No, he can’t drive 55. He just can’t! After spending several years with hard rock band Montrose, Sammy Hagar began a solo career that has produced several hits and made him an album rock favorite. Hagar recorded two albums with Montrose before going solo in 1976. Hagar’s self-titled Sammy Hagar was his first chart entry. In 1979, he created a new band that played on 1981’s platinum Standing Hampton, plus 1982’s gold Three Lock Box. His 1984 album, VOA, contained the hit single “I Can’t Drive 55,” which peaked at number 26. In 1985, Hagar replaced David Lee Roth in Van Halen; his first album with the group was 1986’s 5150. Hagar stayed with Van Halen through the remainder of the ’80s and half of the ’90s. During that time, the band had four multi-platinum albums – OU812 (1988), For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991), LIVE: Right Here, Right Now (1993) and Balance (1995). Hagar’s 1997 solo album, Marching to Mars, re-established Hagar as a viable solo act. Hagar followed the success with Red Voodoo two years later. Hagar’s resurgence continued with 2000’s Ten 13. Not 4 Sale arrived in 2003, followed by his first live album in 20 years – Live: Hallelujah. Livin’ It Up! was released in 2006. In 2008, Hagar released Cosmic Universal Fashion, his eleventh solo album. That same year, he debuted a new band, Chickenfoot, after jamming with Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony, guitarist Joe Satriani, and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith. The super group released its self-titled debut album in 2009. A brief tour was followed up by a second album, Chickenfoot III, in 2011. More recently, he released Lite Roast in 2014. Sammy Hagar continues to tour the world.
