Sammy Hagar's "Red"
June 9th, 2011
Have you read “Red” yet? Sammy Hagar’s autobiography reveals a human dynamo with the entrepreneurial drive of an industrialist. Hagar ran his rock ‘n roll career like a box-office business. Where so many musicians consult their inner child or defer to their deep musical roots, Sammy grabbed his toolbox of Stones, Cream & Led Zep influences and worked it until it worked. He overcame a rough childhood which might have instilled bitterness in someone of less character; Hagar turned it into a determined work ethic. Revealing was his early yearning to combine what Plant & Page did onstage, likewise Jagger & Richards. Hagar had the vocal & guitar chops to put those roles together. He conquered all the usual conflicts of band members, managers, & record company setbacks common to recording artists, bringing many careers to a halt. But in every instance Hagar saw a way to learn & build toward success. With such bullish determination, he still comes off as a nice guy. I had the pleasure of hanging out with him at Sunset Sound studios in LA with our mutual producer Carter in ‘81, when Sammy was suing Capitol Records. He seemed a down-to-earth, open person; one of the boys who happened to be going places.
Aside from expected rock ‘n roll excesses including juicy recollections of meltdowns starring Montrose & Van Halen with and without Roth, the biggest eye-opener of the book is Hagar’s business empire. From buying up apartment buildings, franchising Cabo Wabo and a tequila manufacturing company, one wonders where Sammy gets such energy and vision. He’s smarter than you and me. Most successful rock stars are content with a career in music; Hagar’s afterburners kick in as he launches industries to rival Donald Trump. Devoting incomes from his entire Sammy’s Beach Bar & Grille restaurant chain to children’s charities is noble – a successful mogul giving back.
Embedded in the text is Hagar maintaining loyal friendships, from his teen-days drummer David Lauser rejoining the recent Wabos, to our mutual friend Carter. Though Sammy eclipsed Carter’s mentorship at Capitol Records as A&R & producer, it was heartwarming to see Sammy call him back to manage Chickenfoot so many years later. Carter’s hesitation to endorse the writing of ‘Red’ turned into full support at Hagar’s decision to go ahead with the book. So much so that co-author Joel Slevin felt he was writing it as a letter to Carter alone.
Perhaps the key to Hagar’s achievement is in a quote from Randy Bachman, who said he didn’t see himself in the music business, but in the ‘business of music.’ That reveals confidence in oneself to navigate a unique career. Hagar points out the curious fact that while most find success in rock bands and then go solo, he succeded as a solo artist and then took the strange route of joining Van Halen & Chickenfoot.
The last offerings of the book are a sincere lament to the current collapse of the music industry. Hagar speaks for many rock performers’ sorrow at no longer being able to release albums, sell meaningful quantities, and tour sizable venues. Not merely for his own sake, but for all involved in the industry. He now releases occasional singles as downloads, and tours smaller halls because music is still in his blood, the love and drive undiminished. It’s a heartfelt punctuation to a giant career.
As with Keith Richards’ autobio “Life”, Hagar ends “Red” on the tender moment of his mother’s passing. Biographies are reflective, but Hagar’s story isn’t over yet. He is a can-do guy with the energy of ten people, and proof that nice guys can finish first. God bless Sammy Hagar.
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