Usually I miss these things, but this is a big one: Sammy Hagar (former Montrose and Van Halen, current[?] Chickenfoot and The Circle singer-- and pretty successful solo artist as well) turns 70 years old today.
That's insane.
And the guy is still out there doing shows (maybe not as many as in years past) and doing even more than ever before (created and hosts a TV show, has his own radio show, is probably writing as third book). And even more insane that he's still out doing it, with very little mention or chuckling that he's one of those dinosaurs still trying to recapture his youth. He has become practically timeless.
I've been a Sammy fan since I first heard Van Halen's 5150 in the summer of 1987 (and I just realized this is my 30 year anniversary of being a VH/Hagar fan) and picked up Hagar's I Never Said Goodbye at the same time (the gloriousness of Columbia House).
Not a bad introduction to him at all.
There've been ups-and-downs as a fan, for sure, but it's cool to see him finally get respect as an artist and a businessman and as a philanthropist. He seems like a quality guy (with the normal human foibles, for sure) who has figured life out. It's great to see an artist who has his career in his own hands and just does what he wants to do. No one drags him to a stage like a trained monkey for a paycheck; if he's playing, it's because he wants to play.
If you get a chance to catch him live, I strongly suggest going.
So, anyway, mix up a margarita (extra points if you make a Cabo Wabo; recipe assuredly online) put in one of his concert DVDs or listen to an album or three (off the top of my head I'd recommend: Standing Hampton, I Never Said Goodbye, or Marching to Mars, or probably the best "tour" of his solo career: The Essential Red Collection and then put on Montrose, 5150, Chickenfoot I) and just enjoy some of the work of his nearly-fifty year career.
So Happy Birthday, Red Rocker. Hope it's a good one.
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