DETROIT — Sammy Hagar once discussed writing a Van Halen song with Eddie Van Halen on the cello, he revealed in a recent interview.
The singer described it as an example of the potential their partnership had, had they continued working together, regardless of fans’ expectations.
“Eddie and I wrote some great songs together, and I think the best stuff was yet to come… because Eddie was really reaching out on instruments,” Hagar said on the “Talkin’ Rock With Meltdown” podcast.
He added, “The last time I talked to Eddie before he passed, I asked, ‘Man, what are you playing?’ He responded, ‘Oh, man, I’ve really been playing a lot of cello!’ I said, ‘Cello? Play me something. I’m ready to write a song with you on cello!’”
Hagar noted that their artistic collaboration could have explored new directions. “As artists, Eddie and I were capable of doing things he couldn’t do before me because the other guy didn’t want keyboards,” he said.
Recalling his early days with Eddie, Hagar said, “When I first walked in the room with Eddie, he showed me ‘Good Enough’ and ‘Summer Nights.’ Then he sat down at the piano and started playing other things. He was playing the riff to ‘Dreams’ and ‘Love Walks In.’ I had no idea he was that good of a keyboard player.”
Hagar believed Eddie was eager to expand his musical horizons, which was often restricted by record companies. “I think we would’ve broken out of that and started doing some really crazy stuff,” he said.
Acknowledging that not all fans might have welcomed such changes, Hagar said, “All the hardcore Van Halen fans are probably saying, ‘No, no – you would’ve ruined it! We want ‘Poundcake!’ But it’s all good.”
Reflecting on his time with Van Halen, Hagar said his only regret was the band’s breakup. “I regret nothing… It’s the greatest thing that ever happened to me,” he said. “I will never reach that pinnacle again in my musical career, and I don’t even try for it. Those times are gone, and I’m proud to have been there.”
