Any animosity between rockers Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth seems to have settled down.
Hagar said they got along early in their tour because they wanted it to work, then they went back into their old selves who don’t like each other.
“It’s been pretty tense out there back stage many, many times,” Hagar told reporters. “But like I said, when we went on stage, Dave does a great show, I do a great show, the fans win. And it was really good. But all this stuff back stage got ugly a couple of times. I had to sleep with the light on twice.”
Roth tried to diffuse any tension between the two former front men of Van Halen.
“What is rock ‘n’ roll without a little bit of conflict? Without a little bit of a drama?” Roth asked. “But I think that most of what’s been going on behind the scenes with the Roth-Hagar tour is purely for your listening and dancing pleasure.
“C’mon, what’s the worst that a couple of rock stars could possibly do? A little slap-fighting, some elaborate healing process and a reunion tour.”
Hagar was asked how ticket sales were going.
“Quite honestly, I have no idea, cause every night when I walked out on stage it was packed,” Hagar said. “And it looks good, and we had a great, great concert thing. To me, business is not what it’s about. It real isn’t. But to me, it’s been a huge success. Because it’s really been great. When you walk out on stage and people respond the way they do for three hours of great rock ‘n’ roll music, that’s a success.”
Hagar says he plans to keep touring for years to come.
“I don’t feel old. I know I am,” he said with a laugh. “I’m not trying to lie to ya, all right. But I do not feel old. And I can still sing and I can still play and I love doing it and that’s why I’m doing it.
“I’ve had enough fame and fortune for 152 people in my life, so I’m real happy just doing it.”
The combative Roth also said there’s a lot to love about him.
“I’m the Patron Saint of Larceny,” he said. “Ozzy (Osbourne) is the Prince of Darkness. I’m the patron saint of staying way up past your bedtime on a school night. And so, what’s to hate about Diamond Dave?”
And then Roth answered the question everybody wants to know: Will he ever rejoin Van Halen? Seemingly open to the idea, Roth couldn’t resist taking a jab at guitarist Eddie Van Halen.
“There’s always a chance that Eddie Van Heineken may catch up here. My life is a video. Why stop now?”
