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Sammy Hagar

Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock Hardcover – March 15, 2011

by Sammy Hagar (Author)

1,870 ratings

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Loud rock, fast cars, and Cabo. This is the life of Sammy Hagar.

For almost forty years, Sammy Hagar has been a fixture in rock music. From breaking into the industry with the band Montrose to his multiplatinum solo career to his ride as the front man of Van Halen, Sammy's powerful and unforgettable voice has set the tone for some of the greatest rock anthems ever written—songs like "I Can't Drive 55," "Right Now," and "Why Can't This Be Love."

In Red, Sammy tells the outrageous story of his tear through rock 'n' roll, detailing the backstage antics and nonstop touring that have made his voice instantly recognizable. Beginning with his musical coming-of-age in the blue-collar towns of California, Sammy traces his rough and determined rise to fame, working harder than anyone else out there and writing songs about the things he loved—fast cars, loud parties, and lots of good times.

But solo success was just the start, a prelude to his raucous and notorious decade as the front man for Van Halen, one of the biggest-selling rock groups in history. Filled with behind-the-scenes stories from his time with the band, Red offers the Van Halen story as Sammy saw it, holding nothing back about the worldwide stadium tours, the tensions with Eddie, the messy parties, the divided friendships, and, of course, his controversial and widely disputed exit from the band.

After Van Halen, Sammy changed directions again, throwing himself headfirst into the tequila business and creating Cabo Wabo, one of the most successful tequila brands in the world. And all the while he continued to rock, touring the country with his bands the Waboritas and Chickenfoot, and eventually reuniting with Van Halen for a tour that became both a box-office smash and a personal catastrophe.

From the decadence of being one of the world's biggest rock stars to the unfiltered story of being forced out of Van Halen, Sammy's account spares no one, least of all himself. His is a tale of a true rock 'n' roller—someone who's spent decades bringing the party with him wherever he goes but always headin' back to Cabo for mas tequila.

Print length

256 pages
Language

English
Publisher

It Books
Publication date

March 15, 2011
Dimensions

6 x 0.89 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

0062009281
ISBN-13

978-0062009289
See all details

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Sammy’s no bullsh*tter. If Sammy says it happened, it did. There’s nobody else anywhere like him.” -- Michael Anthony

“Sammy has maintained his all-star success no matter where his Red Rocker career has taken him. He still can’t drive fifty-five, but hey, he’s the one driving the Mustang. So site back and ride.” -- Toby Keith

“Nobody had to explain the American dream to Sammy. He knew in his gut that there was a better life available to him if he refused to accept the status quo. It’s all here in Sammy’s new book.” -- Ted Nugent

“I’ll admit it: I’ve been a Sammy Hagar wannabe since I heard his voice on a Montrose album...I’m proud to call him a rock star hero, a friend, and a brother in the sun. Rock on, Red Rocker!” -- Kenny Chesney

“Sam’s the man. Tequila, fast cars, rock ‘n’ roll―my kind of guy.” -- Jimmie Johnson, five-time NASCAR champion

“There are not a lot of people I would drop whatever I’m doing to go and see, but Sammy Hagar is one of thouse people...The man rocks his ass off, and vicariously through him so do I. My man―Sammy Hagar.” -- Whoopi Goldberg

“Over the many years I’ve known Sammy, his Red Rocker passion in music has always inspired me. But it’s also his love of cooking great food and sharing a good bottle of wine that has been at the core of our friendship for so long. -- Emeril Lagasse

“There are tell-all books. And then there are tell-all books written by Sammy Hagar. The 63-year-old ex-Van Halen frontman holds back nothing -- and I mean absolutely nothing -- in his autobiography...the Red Rocker’s life look-back doesn’t skimp on the details.” -- Lisa Ko, author of The Leavers

From the Back Cover

Loud rock, fast cars, and Cabo.
This is the life of Sammy Hagar.

For almost forty years, Sammy Hagar has been a fixture in rock music. From breaking into the industry with the band Montrose to his multiplatinum solo career to his ride as the front man of Van Halen, Sammy's powerful and unforgettable voice has set the tone for some of the greatest rock anthems ever written—songs like "I Can't Drive 55," "Right Now," and "Why Can't This Be Love."

In Red, Sammy tells the outrageous story of his tear through rock 'n' roll, detailing the backstage antics and nonstop touring that have made his voice instantly recognizable. Beginning with his musical coming-of-age in the blue-collar towns of California, Sammy traces his rough and determined rise to fame, working harder than anyone else out there and writing songs about the things he loved—fast cars, loud parties, and lots of good times.

But solo success was just the start, a prelude to his raucous and notorious decade as the front man for Van Halen, one of the biggest-selling rock groups in history. Filled with behind-the-scenes stories from his time with the band, Red offers the Van Halen story as Sammy saw it, holding nothing back about the worldwide stadium tours, the tensions with Eddie, the messy parties, the divided friendships, and, of course, his controversial and widely disputed exit from the band.

