Sammy Hagar
After spending several years as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the mid-'70s hard rock band Montrose, Sammy Hagar began a solo career that produced several hits and made him an album rock favorite. Hagar became a true star once he joined Van Halen in 1985, but he'd been a popular hard rocker ever since his first album with Montrose. After giving up a boxing career, Hagar began singing in the late '60s, performing with various California bands including Skinny, the Fabulous Catillas, Justice Brothers, and Dust Cloud. During this time, he built up a solid reputation in the California hard rock scene. Former Edgar Winter guitarist Ronnie Montrose asked Hagar to join his band, Montrose, in 1973. Hagar recorded two albums with Montrose before going solo in 1976, taking the group's bassist, Bill Church, with him. Montrose's drummer Denny Carmassi later joined Hagar's band, along with keyboardist Geoff Workman. Hagar's self-titled "red album" was his first chart entry; it eventually went gold. In 1979, he created a new supporting band featuring Workman, Church, guitarist Gary Pihl, and drummer Chuck Ruff. This lineup played on Hagar's most popular solo album, 1981's platinum Standing Hampton, plus 1982's gold Three Lock Box with only one member missing -- drummer Ruff was replaced by David Lauser. After Three Lock Box and its number 13 hit single "Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy," Hagar played several shows with guitarist Neal Schon, bassist Kenny Aaronson, and drummer Mike Shrieve; the group recorded a live album under the name Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve (HSAS), as well as a studio version of Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of Pale." His 1984 album VOA contained the hit single "I Can't Drive 55," which peaked at number 26. In 1985, Hagar replaced David Lee Roth in Van Halen; his first album with the group was 1986's 5150. Hagar released his last solo album in 1987; the record was coined I Never Said Goodbye in an MTV contest. Hagar stayed with Van Halen throughout the remainder of the '80s and half of the '90s. During that time, the band had four other multi-platinum albums -- OU812 (1988), For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991), Live: Right Here, Right Now (1993), and Balance (1995) -- before tensions began to surface between Hagar and the rest of the band. In the summer of 1996, Hagar either quit Van Halen or was fired; the band had Roth return to sing two tracks on Best of Van Halen, Vol. 1 before hiring former Extreme vocalist Gary Cherone as Hagar's replacement. The entire incident became a media sensation, ensuring that Hagar's 1997 solo album Marching to Mars -- his first in ten years -- would be greeted with much media-generated fanfare. It sold surprisingly well, peaking in the Top 20 and re-establishing Hagar as a viable solo act. With a backing band called the Waboritas in tow (consisting of guitarist Vic Johnson, keyboardist Jesse Harms, bassist Mona, and drummer David Lauser), Hagar followed the success with Red Voodoo two years later; it too sold very respectably on the strength of the single "Mas Tequila," just missing the Top 20. Hagar's resurgence continued with 2000's Ten 13. Not 4 Sale arrived in 2003, followed by his first live album in 20 years, Live: Hallelujah. Livin' It Up! was released in 2006, while VOA was reissued the following year in deluxe format, courtesy of the newly launched American Beat Records. In 2008, Hagar released Cosmic Universal Fashion, his 11th solo album and first for Roadrunner imprint Loud & Proud Records. That same year, he debuted a new band, Chickenfoot, after jamming with Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony, guitarist Joe Satriani, and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith. The supergroup released its self-titled debut album in 2009. The debut went gold, which was good enough to guarantee a 2011 sequel called Chickenfoot III (despite its joking title, this was indeed their sophomore set). Hagar didn't abandon his Chickenfoot brothers for the 2013 album Sammy Hagar & Friends; each member, along with several other kindred spirits, showed up on this party-hearty 2013 LP. 2014's Lite Roast saw the tireless Hagar and Wabos guitarist Vic Johnson gently tearing through some coffeehouse-ready versions of Hagar classics, while 2015 saw the release of the live album At Your Service, the first album to be released under the moniker Sammy Hagar & the Circle, his newest touring incarnation featuring Michael Anthony on bass, drummer Jason Bonham and guitarist Vic Johnson. The Circle released their first studio album, The Space Between, in 2019.© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo Read more
After spending several years as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the mid-'70s hard rock band Montrose, Sammy Hagar began a solo career that produced several hits and made him an album rock favorite. Hagar became a true star once he joined Van Halen in 1985, but he'd been a popular hard rocker ever since his first album with Montrose.
