Van Halen and Hagar Feud Reignites

A decades-long rift between former Van Halen bandmates Alex Van Halen and Sammy Hagar has resurfaced, with Van Halen publicly calling Hagar "a complete idiot." The drummer's remarks were made in an interview with Brazilian music journalist Marcelo Vieira, published earlier in August 2026. When asked about Hagar's 2011 memoir, "Red My Uncensored Life in Rock," Van Halen stated, "I don't know what he wrote, and I don't wanna know. In my opinion, Sammy Hagar is a complete idiot." Hagar responded over the weekend of September 5-6, 2026, via an Instagram comment, calling Van Halen's statement "unnecessary" and adding, "I guess the truth hurts sometimes. Peace already." The latest exchange follows years of tension between the musicians, who Hagar has stated have not spoken in over two decades. Van Halen previously declined an invitation to join Hagar and former bassist Michael Anthony for their 2024 "Best of All Worlds" tour, which celebrated Hagar's era with the band. At the time, Van Halen told Billboard he was "not interested" and that the tour was "not doing the band justice.