After Van Halen, Sammy changed directions again, throwing himself headfirst into the tequila business and creating Cabo Wabo, one of the most successful tequila brands in the world. And all the while he continued to rock, touring the country with his bands the Waboritas and Chickenfoot, and eventually reuniting with Van Halen for a tour that became both a box-office smash and a personal catastrophe.

From the decadence of being one of the world's biggest rock stars to the unfiltered story of being forced out of Van Halen, Sammy's account spares no one, least of all himself. His is a tale of a true rock 'n' roller—someone who's spent decades bringing the party with him wherever he goes but always headin' back to Cabo for mas tequila.

Start reading Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock on your Kindle in under a minute.

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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ It Books; First Edition (March 15, 2011)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0062009281
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062009289
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.04 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.89 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #416,843 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #456 in Biographies & History Graphic Novels
- #1,398 in Rock Band Biographies
- #1,608 in Rock Music (Books)

Customer Reviews:
1,870 ratings

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5 star		75%
4 star		17%
3 star		5%
2 star		1%
1 star		1%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Roger A. Jones

Great Book!

Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2016

Verified Purchase

After reading several of the negative reviews, I was hesitant to buy this book. However, growing up a Sammy Hagar fan and enjoying his music with Montrose, solo and with Van Halen, I decided to give the book a chance. As it turns out, the book was very, very good and hard to put down. Sammy Hagar grew up very poor and worked his butt off to become a successful Rock Star and Entrepreneur. Nothing was ever given to this man; through tremendous drive and work ethic he achieved success others can only dream about.

The majority of the negative reviews centered around Sammy Hagar taking over for David Lee Roth as the lead singer of Van Halen. Apparently the reviewers found this sacrilegious, stopped following Van Halen and blamed Hagar. The reality is, Roth took time off to launch a solo career, the Van Halen brothers grew tired of his continued absence and ego and booted him out of the band. In addition, Sammy Hagar did not simply walk in and become the lead singer of Van Halen, Eddie Van Halen called Hagar and asked if he would like to audition for the part. Once again, nothing was given to him, Sammy nailed the audition and was hired. Regarding the reviewers condemning Hagar's Rock Star lifestyle, would you have truly done anything differently given his age, the money, the fame and women at his disposal?

In 1983, I attended a Sammy Hagar concert in St. Louis that was filmed live for MTV. I remember Sammy running all over that stage with a wireless mic, shredding his guitar and belting out hit after hit. The guy truly cares about his fan base and it's reflected in his performances. After reading his book, Sammy Hagar approaches his life much like his shows, with a gritty determination to be the best.

58 people found this helpful

Helpful

Sandy Appleyard

Sammy's great!

Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2021

Verified Purchase

First off, I’ll admit that I could not put this book down, and not just because of the content. The reader can feel Sammy’s personality throughout the pages. After watching so many videos and reading so many articles, even listening to radio broadcast recordings, I have to say that I like him a lot. He’s got a great positive attitude and a hilarious sense of humor, plus a fantastically witty imagination. He’s the type of guy that I think anyone would be able to hang out with and have fun.

Sammy is also extremely charismatic and loaded with wisdom. He’s had quite a life to support that, and this book tells a lot of it. The man has worked practically since he was old enough to walk, and he’s been involved in so many interesting business ventures, and it seems that being in bands were just part of that. From building bikes to selling tequila, this man has done it all.

What I garnered from his experience working with Van Halen, was that it was exceptionally rewarding in the beginning. The man actually bought a house two doors down from Eddie, they felt so close to one another, and had so much fun recording together. They trusted each other like brothers, and you could feel that in his writing. He loved Eddie, and it was apparent.

The telling of the less enjoyable parts of his Van Halen experience was done with a fair amount of taste. Truthfully, some parts you could tell that he still felt pain, but he told it like it was, and in his own words, and I respect that. With explanations that were meant to sound like it was a brotherhood and treated like a family affair, I got that, and it was clearly and fairly done.

It was painful to read about how he could see Eddie going down and why. And it was hurtful to read about Eddie’s mistakes along the way, and to me, as much as I’d already read about his substance abuse, infidelity and betrayal, in articles, it’s almost like hearing it from Sammy confirmed it.

Overall, Red is a really great read, and I’d highly recommend it to any Van Halen fan, or even if you’re just looking for a well written biography, this is brilliant. Five stars.

