When Van Halen Opening Act Saw Eddie Assault Sammy Hagar Onstage

I'm a musician, I saw the 2004 Louisville Kentucky show. Eddie was terrible! I couldn't even recognize some of the songs until Sammy started signing. Sam would introduce a song and EVH would play something different. I had seen Van Halen perform several times before on other tours Eddie always sounded great but I left there feeling I was cheated. Eddie's demons on full display.

Must be a big reason why Mike is on the same tour with Sammy today. 🤓😎✌🏼

This is why DLR originally left VH. The clash of egos between him and Eddie, of course, but Roth has stated that he saw the dark side of Eddie. Eddie didn’t like being upstaged by David, a natural showman, and it erupted into jealous anger.

Every band needs a Michael Anthony. Good bandmate and professional 👏 with a good attitude

That's what happens when demon alcohol takes over. Sammy wanted to get out of that tour, but he didn't for contractual reasons, because all the losses as a result of that departure would be for him to pay.

That green booney hat Sammy is wearing at 1:30 was my hat....I threw it on stage. I watched him sign it but I never got it back. When I threw it on stage, it landed right on the drum riser between AL's bass drums. Cincinnati 9-18-04

There were a number of years where Eddie lost his mind due to drugs and alcohol........Destroying the interior of a private jet and trying to break out a window with a wine bottle at 20,000 feet ??????? He did clean up, but it was too late......Eddie and Sammy made amends before Eddie passed with both telling each other "I love you", so that is a good thing. Cheers !

It a shame that all these egos can't get along.🤘❤🤘🇺🇸

Hagar has always said it went downhill as Eddies alcohol and drug addictions got worse. Let’s be honest if it wasn’t for Wolfie Eddie would have passed away even sooner than he did. As an ex addict I know exactly how hard it can be to get back to some semblance of normal. Sad though glad they managed to speak before he died and have some closure.

Youthful men

It'd be interesting to know if this was before or after Sam realized the tour was something he never should signed on for. Sam has said publicly that he stayed on the tour for all the dates the contract required of him because there were huge contractual penalties for ending it early. Yet, he realized almost immediately that Ed's addictions were so out of control that the tour really shouldn't have happened. Gotta wonder if this isn't behind how things got so bad between Ed and Sam. Easy to imagine that something like this happening could have either been the final straw or a reaction to Sam's obvious disgust with how things were going. As a long time fan of Eddie's playing this was a sad period of time. Hearing this story only re-enforces how grateful I am for the idea that Eddie managed to "Clean up" and play well again before cancer took him away too soon. Drugs and Alcohol......it's amazing how many lives get derailed by 'em.

I would gotten my band together and left

And Eddy pulled a gun on 2 people, great video 📸

sammy has always sung like he was kicked in the nuts

It's sad when bandmates don't get along. Some only stay together for the music and money. Hopefully Sammy and Eddie were at peace before the latter's death.

Ed definitely had the common alternate personality when drinking. Always confused me why he always threatened to kick Dave in the balls, and apparently he'd do it. Sammy probably performed with a cup and we just didn't know.

I'm pretty sure those actions were simply the drugs and alchohol.

Maybe Sammy wasn’t hitting the high notes.

First I've ever heard this story. I'm doubting that guy's memory.

EvH was not the angel fans wana believe he was, he did mikey so dirty most managers say they have never seen one band member be that ruthless to another!! For this tour mikey had sign away all royalties rights an was a payed player !! Makes me sick people think EVH such a angel !! Micheal anthony is just a class act !!! Way more class then EVH ever even dreamee of having!! Mike great guy even after the brothers did him so dirty!! Wish it would come out the class Micheal anthony really has an the truth of how bad thr van halen brothers treated him sn he didn't deserve it