Sammy Hagar is an American musician and songwriter with a music career spanning over 40 years.Hagar joined Montrose in 1972 and was amongst the band's original line up. He then recorded and released his first ever album with the band in 1973. He rose to prominence during the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of the hard rock band Montrose. He left the band in the mid-1970s and embraced a solo career, releasing his debut studio album Nine on a Ten Scale in 1976. He has since kept a steady successful solo career, achieving a hit in 1984 with "I Can't Drive 55". Hagar later joined Van Halen, replacing lead singer David Lee Roth in 1985. Hagar is also known for having associated with and being a member of various other bands.
Studio albums anthology
This list chronologically lists solo and band studio albums.
Band Album Year Chart (US) RIAA (US) Guitar Bass Drums KeyboardsMontroseMontrose 1973 133 Platinum Ronnie MontroseBill ChurchDenny Carmassi –Paper Money 1974 65 – Alan Fitzgerald Sammy Hagar Nine on a Ten Scale 1976 – – sessions Bill Church sessions Alan FitzgeraldSammy Hagar 1977 167 – David Lewark Scott MathewsMusical Chairs 100 – Sammy Hagar / Gary Pihl Denny CarmassiStreet Machine 1979 71 – Chuck Ruff –Danger Zone 1980 85 – Geoff WorkmanStanding Hampton 1982 28 Platinum David Lauser –Three Lock Box 17 GoldVOA 1984 32 Platinum Jesse HarmsHagar Schon Aaronson ShrieveThrough the Fire 42 – Neal SchonKenny AaronsonMichael Shrieve –Van Halen5150 1986 1 6× Platinum Eddie Van HalenMichael AnthonyAlex Van Halen Eddie Van Halen Sammy Hagar I Never Said Goodbye 1987 14 Gold Sammy Hagar Eddie Van Halen David Lauser Jesse Harms Van Halen OU812 1988 1 4× Platinum Eddie Van Halen Michael Anthony Alex Van Halen Eddie Van HalenFor Unlawful Carnal Knowledge 1991 1 3× PlatinumBalance 1995 1 3× Platinum Sammy Hagar Marching to Mars 1997 18 – Sammy Hagar / Vic Johnson Jonathan Pierce Denny Carmassi Jesse HarmsSammy Hagar & The WaboritasRed Voodoo 1999 22 – Mona Gnader David LauserTen 13 2000 52 –Not 4 Sale 2002 181 –Livin' It Up! 2006 50 – – Sammy Hagar Cosmic Universal Fashion 2008 95 –ChickenfootChickenfoot 2009 4 Gold Joe Satriani Michael Anthony Chad SmithChickenfoot III 2011 9 – Sammy Hagar Sammy Hagar & Friends 2013 23 – Various Various VariousSammy Hagar with Vic JohnsonLite Roast 2014 188 – Sammy Hagar / Vic Johnson – – Sammy Hagar and the CircleSpace Between 2019 4 – Michael Anthony Jason Bonham –Crazy Times 2022 95 –
Montrose
Studio albums AlbumYear Chart (US)RIAA (US)Montrose 1973 133 PlatinumPaper Money 1974 65 -
Singles YearTitleAlbum1973"Rock the Nation"Montrose"Space Station #5""Bad Motor Scooter"1974"I Got the Fire"Paper Money"Paper Money""Connection"
Compilations Hagar was in Montrose from 1973 to 1975. Montrose's compilation include songs featuring Bob James who recorded with the band from 1975 to 1976 and Johnny Edwards who sang for the band in 1987. Consequently, not all songs on this album feature Hagar or his songwriting.
Album Year Chart (US) RIAA (US) Release period covered (Hagar songs) Newly released songs with Hagar The Very Best of Montrose 2000 - - 1973-1974 No
Solo and Sammy Hagar & The Waboritas
The Waboritas (also known as "The Wabos") is a backing band Hagar uses on some of his albums, but he tends to still refer to these as solo albums so they have been kept together. On compilation albums, often no distinction is made between Hagar's solo work and his work with the Waboritas so none has been made here.
Studio albums Sammy Hagar/Waboritas Album Year Chart (USA) RIAA (USA) Sammy Hagar Nine on a Ten Scale 1976 - -Sammy Hagar 1977 167 - Musical Chairs 100 - Street Machine 1979 71 -Danger Zone 1980 85 -Standing Hampton 1982 28 Platinum Three Lock Box 1982 17 Gold VOA 1984 32 PlatinumI Never Said Goodbye 1987 14 GoldMarching to Mars 1997 18 - Sammy Hagar & The Waboritas Red Voodoo 1999 22 -Ten 13 2000 52 -Not 4 Sale 2002 181 -Livin' It Up! 2006 50 - Sammy Hagar Cosmic Universal Fashion 2008 95 - Sammy Hagar & Friends 2013 23 - Lite Roast 2014 188 - Note: I Never Said Goodbye was originally named Sammy Hagar but was renamed after an MTV competition where a fan got to pick a name for the album.
Live albums Artist Album Year Chart (USA) RIAA (USA)Sammy Hagar All Night Long 1978 89 -Sammy Hagar Live 1980 1983 203 -Sammy Hagar & The Waboritas Live: Hallelujah 2003 152 -Sammy Hagar Special Limited Edition (Live In St. Louis Enhanced CD) 2003 - -Sammy Hagar Greatest Hits Live 2003 - -Sammy Hagar and the Circle At Your Service (Live) 2015 78 -
Compilations {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" ! Album ! Year ! Chart (USA) ! RIAA (USA) ! Release period covered ! Newly released tracks |- | align=left|Rematch || 1982 || 171 || — || 1976–1980 || No |- | align=left|Cruisin' & Boozin'''|| 1984 || — || — || 1976–1980 || No |- | align=left|Red Hot! || 1989 || — || — || 1976–1980 || No |- | align=left|The Best of Sammy Hagar || 1992 || — || — || 1976–1980 || No |- | align=left|Turn Up the Music! || 1993 || — || — || 1976–1980 || No |- | align=left|Unboxed || 1994 || 51 || Gold || 1981–1987 || 2 songs |- | align=left|The Anthology || 1994 || — || — || 1973–1984 || No |- | align=left|The Best of Sammy Hagar || 1999 || — || — || 1977–1979 || No |- | align=left|Masters of Rock || 2001 || — || — || 1976–1980 || No |- | align=left|Classic Masters || 2002 || — || — || 1977–1980 || No |- | align=left|The Essential Red Collection || 2004 || 75 || — || 1973–1999 || 2 songs |- | align=left|This Is Sammy Hagar: When the Party Started Volume 1 || 2016 || — || — || 1999–2006 || 2 songs
Singles + List of songs, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album nameYearTitlePeak positionsAlbumSammy Hagar/WaboritasUSUSHardRockUSMainstreamCanadaUK1976"Flamingos Fly" — — — — —Nine on a Ten ScaleSammy Hagar1977"Cruisin' and Boozin'" — — — — —Sammy Hagar"Catch the Wind" — — — — —"Filmore Shuffle" — — — — —"Turn Up the Music" — — — — —Musical Chairs"You Make Me Crazy" 62 — — 84 —1978"I've Done Everything for You" — — — — 36All Night Long / Loud & Clear1979"(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay" 65 — — 66 —align="left" valign="center" "Plain Jane" 77 — — — —Street Machine"Falling in Love" — — — — —"This Planet's on Fire" — — — — 521980"Straight to the Top" — — — — —"Heartbeat" — — — — 67Danger Zone"Run for Your Life" — — — — —1981"Heavy Metal" — — — — —Heavy Metal soundtrack1982"I'll Fall in Love Again" 43 — 2 44 —Standing Hampton"Piece of My Heart" 73 — — — 67"There's Only One Way to Rock" [promo] — — 31 — —"Baby's on Fire" [airplay] — — 35 — —"Can't Get Loose" [airplay] — — 49 — —"Fast Times at Ridgemont High" [airplay] — — 21 — —Fast Times at Ridgemont High soundtrack"Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy" 13 — 3 19 —Three Lock Box1983"Remember the Heroes" [airplay] — — 6 — —"I Don't Need Love" [airplay] — — 24 — —"Never Give Up" 46 — — — —1984"Two Sides of Love" 38 — 5 99 —VOA"I Can't Drive 55" 26 — 9 — —"VOA" [promo] — — — — —"Swept Away" [promo] — — — — —1987"Winner Takes It All" 54 — 3 — —Over the Top soundtrack"Give to Live" 23 — 1 47 78I Never Said Goodbye"Boy's Night Out" [airplay] — — 15 — —"Returning Home" [airplay] — — 20 — —"Eagles Fly" 82 — 22 — —1994"High Hopes" — — 4 — —Unboxed"Buying My Way into Heaven" — — 36 — —1997"Marching to Mars" — — 3 39 —Marching to Mars"Little White Lie" — — 1 41 —"Both Sides Now" — — 11 — —"Kama" — — — — —1998"On the Other Hand" — — — — —1999"Shag" — — 22 — —Red VoodooSammy Hagar & The Waboritas"Mas Tequila" 116 — 2 — —"Right on Right" — — — — —2000"Serious Juju" — — 10 — —Ten 13"Deeper Kinda Love" — — — — —2001"Let Sally Drive (Ride Sally Ride)" — — 16 — —"I Can't Drive 65" — — — — —rowspan = 1 align="left" valign="center" 2002"Things've Changed" — — 35 — —Not 4 Sale2003"Hallelujah" — — — — —Live: Hallelujah2004"Call My Name" — — — — —The Essential Red CollectionSammy Hagar2005"Let Me Take You There" — — — — —Livin' It UpSammy Hagar & The Waboritas2006"Sam I Am" — — — — —"Mexico" — — — — —2007"Open" — — — — —align="left" valign="center" Sammy Hagar2008"I'm on a Roll" — — — — —Cosmic Universal Fashion"Cosmic Universal Fashion" — — — — —"Loud" — — — — —2013"Knockdown Dragout" — — — — —Sammy Hagar & Friends"Personal Jesus" — — — — —2016"Inner Child" — — — — —rowspan = 2 align="left" valign="center" 2025"Encore. Thank You. Goodnight." — 2 — — —
