January 26, 2004

No one can fault the Red Rocker's work ethic. Since parting ways with Van Halen in 1996, he has turned out four studio albums, a live album, and two DVD's, including his most recent release, The Long Road To Cabo.

In addition to those titles, "I Can't Drive 65" is now available on the soundtrack for the new NHL "Rivals 2004" game for XBOX. This update of his 1984 hit is a complete re-recording with his current band, the Waboritas.

Track Listing:
1. "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" - Pat Benetar
2. "I Can't Drive 65" - Sammy Hagar
3. "Tuff Enuff" - Fabulous Thunderbirds
4. "Foreplay / Long Time" - Boston
5. "Rocky Mountain Way" - Joe Walsh
6. "Sweet Home Alabama" - Lynyrd Skynyrd
7. "Eye Of The Tiger" - Survivor
8. "Don't Stop Believing" - Journey
9. "Keep On Loving You" - Reo Speedwagon
10. "Renegade" - Styx
11. "Do It Again" - Steely Dan

In addition to his musical ventures, rumors are currently circulating that Sam plans to open some manner of Cabo Wabo cantina-type bar or restaurant in Lake Tahoe in the near future, with a possible grand opening on Cinco de Mayo. Details are still sketchy so that timetable seems a bit optimistic.

If all that weren't enough, he and the Waboritas, along with Michael Anthony, are slated to host the main stage for three days of the five-day Houston SuperBash, a series of concerts leading up to Super Bowl XXXVIII. An hour of live music from Toby Keith, Willie Nelson, Sammy Hagar, Darryl McDaniels (DMC), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), and jazz musician (also former NBA star) Wayman Tisdale, will be cablecast on Saturday, Jan. 31 10:00 PM ET/PT on Toby Keith's Shock'n Y'all Super Bowl Party: A CMT Crossroads Special.

And finally, word came this afternoon of an un-announced gig last night in a small club in Sammy's Northern California hometown of Mill Valley.

Posted through his official webmaster:
"This past Thursday, the 22nd, me and the Wabo's jammed with Johnny Hiland at The Sweetwater in Mill Valley. He is an awesome guitar player. We played, "Going Down", "Mustang Sally" and "Honky Tonk Woman". Steve Vai said that he couldn't play like Johnny Hiland even with a gun put to his head. See ya at the SuperBash!!"

These events are congruous with what we have come to expect in the post-Van Hagar era, but there is also a recent change that leads to speculation about the future of the Waboritas and Sammy's solo career, in light of recent rumors.

Sammy and the Wabo's spent New Year's in Cabo San Lucas, but Sammy's keyboardist, producer, and songwriting partner for over 20 years, Jesse Harms, was not present for any of the shows. Red Hot Chili Pepper drummer Chad Smith, Nickelback's Kroeger brothers Chad and Mike, and son Aaron Hagar sat in for some of the fun, but Jesse was apparently not in Mexico. Intimations of an acrimonious split swirled and Sammy responded some days later:
"Jess wants to spend more time producing and writing his own material and this takes away from being on the road. So the Waboritas and I came down as a 4 piece band. Lean and mean rock n roll machine. See ya in Houston!!"

This did not silence the rumors that the band is disintegrating as Sammy prepares to return to Van Halen in 2004.

It has been published that unlike many other bands, Sammy supports his band year round, not just when they are playing, to make it financially viable for them to remain full-time Waboritas, without having to venture out for other projects during down time. In response to the rumor that the band would not be paid in 2004 as Sammy would be leaving his solo activities behind in favor of a Van Hagar reunion, Sammy announced:
"The Waboritas, (Vic, Mona & David) are on payroll for this whole year and will be performing with me and Special Guests in Houston."