After giving up a boxing career, Hagar began singing in the late '60s, performing with various California bands including Skinny, the Fabulous Catillas, Justice Brothers, and Dust Cloud. During this time, he built up a solid reputation in the California hard rock scene. Former Edgar Winter guitarist Ronnie Montrose asked Hagar to join his band, Montrose, in 1973. Hagar recorded two albums with Montrose before going solo in 1976, taking the group's bassist, Bill Church, with him. Montrose's drummer Denny Carmassi later joined Hagar's band, along with keyboardist Geoff Workman.
Hagar's self-titled "red album" was his first chart entry; it eventually went gold. In 1979, he created a new supporting band featuring Workman, Church, guitarist Gary Pihl, and drummer Chuck Ruff. This lineup played on Hagar's most popular solo album, 1981's platinum Standing Hampton, plus 1982's gold Three Lock Box with only one member missing -- drummer Ruff was replaced by David Lauser. After Three Lock Box and its number 13 hit single "Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy," Hagar played several shows with guitarist Neal Schon, bassist Kenny Aaronson, and drummer Mike Shrieve; the group recorded a live album under the name Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve (HSAS), as well as a studio version of Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of Pale." His 1984 album VOA contained the hit single "I Can't Drive 55," which peaked at number 26.
In 1985, Hagar replaced David Lee Roth in Van Halen; his first album with the group was 1986's 5150. Hagar released his last solo album in 1987; the record was coined I Never Said Goodbye in an MTV contest. Hagar stayed with Van Halen throughout the remainder of the '80s and half of the '90s. During that time, the band had four other multi-platinum albums -- OU812 (1988), For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991), Live: Right Here, Right Now (1993), and Balance (1995) -- before tensions began to surface between Hagar and the rest of the band.
In the summer of 1996, Hagar either quit Van Halen or was fired; the band had Roth return to sing two tracks on Best of Van Halen, Vol. 1 before hiring former Extreme vocalist Gary Cherone as Hagar's replacement. The entire incident became a media sensation, ensuring that Hagar's 1997 solo album Marching to Mars -- his first in ten years -- would be greeted with much media-generated fanfare. It sold surprisingly well, peaking in the Top 20 and re-establishing Hagar as a viable solo act. With a backing band called the Waboritas in tow (consisting of guitarist Vic Johnson, keyboardist Jesse Harms, bassist Mona, and drummer David Lauser), Hagar followed the success with Red Voodoo two years later; it too sold very respectably on the strength of the single "Mas Tequila," just missing the Top 20.
Hagar's resurgence continued with 2000's Ten 13. Not 4 Sale arrived in 2003, followed by his first live album in 20 years, Live: Hallelujah. Livin' It Up! was released in 2006, while VOA was reissued the following year in deluxe format, courtesy of the newly launched American Beat Records. In 2008, Hagar released Cosmic Universal Fashion, his 11th solo album and first for Roadrunner imprint Loud & Proud Records. That same year, he debuted a new band, Chickenfoot, after jamming with Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony, guitarist Joe Satriani, and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith. The supergroup released its self-titled debut album in 2009. The debut went gold, which was good enough to guarantee a 2011 sequel called Chickenfoot III (despite its joking title, this was indeed their sophomore set). Hagar didn't abandon his Chickenfoot brothers for the 2013 album Sammy Hagar & Friends; each member, along with several other kindred spirits, showed up on this party-hearty 2013 LP. 2014's Lite Roast saw the tireless Hagar and Wabos guitarist Vic Johnson gently tearing through some coffeehouse-ready versions of Hagar classics, while 2015 saw the release of the live album At Your Service, the first album to be released under the moniker Sammy Hagar & the Circle, his newest touring incarnation featuring Michael Anthony on bass, drummer Jason Bonham and guitarist Vic Johnson.
The Circle released their first studio album, The Space Between, in 2019.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Standing Hampton
Sammy Hagar
Rock - Released by Geffen on 1 Jan 1981
After releasing several competent but more or less undistinguished albums on Capitol, Sammy Hagar switched to Geffen in 1981 and released Standing Ham ...
