Sammy Hagar is preparing to launch a Las Vegas residency on April 30 featuring the same band he toured with in 2024 on The Best of All Worlds trek. In a recent interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal promoting the residency, the 77-year-old Red Rocker appeared to suggest that he’s planning to stop touring, although in a new video message posted on his socials, Hagar insisted his comments were misrepresented by the newspaper.
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In an accompanying note, the former Van Halen frontman wrote, “Somehow my line about not wanting to tour anymore got picked up as a little #Clickbait and taken out of context ha ha.”
In his video message, Hagar proceeded to explain that doing a Las Vegas residency will be easier for him, and suggested it likely will allow him to continue to perform more concerts than if he just toured.
“Last couple weeks, I’ve been getting all these messages from people [saying], ‘Oh my God, you’re not gonna tour anymore,’” Hagar began his message. “I didn’t say I’m not gonna tour anymore. I was referring to the residency coming up in May with Joe Satriani, Michael Anthony, Kenny Aronoff, Rai Thistlethwayte—the same Best of All Worlds [Tour] band. We’re gonna do a residency [at the Park MGM hotel and casino].”
[RELATED: Sammy Hagar Plotting Major Career Change: “I Don’t Think I Want to Go on Tour Anymore”]
He continued, “I’m hoping that that will be a lot easier for me than packing bags every day and getting on an airplane, flying to the next city, checking into a hotel, running to soundcheck, trying to get something to eat, going to the meet-and-greet … and then … doing a show. Without all that crazy travel and all that extracurricular stuff, it should be easier for me.”
Hagar Talked More About the Advantages of Playing a Residency
Hagar then ran down a list of advantages of playing a residency.
“Waking up, having a nice breakfast in the town where you’re gonna play, not having to do anything but maybe go to the gym, maybe rehearse—yeah, man, now you’re talking,” he declared. “I’ll be chomping at the bit when it comes showtime, because I will be well-rested, without all that travel. I just think it’s gonna be great.”
Sammy explained that by playing at the same venue for an extend run, “I may be able to squeeze 50, 100 more shows out of this voice … and this body.”
He added, “I’m a performer. I like to perform, and it takes it out of you. So, that’s all I’m saying is hopefully the residency will be the answer to be able to continue on for many more years.”
Hagar concluded, “[T]ouring is getting tough, and I will be doing less and less. And eventually, [I] probably won’t be able to do it at all. I mean, it’s inevitable. I’m only human. Anyway, it’s all good. I’m not gonna stop performing, ever. I will play music, live music, as long as I can. I freaking love it. Are you kidding me?”
Hagar’s Comments to the Las Vegas Review-Journal
While Hagar maintained that his comments to the Las Vegas Review-Journal were taken out of context, what he’s quoted as saying to the paper isn’t too different from his remarks in the video.
“I don’t think I want to go on tour anymore,” Hagar told the publication. “I hate to say that because I don’t want to p— my fans off. … I’ll go out and do a one-off show and do things like that, but the residency is going to give me a good extension of my career. That’s what I’m hoping for.”
He added, “With this, I don’t have to travel. I don’t have to unpack and pack and get on an airplane every day. You know, at my age, it hurts my shoulders to do all this and I have to perform. I’m a performer, at the end of the day.”
More About Hagar’s 2025 Performance Plans
As previously reported, Hagar’s The Best of All Worlds residency will run from April 30 through May 17. The nine-date engagement will take place at the Dolby Live venue at the Park MGM.
Prior to the Las Vegas residency, Hagar has three other performances scheduled for 2025.
The first will take place on February 20 at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo in San Antonio, Texas. The second is scheduled for February 21 at the Lucas Oil Live venue in Thackerville, Oklahoma. The third is an April 27 performance at the Stagecoach Music Festival in Indio, California.
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