LOS ANGELES (Hip-O/UMe) -
Sammy Hagar is on top of the world.
It's a world of art and commerce that collides with a joyful noise. It's the best of both worlds and you're more than welcome to join. There's only one requirement: you gotta smile. That's right, smile. Just like Sammy. He always smiles ... and with good reason.
Sammy recently opened up his first stateside Cabo Wabo Cantina in South Shore Lake Tahoe, Nevada. His premiere Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico is in its 14th year as the must-go, must-see-and-be-seen-scene in what is now a very hot resort destination and gives Sammy cantinas "in two of the most beautiful places on earth."
He owns and oversees the No 2 premium tequila in the States, aptly titled "Cabo Wabo." In case you forget the name, he'll roll up his sleeve and give you a wink. C'mon, how many CEO's do you know have their company logo tattooed on their arm?
He's re-joined forces with Van Halen as the front and center lead vocalist for a tour scheduled to go through the end of the year. There's an accompanying CD release BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, highlighting his eleven-year career with the band along with three new songs. When he's not performing, the summer ritual of life on the road gives him good reason to experience one of his other great passions.
There isn't a stop on the tour trail that isn't wrapped around a sitdown with the chef of a great restaurant and the drinking of some great wine, but it ain't all about linen napkins and crystal glasses. He'll track down (and already knows) the great taco stand, hot dog stand; you get the picture.
Back to the music. On August 10, THE ESSENTIAL RED COLLECTION (Hip-O/UMe), will be released. The retrospective will feature 20 selections in chronological order, each digitally remastered from the original tapes, spanning 1973 to 1999 with all of Sammy's Top 40 pop hits plus trademark tracks, popular soundtrack contributions and two unreleased gems. Being printed on tree-free paper, the package features photos and pull quotes that will remind even those that claim they're not Sammy fans that indeed they are.
It's kinda like what he told CNN, "I like to give people hope and confidence ...I like to be the person who writes the songs for when you need that. And that's my gift ...if I can do that for the rest of my life, man, that makes me feel good."
While the VH tour will take a break in October, Sammy won't. He'll head down to Cabo for the annual "Cabo Wabo Meltdown" and (separately) Birthday Bash, a rite of passage for Sammy's legion of fans nicknamed "Redheads."
Taking place at his Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, this year's festivities begin Friday, October 8 with the "Cabo Wabo Meltdown" and rolls into the Birthday Bash on the 13th. Though Sammy takes a few days off in-between, the fans don't. Last year, a record number of timeshares were purchased by his Redhead contingency; all so they would be guaranteed a place to stay during this stretch of time.
It takes a lot to be committed to your musicianship. It takes a master showman to have longevity. It takes a mastermind to know where your successes can straddle two different worlds, excel at both and still make sure you have time for family, friends, a great meal and a bottle of wine to accompany it.
A whole lotta miles and a whole lotta smiles. For Sammy there simply isn't any other way.