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At Your Service (Live)
Sammy Hagar
Rock - Released by BMG Rights Management (US) LLC on 19 May 2015
The first album to be released under the Sammy Hagar & the Circle moniker, At Your Service finds the red rocker rocking out with Michael Anthony (bass ...
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Lockdown 2020
Sammy Hagar
Rock - Released by Mailboat Records on 8 Jan 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Essential Red Collection
Sammy Hagar
Rock - Released by Universal Music Enterprises on 1 Jan 2004
When it comes right down to it, Sammy Hagar doesn't have all that many hits -- he's hit the Billboard charts about 30 times as a solo artist since lea ...
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Three Lock Box
Sammy Hagar
Rock - Released by Geffen on 1 Jan 1982
Continuing the sleek, driving pop-oriented sound of Hagar's breakthrough, Standing Hampton, Three Lock Box equals its predecessor, featuring such high ...
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Space Between
Sammy Hagar
Rock - Released by BMG Rights Management (US) LLC on 10 May 2019
Sammy Hagar calls his band -- either his fifth or sixth, depending if HSAS is counted or not -- the Circle because this quartet brings him back to whe ...
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Red Voodoo
Sammy Hagar
Rock - Released by Track Factory on 23 Mar 1999
When Sammy Hagar's 11 years with Van Halen came to an end, he delivered some of the best solo albums of his career. The rocker's post-Van Halen albums ...
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Danger Zone
Sammy Hagar
Rock - Released by Capitol Records on 1 Jan 1979
An early studio recording featuring perhaps the best, or at least most popular, backing band lineup, Danger Zone is not up to the standard of Sammy Ha ...
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Masters Of Rock
Sammy Hagar
Rock - Released by Capitol Records on 1 Jan 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I Never Said Goodbye
Sammy Hagar
Rock - Released by Geffen on 1 Jan 1987
Sammy Hagar, the singer's last solo album, was released a year after his first album with Van Halen, 1986's 5150. Although it charted the highest of a ...
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Livin' It Up!
Sammy Hagar
Rock - Released by BMG Rights Management (US) LLC on 25 Jul 2006
Sometime after his acrimonious departure from Van Halen, Sammy Hagar decided that it would be best if he turned himself into a hard rock version of Ji ...
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Ten 13
Sammy Hagar
Rock - Released by BMG Rights Management (US) LLC on 24 Oct 2000
Released on the struggling Beyond record label in 2000, Ten 13 wasn't exactly a well-publicized release. An impressive list of artists joined Sammy Ha ...
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Marching To Mars
Sammy Hagar
Rock - Released by Track Factory on 1 Jan 1997
Evidently, being kicked out of Van Halen revitalized Sammy Hagar, since Marching to Mars is among his best solo albums. A lean, tough collection of by ...
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Not 4 Sale
Sammy Hagar
Rock - Released by BMG Rights Management (US) LLC on 1 Oct 2002
You've got to hand it to Sammy Hagar for proving the Van Halen brothers wrong. When he exited the group in 1997, Alex and Eddie blamed Hagar's suppose ...
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This Is Sammy Hagar: When The Party Started Vol. 1
Sammy Hagar
Rock - Released by BMG Rights Management (US) LLC on 18 Nov 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Greatest Hits LIVE! (Live)
Sammy Hagar
Rock - Released by Capitol Records on 1 Jan 2002
Whoa! Hold on a second there, buddy boy. By titling a Sammy Hagar release Greatest Hits Live, you'd think that renditions of such Hagar hits as "Three ...
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Sammy Hagar & Friends
Sammy Hagar
Hard Rock - Released by Frontiers Records on 24 Sep 2013
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Lite Roast
Sammy Hagar
Rock - Released by BMG Rights Management (US) LLC on 14 Oct 2014
Sammy tips his hand by calling his acoustic album Lite Roast, the very title suggesting that these low-key renditions of old tunes are designed for sm ...
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Sammy Hagar
Sammy Hagar
Rock - Released by Capitol Records on 1 Jan 1977
One of Sammy Hagar's better early-career outings, this eponymous effort is most commonly referred to as The Red Album. Starting off with one of the mo ...
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo