Sammy Hagar has publicly offered a message of support to his longtime Van Halen counterpart, David Lee Roth, following the abrupt cancellation of several of Roth's scheduled summer tour dates. Hagar shared a video expressing his concern and extending an invitation for Roth to join him and Michael Anthony during their Las Vegas residency.
"Hey Dave, Sammy here. I just got a call from Michael Anthony as I'm sitting down having my favorite cocktail, and I don't have to tell you what this is," Hagar said in the video, referencing his signature margarita. "about your tour getting canceled. And I want to say from the bottom of my heart, I'm sorry. I hope you're well. I hope there's not a physical problem."
Several of Roth's shows in Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, and Illinois have been canceled, with no official reason provided. While July dates have been scrapped, some August and September performances are still listed as available.
Hagar, who fronted Van Halen alongside Roth at different points in the band's history, emphasized the importance of keeping live music alive. "Mike and I love the fact that you've been out there doing it, supporting the greatest band in the world that we were both part of," he stated. "And, yeah, I'm really sorry. That's f---ed up. Supporting what we did in this band to keep this music alive."
The public overture marks a significant shift in the relationship between Hagar and Roth, which has historically been defined by public spats and competition. The two musicians briefly toured together in 2002, but their rivalry quickly resurfaced.
Hagar encouraged Roth to return to performing when he feels ready. "So, when you're ready to carry on, you go, brother. Mike and I support you." He then extended a direct invitation to Roth: "Come to Vegas for the residency in September. Come on, join us. Sing a couple songs, MC the damn show. Come out and just do what the f--- you do, which is pretty damn entertaining."
In a caption accompanying the video, Hagar further elaborated on his sentiments, expressing hope that the news about Roth was not related to AI and stressing the importance of live music. "those of us that can still go out and play. should do it as long as they can physically and emotionally carry that torch. @vanhalen was, should be, and hopefully always will be real live music, not just for our fans, but for the future fans of real rock music."
Roth has not publicly addressed the cancellations or Hagar's invitation. He had previously announced his retirement in 2021, though he later returned to the stage. The cancellations add another unexpected turn to his return to live performances.