Sammy Hagar performed Van Halen's 1991 classic, “Right Now”, during a special halftime performance at the San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA on October 22.
Hagar was joined by guitarist Vic Johnson for the event, which was broadcast as part of CBS’ Thursday Night Football lineup.
While Hagar’s set was not shown by CBS, the Red Rocker has recently made claims that Alex and Eddie Van Halen are trying to prevent him from performing songs from the band’s Van Hagar-era.
Hagar continues to play material from his time in the group when he performs solo and with any of the supergroups he’s a part of – the latest being The Circle, with bassist Michael Anthony, drummer Jason Bonham and guitarist Vic Johnson.
Hagar says he discovered the issue when he was a taping of his appearance on Live From Daryl’s House with Daryl Hall earlier this year.
“I'd like this to be known,” Hagar told Rolling Stone, “the Van Halen brothers will not allow me to do any of my own songs on TV. They can't stop me from doing them live, because they've tried and they can't. They want to pretend like Van Hagar never existed. The only Number One albums they've had in their life, and they want to pretend like they never happened. I don't know why they hate me so bad, but I guess I'm too happy for them.
“Yes, it's true. They wouldn't let me do them. I can hire an attorney and fight them and I'm going too, but I didn't have time to do that then. On the new Circle DVD we're making from the live album, Led Zeppelin agreed to let us use their music. And Van Halen said, ‘No.’ And then I said,I don't need to do this to survive, and thank God, because otherwise, they would starve me out like I think they're trying to do.”
“It's unbelievable that Led Zeppelin lets us cover their songs on TV and anywhere else,” he continues, “and the brothers won't let me sing my songs. And why? 'Cause they can't do them anymore. Without me, they can't play those songs, and they're jealous. And that's the thing that gives me comic relief out of the whole thing.”
See also:
Sammy Hagar to perform at San Francisco 49ers game
Sammy Hagar says Van Halen are jealous of him
Sammy Hagar announces book signing tour
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Search Sammy Hagar at hennemusic
