Sammie Hagar: “Without Eddie Van Halen, guitarists would have lost out to synthesizers and computers”

The legendary singer explains why he believes Eddie Van Halen was far more than a rock icon — he was a musical visionary who changed the future of the guitar forever

Sammy Hagar believes the influence of Eddie Van Halen on modern music cannot be overstated. According to the former Van Halen frontman, Eddie not only revolutionized guitar playing but also helped ensure that the instrument remained relevant during an era increasingly dominated by electronic technology.

The comments come ahead of another run of the Best of All Worlds tour, which features Joe Satriani, bassist Michael Anthony, and drummer Kenny Aronoff alongside Hagar.

Speaking with Guitar Player, the singer reflected on his years working with Eddie Van Halen, discussing both the guitarist’s lasting impact on rock music and the profound effect he had on Hagar’s own development as a musician.

“I can’t imagine where guitar players would be without Eddie,” says Sammy Hagar. “He completely changed the direction of the instrument and took it somewhere nobody expected. Before him, there were already incredible players such as Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, David Gilmour, Eric Clapton, and Jimi Hendrix.”

Hagar went on to compare Eddie’s influence to the groundbreaking innovations introduced by Hendrix decades earlier.

“Jimi Hendrix transformed the guitar world with his use of the whammy bar and his unique approach to the instrument. But Eddie pushed things even further. He expanded the possibilities of tremolo systems, brought hammer-ons to a new level, and turned tapping into a defining technique.”

According to Hagar, however, technical innovation is only part of the story.

“It wasn’t just about what he invented. He was an extraordinary musician. A true master. In many ways, he was the Beethoven of our era. That’s how unique he was. He belongs in the company of the greatest musical minds in history.”

“He Was a Music God, Not Just a Guitar Hero”

Hagar believes that Eddie Van Halen’s talents extended well beyond the guitar.

“People often refer to him as a rock god, but I see him as a music god,” he explains. “When keyboard players join our band today and start learning songs like Right Now or some of Eddie’s keyboard arrangements, they end up shaking their heads and saying, ‘This guy approached keyboards with the same originality he brought to guitar playing.’”

Even world-renowned guitarist Joe Satriani continues to marvel at Eddie’s musical ideas.

“When Joe studies those parts, he often comments on the chord voicings and harmonic structures. He’ll say, ‘Listen to these chords — they’re incredible.’”

For Hagar, Eddie’s influence reached far beyond rock guitar itself.

“I honestly can’t imagine where guitarists would be without him. There’s a good chance the instrument would have faded into the background while electronic music took over. We might all be listening primarily to electronic productions today. In my view, Eddie saved guitar players. He helped the guitar remain competitive against keyboards, digital technology, computer-based production tools, and everything else that emerged.”

How Eddie Changed Sammy Hagar as an Artist

During the interview, Sammy Hagar also discussed how working alongside Eddie Van Halen transformed his own creativity.

“I absolutely loved writing music with him,” Hagar says. “When he sat at the piano and played something like Love Walks In, melodies and lyrics would come out of me that I never would have discovered on my own.”

According to Hagar, Eddie’s musical ideas constantly inspired new lyrical and melodic directions.

“The way he played influenced the words I chose, the rhythm of the lyrics, and the overall flow of a song. Writing together was always an incredible experience.”

One of the best examples, he says, was the creation of Black and Blue.

“I remember working on Black and Blue. The relationship between the guitar parts and the vocal rhythms was unlike anything I had ever encountered. Without Eddie, I never would have written a song like that.”

Why Eddie’s Later Work Deserves More Recognition

While many fans consider the early Van Halen albums to be Eddie Van Halen’s finest work, Hagar believes some of the guitarist’s most sophisticated writing came later in his career.

“A lot of people think the early material was his best work,” he says. “I don’t necessarily agree. That was simply the first time audiences heard him.”

He points out that songs such as Eruption, Spanish Fly, and the iconic intros from early albums felt revolutionary because they were completely new.

“When people first heard Eruption or Spanish Fly, the experience was shocking and exciting. But were those necessarily his most advanced compositions? Not really. Compared to some of his later work, they were actually relatively straightforward.”

As an example, Hagar highlights Can’t Stop Loving You from the 1995 album Balance.

“When we perform that song today, Joe Satriani often looks at me and says, ‘What an incredible piece of music. Every measure changes. The arrangement constantly evolves.’ And remember, that observation is coming from Joe Satriani — not from someone who has just started learning guitar.”

“It Was an Honor to Play Alongside Eddie”

Looking back on their years together, Sammy Hagar says working with Eddie Van Halen remains one of the greatest experiences of his career.

“It was a privilege to play music with Eddie. He made me a better musician. He made me a stronger songwriter. He made me a better singer.”

According to Hagar, his time with Van Halen helped him reach a level he may never have achieved otherwise.

“Without any doubt, the best vocal performances of my career happened while I was with Van Halen.”