"Absolutely," said Hagar about the possibility of working with VH again. "I'm not predicting it. I just say... someday. We made too good of music together, with Eddie and I in Van Halen, we had such a great thing for a long time. When it went sour, it wasn't just because of us. There was a lot of outside forces. Our manager died and a new guy came in, and he just totally divided the band and conquered us, you know?! So I think there will come a time where Eddie's gonna wake up and go, 'Hey, man, I miss being friends with Sammy,' if nothing else, or, 'I would love to make that music again, or play those songs again.' 'Cause they have no choice — they've got Sam or they've got Dave. They can't find a new guy — they already tried that and it didn't work. So it's inevitable.”
“If Eddie and Al want to play music for the rest of their lives, someday they're gonna have to come and deal with me,” continued Sammy. “But right now I'm so happy with what I'm doing with Chickenfoot, I hope they don't call me next week, I hope they don't call me next month, because I would have to say, 'Gee, I'm busy right now; I'm not gonna drop Chickenfoot for anything.' It's my favorite thing I've ever done in my life; I love this band. Someday we're all gonna be sitting around or running into each other somewhere and going, 'You know, let's get back together and be friends and make that music again, just play it one time for the big time or whatever.' So I think it's inevitable."
Hagar’s last experience with VH was the ill-fated 2004 reunion tour in support of a poorly organized Best-Of package; it also proved to be the final VH tour for bassist Michael Anthony, who was forced by Eddie to take a pay cut and sign over any future rights he had to the VH name. Anthony and Hagar now make up half of supergroup Chickenfoot, along with guitarist Joe Satriani and drummer Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
VH are getting set to release their first new music with Roth since 1996, with fall tour dates in Australia already announced.
Sammy Hagar – interview
Artisan News Service – July 4, 2011
See also:
Van Halen: New music update
Sammy Hagar announces 2011 Cabo Birthday Bash
Michael Anthony: Chickenfoot vs. Van Halen
Alter Bridge guitarist hears new Van Halen album
Eddie Van Halen interviewed by Smithsonian magazine
Van Halen mixing new album, says Slash
Eddie Van Halen photo book due in October
PHOTO: Eddie Van Halen with Mike McCready of Pearl Jam
Van Halen: first 2011 concerts announced
David Lee Roth fan reunited with lost camera 12 years later
Van Halen mixing new album?
Van Halen: new album due for summer release?
Eddie Van Halen’s guitar enters The Smithsonian
