Rock legend Sammy Hagar reveals how his decision to join the legendary band Van Halen in 1985 transformed his career, calling it a "defining moment."
Valerie Bertinelli opens up about her complex relationship with her late ex-husband, Eddie Van Halen, revealing the challenges they faced and the lessons she has learned in the wake of his passing.
After years of success with his own band, Sammy Hagar was ready to retire when Eddie Van Halen extended an invitation that would change the course of his musical journey. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Hagar shared his thoughts on receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the profound impact joining Van Halen had on his life.
"It was a defining moment for me," Hagar said. "I was going to quit music, and then Eddie called me up and said, 'Hey, would you come and help us out for a little while?'"
Hagar initially hesitated, but Eddie's persistence convinced him to give it a try. "I said, 'Okay, I'll come and play with you guys for a little while.' And I never left," Hagar recalled.
Joining Van Halen was a major turning point in Hagar's career, propelling him to even greater heights of success. He credits the band's dynamic chemistry and Eddie's exceptional guitar playing as key factors in their enduring legacy.
"It was just a great experience," Hagar said. "Eddie was such a great player, and the rest of the band was just phenomenal. We had a great time together."
Hagar's tenure with Van Halen spanned from 1985 to 1996 and from 2003 to 2005. He recorded several hit albums with the band, including "5150" and "Balance," which cemented their status as one of the most influential rock bands of all time.
Looking back on his time with Van Halen, Hagar expresses immense gratitude for the opportunity to have been a part of something so extraordinary. "It was a dream come true," he said. "I'm very fortunate to have had that experience."
In an emotional Instagram video, actress Valerie Bertinelli shared her candid thoughts on her marriage to the iconic rocker Eddie Van Halen. Bertinelli met Van Halen in 1980, and they wed a year later. They welcomed their son, Wolfgang, in 1991 but divorced in 2007.
Bertinelli described their marriage as a tumultuous one, marked by drug and alcohol abuse, infidelity, and heartbreak. "I fell in love with him when I was 20, and it rapidly declined into drugs and alcohol and infidelity," she said. "Nothing that makes you feel loved and wanted and cared for."
Despite the challenges, Bertinelli cherished the love they shared for their son. "What we had together was this beautiful son that we both unconditionally loved," she said. "That's what I got out of that marriage was Wolfie, the best thing that ever happened to me."
Bertinelli also expressed regret for her role in their relationship's decline. "I could have done a better job as a parent. I made a lot of mistakes," she admitted.
In the aftermath of Van Halen's death in 2020, Bertinelli confronted the complexities of their relationship and acknowledged the fantasy she had created around it. "After Ed died, I was more than willing to put myself in the grieving widow category for a man that I hadn't lived with for 20 years," she said. "What we had together was this beautiful son that we both unconditionally loved."
Bertinelli emphasized that their marriage was not a true soul connection. "That's not what would scream soulmate, that's for sure," she said. "I loved Ed more than I know how to explain, but I hated the drugs and the alcohol."
Through her journey, Bertinelli has come to a deeper understanding of herself and the nature of relationships. "I continued for years to rewrite the facts in my head and build them into some sort of fantasy," she said. "But now I know we were never going to get back together."
