Sammy Hagar has not announced his retirement. In a September 17, 2026, SiriusXM interview, he said he planned a long break and had no 2027 tour planned “as of this point.” His public feud with Alex Van Halen also remains unresolved: Hagar says he does not know what caused their estrangement, while Alex reportedly called him a “complete idiot” in a recent interview.
Is Sammy Hagar retiring?
No formal retirement announcement has been reported. Hagar’s latest stated plan, in a September 17, 2026, conversation with SiriusXM host Eddie Trunk, was to take a long break and not tour in 2027 “as of this point,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle. He also floated a science-fiction show concept, but that is a possible project, not a confirmed production or schedule.
That is a change in near-term plans, not a contradiction of his earlier remarks. Hagar has described retirement as something he would approach by slowing down or stopping when performing no longer felt possible, rather than making a formal announcement.
How Hagar’s plans have changed
| Date and source | Performance format | What Hagar said | Commitment |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 30, 2025, Rolling Stone interview | Potential residencies or one-off shows after a Las Vegas residency | “I would never ever announce retirement. I would just go away.” He said he would assess how he felt after the residency and acknowledged the physical strain of touring. | Conditional: he had not decided what would come next. |
| March 16, 2026, Las Vegas Magazine interview | Best of All Worlds residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM | Hagar described the residency as his idea of retirement while saying, “I want to be the oldest living performing rock star someday.” | An aspiration to keep performing; not a promise of a continuing schedule. |
| September 17, 2026, SiriusXM interview, reported September 21 by the San Francisco Chronicle | Long break; no 2027 tour planned as of the interview | “No tour next year, as of this point.” Hagar also mentioned a possible science-fiction show. | A stated current plan, qualified as of that point; not a retirement announcement. |
The March 2026 account described the residency with Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani, Kenny Aronoff and Rai Thistlethwayte. Residency dates and future appearances can change; Hagar’s remarks do not establish an ongoing schedule.
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What did Sammy Hagar say about Alex Van Halen?
Hagar says he does not understand why Alex Van Halen is angry with him. In the 2025 Rolling Stone interview, he said they had not spoken in 21 years and described possible explanations other people had offered: his memoir, his public comments about Van Halen, or Cabo Wabo. He also speculated that Alex might resent Hagar and bassist Michael Anthony continuing to perform. Those are Hagar’s theories, not established explanations for Alex’s feelings.
The public dispute flared again in September 2026. When asked about Hagar’s 2011 memoir, Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock, Alex reportedly said, “In my opinion, Sammy Hagar is a complete idiot,” in a Roadie Crew interview, as quoted in AXS TV’s report. Hagar responded during his September 17 SiriusXM conversation: “I’m asking Alex, like why? Come clean, what’s your problem? Just come out and say it.” Guitar World also covered the exchange.
The reports connect the latest exchange to the memoir, but neither the remark nor Hagar’s response resolves the underlying grievance. No confirmed account of the estrangement’s cause is established in these public statements.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why Hagar says his Van Halen years matter
Hagar has argued that his time as the band’s singer belongs in Van Halen’s history. He fronted the group from 1985 through 1996 and rejoined briefly from 2003 to 2005, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. In the 2026 exchange, he cited “40-some million records” and four number-one albums as part of his defense, according to Guitar World. Those figures are Hagar’s claims in the interview, not independently verified totals in the cited coverage.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Hagar also said, “I’m kind of done with being the Van Halen Guy,” in the September 2026 SiriusXM interview, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. That remark reflects his stated weariness with the subject; it does not mean the two musicians have reconciled.
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