NEW YORK (Variety) - Sammy Hagar, who was unceremoniously bounced from his job as vocalist for Van Halen last year, has signed a seven-figure contract with nascent recording label Bubble Factory Records.
Hagar, 49, has been laying low since his highly publicized split with the Los Angeles rock band. Both sides have conflicting reasons for the shake-up, which was complicated by the brief return of founding vocalist David Lee Roth. Van Halen is now working with former Extreme singer Gary Cherone.
Hagar's "Marching to Mars" album is expected to come out in the spring. During his years in Van Halen, Hagar maintained a solo career, most recently working with Geffen Records.
Bubble Factory Records bested offers from such established players as Virgin Records and A&M Records to make Hagar its first act. The company is an offshoot of the Bubble Factory, an independent film company established several years ago by Hollywood veteran Sid Sheinberg after he was eased out of the presidency of MCA Inc.
The label was established to release soundtracks and scores from films released by the outfit's film projects.
Sources said the deal, which was in the works for several weeks, was shepherded by Bubble Factory Records chief Tim Sexton and Sheinberg, the latter spending considerable time with Hagar and being credited with closing the agreement.
Reuters/Variety