which features bassist Michael Anthony.

It was one year ago today (July 20th, 2004) that the Van Halen greatest-hits album The Best Of Both Worlds came out. It featured three new songs - "It's About Time," "Up For Breakfast," and "Learning To See."
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