Sammy Hagar caught up with Billboard's Katie Bain at MusiCares Person of the Year 2024.
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00:00 You and John are of course two of the all-time rock icons and so I'm wondering what your relationship was like.
00:05 You must have known each other for a long time. Are you buddies? Was there ever any competition?
00:09 What's the vibe through the relationship?
00:11 We were buddies forever and I don't ever remember having any kind of an argument,
00:18 you know, an internet argument or anything with John, right?
00:21 You know, we came from the same school, we sing the same kind of way, you know, we're screamers,
00:25 we write big choruses, you know, and that make people want to sing along and he's just younger and better looking than me,
00:33 but other than that, you know, I really appreciate the guy. Hard-working guy.
00:39 People don't ever think of his work ethic and how much he gives back, you know, he's a philanthropist
00:44 and I just love all that about him and he's my kind of guy, you know.
00:48 Is there one Bon Jovi song you wish you had written?
00:51 Yeah, all of them.
00:53 Good answer.
00:54 But, you know, "Wanted Dead or Alive", I really love that song. It's just so cool, you know,
00:58 it's got all them nice little parts, but, you know, hey, "Do You Get to Love a Bad Name",
01:03 singing it this afternoon with Soundcheck, singing it really out with the band, it's a damn good song, man.
01:10 It's fun to sing, but I just, I got to remember the lyrics.
01:14 I don't like reading lyrics when I'm singing and they got the teleprompter
01:17 so I can't help but look at the damn thing. If they would get rid of it, I'd sing them.
01:21 No, I'm scared. No, no, no, no, I didn't mean that.
01:23 Keep it. I lied.
01:25 So you had one of the most powerful episodes of "Finding Your Roots" that I've ever seen.
01:29 What was that experience like for you?
01:32 Well, you know, honestly, it didn't bother me that much.
01:40 I was shocked, you know, I'm tripping still, but it doesn't bother me.
01:44 Like, you're given a name. I didn't choose my name.
01:48 It was given to me and a lot of people change their names, you know, I mean,
01:52 look at all these people, the artists that have changed their names.
01:54 John Mellencamp, you know, John Cougar, you know, Prince.
01:58 But so it kind of really doesn't bother me at all.
02:01 It doesn't matter. I am who I am and it's like everybody knows me as Sammy Hagar.
02:04 I was thinking about even going for my alias when I check in hotels.
02:08 It's going for like, you know, Mr. Belcher, but everyone would know me.
02:14 Secrets out.
02:16 A delivery guy came to my house yesterday morning and he goes,
02:21 I had to sign. He said, are you going to sign Belcher or Hagar?
02:26 That's that's how the impact it had. This guy doesn't, you know,
02:28 he's not like my everyday. I see the guy. I've seen him maybe three times,
02:31 you know, and it really is huge impact on other people.
02:34 But for me, I'm good. Cool as a cucumber.
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