Music videos Year Video DirectorEditor 1983 "Your Love is Driving Me Crazy" "Three Lock Box" Rick Sereeni 1984 "Two Sides of Love" Leslie Libman Peter Cohen "I Can't Drive 55" Gil Bettman 1985 "VOA" 1987 "Hands and Knees" John Sanborn "Winner Takes It All" "Give to Live"Gil Bettman 1997 "Little White Lie" Kevin Donovan "Kama" 1999 "Mas Tequila"Gil BettmanPaul Ware 2002 "Things've Changed" Gil BettmanPaul Ware 2006 "Sam I Am" Paul WarePaul Ware 2008 "LOUD" Andrew Bennett"Cosmic Universal Fashion"Zan Passante & Todd Gallopo 2013 "Knockdown Dragout" Arthur Rosato Albert Lopez & Jon Luini
Video releases
Year Title Producer Director Editor Awards 2001 Cabo Wabo Birthday Bash Tour Allen Kelman Jeb Brien 2003 The Long Road To Cabo David HuseonicaAndrew Molina Gil Bettman Paul Ware Aurora Gold Award Best Editing 2007 Sammy and The Wabos: Livin' It Up In St. Louis Evan HaimanHank LenaRay Volkema 2010 Go There Once, Be There Twice[unreleased] Paul Ware Gil Bettman Paul Ware Special Achievement Lake Arrowhead Film Festival
Guest appearances YearAlbumArtistComment1967 non-album single Samson & Hagar Appears on a single released on the Ranwood label: "Reach Out To Find Me" b/w "Read My Thoughts"1981 Heavy Metal soundtrack Sammy Hagar Original version of the song "Heavy Metal"1982 Fast Times at Ridgemont High Sammy Hagar Hagar plays the title track1984 Footloose Sammy Hagar "The Girl Gets Around"1987 Over The Top Soundtrack Sammy Hagar "Winner Takes It All"1992 Lone Ranger Jeff Watson Vocal scatts on "Cement Shoes"1995 Welcome to the Neighbourhood Meat Loaf "Amnesty is Granted", which later appeared on Hagar's Marching to Mars record1997 A Fistful of Alice Alice Cooper Guest lead guitar on "School's Out" - Live June 2, 1996, at Hagar's Cabo Wabo Cantina in Mexico1998 Pleasure & Pain Roy Rogers Co-vocals on "You Can't Stop Now"1999 Kill My Brain Nick Gravenites And Animal Mind Guest guitar/backing vocals on "Bad Talking Blues" and "Didn't You Used To Be Somebody"2007 Baghdad Heavy Metal Baghdad Heavy Metal The track "Cosmic Universal Fashion" was included here, which was later reworked and appeared on Hagar's full-length album of the same name.2011 Santa's Going South Hagar with Toby Keith Digital holiday single, released in the U.S. only2012 Melodicrock.com Volume 9 - 15 Years Later Hagar with Jesse Harms and Denny Carmassi "Fallen From Grace". Previously unreleased demo version of the song that was officially released in the 1990 album Brigade by the rock band Heart. The song was written by the trio.2014 The Art of McCartney Paul McCartney tribute album Vocals on "Birthday"2014 Shutup & Jam! Ted Nugent Vocals on "She's Gone"2017 10x10 Ronnie Montrose Vocals on "Color Blind"2021 You and Me Nancy Wilson Vocals on "The Boxer"2022 The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead! (digital edition) Megadeth Vocals on "This Planet's on Fire (Burn in Hell)" A cover of Sammy's own 1979 track.
Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve
Live album Album Year Chart (USA) RIAA (USA)Through The Fire 1984 42 -
Singles YearTitleUS Hot 100US RockUK Singles ChartAlbum1984"Whiter Shade of Pale" 94 - - Through the Fire
Van Halen (1985–1996, 2004)
Studio albums Album Year Chart (USA) RIAA (USA) Chart (Canada) CRIA (Canada) 5150 1986 1 6× PlatinumRIAA Gold and Platinum Search for 5150 by Van Halen 2 3× Platinum OU812 1988 1 4× PlatinumRIAA Gold and Platinum Search for OU812 by Van Halen 1 - For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge 1991 1 3× PlatinumRIAA Gold and Platinum Search for For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge by Van Halen 4 Platinum Balance 1995 1 3× PlatinumRIAA Gold and Platinum Search for Balance by Van Halen 2 Platinum