Sam Roy Hagar (born October 13, 1947), also known as the Red Rocker,[1] is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.

He rose to prominence in the early 1970s with the hard rock band Montrose before launching a successful solo career, scoring a hit in 1984 with "I Can't Drive 55".

[12] His family worked in the lettuce fields and he lived with his parents and three siblings in a labor camp until moving south to Fontana, California.

He excelled academically and discovered music while in high school, teaching himself to play guitar on a $40 instrument purchased from a Sears catalog.

However, Hagar felt that Carter did not play to his strengths as "a heavy-metal guy" and instead tried to generate Top 40 hits (such as a cover of Otis Redding's "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay") with little success.

"[22] Hagar left Capitol for the newly formed Geffen Records and made some personnel changes, including enlisting long-time friend and former Justice Brothers bandmate David Lauser as his drummer.

His first Geffen release, Standing Hampton, was his biggest-selling album to date and went platinum on the strength of songs such as "There's Only One Way to Rock".

Hagar continued to enjoy commercial success in the 1980s, with perhaps his best-known song, "I Can't Drive 55", from his 1984 album VOA, reaching No.

1 hit on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks with "Give to Live" from I Never Said Goodbye, released after he had joined Van Halen.

94 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart as "Top of the Rock" became an under-the-radar airplay favorite on AOR stations and in markets such as Seattle.

In 1985 after parting ways with vocalist David Lee Roth, the remaining members of the band Van Halen contacted many potential replacements.

In July, given Eddie Van Halen's appreciation of Montrose and at his car mechanic's suggestion, the band auditioned and quickly hired Hagar to fill the opening.

[23] Hagar disagreed with a decision to record two new tracks for a greatest hits album[24] after the band had agreed to take time off following their 1995 world tour.

When Van Halen again parted ways with Roth, instead of rehiring Hagar, the band hired Gary Cherone, the former lead singer of Extreme, also managed by Danniels.

Having jammed as a trio in 1992, Hagar, drummer David Lauser, and Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony formed the harmony-singing rock band Los Tres Gusanos (in English, the Three Worms) in 1993.

[27][28] Playing a mixture of Hagar, Van Halen, and cover songs at Cabo Wabo and in San Francisco the band got together a few times a year.

"[31] Musician Robert Berry stood in for Michael Anthony in 1996 and 1998 while the bass player fulfilled his touring commitments with Van Halen.

[34][35][36] In 2021, Hagar claimed that, during the early years of Los Tres Gusanos' formation, he was offered a spot singing for metal band Pantera that did not come to fruition.

In 1999, he formed a long-term band, called the Waboritas: David Lauser returned on drums, as did Jesse Harms on keyboards, and new to the mix was former Bus Boys guitarist Vic Johnson, and former Tommy Tutone bassist Mona Gnader.

Subsequent tours were known for spontaneity; such as improvising "Folsom Prison Blues" by Johnny Cash at the IC Light Amphitheatre in Pittsburgh after the noise of a train disturbed the show.

Despite having big intentions, the band only recorded two songs and played live a few times before dissolving when Hagar and Anthony reunited with Van Halen.

After the successful tour with David Lee Roth, Hagar started thinking about his former Van Halen bandmates, calling Alex in late 2003 following a tip from a mutual friend.

In 2005, Hagar continued to play with the Waboritas as he toured the Atlantic coast and the Midwest and added ex-Van Halen bass player Michael Anthony.

In 2008, Hagar formed a supergroup named Chickenfoot with Michael Anthony, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, and guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani.

[citation needed] Hagar formed a new supergroup in 2014, featuring Michael Anthony, Waboritas guitarist Vic Johnson, and drummer Jason Bonham.

[61] During an interview with the American Rock Scene, Hagar announced the forthcoming paperback version of Red would include an additional chapter, stating that he "didn't want to release the same book again.

Also, time spent in Van Halen interrupted Hagar's solo career; it was on hiatus from 1985 to 1996 other than small returns to studio work in 1987 and 1993.

Initially, Hagar reported he would only occasionally play with the Wabos from then on, for shows at Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, particularly his annual birthday concert.

However, due to commitments of other members of Chickenfoot slowing the band's progress, Hagar has performed more than he initially planned to with the Wabos lineup.

The guitar is based on Yamaha's AES620 and features a number of modifications requested by Hagar, including a Seymour Duncan JB pickup in the bridge position, a "Cabo Wabo" inlay at the 12th fret and custom translucent red finish.