6 people found this helpful

Helpful

denizen

Inspiring

Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2019

Verified Purchase

Sammy Hagar rose from nothing to being one of the most liked people in all of rock and roll by his fellow musicians. Something that makes Eddie Van Halen very jealous. Van Halen wasn't making money off its tours and had one of the worst record deals for a major act in the biz before Sammy and his great manager Ed Leffler arrived for 5150. Sammy was advised by his manager and music executives that he was NUTS to join the group....that he would be taking a pay cut. While Sammy didn't sell albums as a solo artist like VH did with 1984, if you look at their respective concert itineraries around 1984, solo Sammy and VH played the same 19,000 seat arenas to the same amount of people. Hey Eddie: if you want everyone in your band to be a team player, don't start a movie soundtrack without consulting the band's singer. Van Halen was on hiatus. And don't tell him that he better get his butt from Hawaii to Studio City to work on a project he never agreed to when his wife is pregnant and is experiencing life threatening pregnancy complications. Family is more important than your job. Sammy had every right to slam EVH for his behavior on that 2004 tour. I spent around $600 on tickets and was forced to hear a guitar hero who sometimes couldn't remember his own tunes and who played sloppy solos. As Sammy says, he was NICE to EVH in the book. And just because Mike Anthony stays silent about all this doesn't mean that Sammy is wrong or that he doesn't have a right to speak his mind. In all honesty, Mike should be standing up for himself. The VH brothers are ungrateful brutes.

11 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Scott Fraser

Legend

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 19, 2019

Verified Purchase

Like him or not Sammy Hagar is a rock legend. Look at the bands he has been in as well as his solo work - Montrose, VH, Chickenfoot, The Circle, The Wabos, HSAS (maybe not). Great voice, underrated guitar player, writer of some great songs and a top top business man. Whilst the tequila, food and tv work doesn't interest me, it shows how bright, determined and connected this guy is. I was lucky enough to see Chickenfoot in Manchester in 2012 - one of the best rock gigs I have ever seen and I've seen the cream of classic rock (DC, Rush, UFO, Purple, Dio, Scorpions, Motorhead etc) - to name but a few. The book is a good overview of his career. It isn't too in-depth and it can be a little pious in places but it's most certainly entertaining. The classic rock community has lost a lot of its legends in the last few years - this guy is still making great music/gigs with The Circle and we should be grateful for that. If he seems just a loud mouth yank to you, check out Standing Hampton, VOA, the Montrose debut, 5150, Balance, both Chickenfoot albums, The Circle live and recent album - you won't be disappointed.

3 people found this helpful

70's rock lover!

A brilliant read!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 11, 2021

Verified Purchase

Firstly, to state, I only read this as I was in need of a quick read and this was the cheapest of the rock biographies I could see on Amazon. I know who Sammy Hagar is, yet do not own any of his albums and couldn't name a song by tune. I just like reading rock biographies, even from those who I am unfamiliar with. So bring me to this book - bloody great. I whizzed through it at record speed and not once did I find the book dipped, unlike some. I enjoyed every second of it. As for the man himself, he comes across as both humble, genuine and a very likeable guy. I cannot wait to start listening to not only the first few Montrose albums but also Sammy's solo stuff, including the famous live one from the late 70's that pops up on a few of the greatest live albums lists. As for the one reviewer mentioning about the non music stuff that pops up in the book, such as his tequila business etc - for Pete's sake, its a book about his life. I should think not every paragraph relates to just music. Just thought it was an odd comment, especially as the book only covers the non music stuff now and again, it was hardly chapter upon chapter. Anyway, it is part of Sammy's life, so in writing a biography, everything should be included.

Amazon Customer

Frank and honest but no android video

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 23, 2015

Verified Purchase

OK So Sammy does have lots of doh! He does tell us about the things he has been able to buy because of his success but lets not forget we are talking about a guy who grew up with absolutely no material wealth and not even a steady place to live.

He has always given a 100% and just wanted to make music , even taking a pay cut to join Van Halen. Now as a Brit, I just didn't get it. Yes he was hands down a better singer and writer than Roth but I prefered Montrose and solo Sammy.

He talks about his business ventures but was in the right place at the right time and stuck with them when they started to fold. unlike the VH brothers who signed away right to Cabo so as not to have to meet it's initial debts and secure the logo rights outright from Sammy.

So he deserves what he has, indeed has earned more from his other businesses than from music.

The book itself is a frank account of his life and dealings with the industry, even sounding sad at the demise of the industry as he knew it. He talks about the despair of trying to deal with his first wife's illness until he could take no more. Obviously there were all the trappings of superstardom!

The only thing that spoilt this for me was that Kindle do not provide video on these enhanced versions that plays on pc or android, so cannot comment on the video content. That is why there are only 4 stars.

I have recently read autobiographies from Slash and Duff and this is as good as those , if that helps.

6 people found this helpful

N. Smith

Brilliant!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 30, 2013

Verified Purchase

Great stories, well written, Sammy sure knows an anecdote when he lives one. His early life is poignant and quite heart-breaking, but it does make you understand his drive to succeed all the more. This is much better than DLR's book, a fact which will please sammy no end, no doubt. By the time it's over you'll be rooting for the red rocker like Rocky! If you like Rock Biographies, you'll love this...

5 people found this helpful

Cicero

A red hot read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 27, 2019

Verified Purchase

Excellent no holds barred book. Sammy has been very open and honest about his life and career.

Very much an eye-opener in parts.

See all reviews