Artists

Sammy Hagar sang "There's Only One Way to Rock" on Standing Hampton, the 1982 album that established him as a solo superstar nearly a decade after he made his recording debut as the lead singer of Montrose. The fact that Hagar was already in the second act of his career proved that the vocalist known as the Red Rocker figured out more than one way to rock and he'd continue to disprove his hit over the years, first finding superstardom as David Lee Roth's replacement in Van Halen in 1986, then playing in a variety of good-time heavy rock bands after he parted ways with the group in 1996. Hagar returned to his solo career before forming the Waboritas, a group which in turn became the gateway for the supergroup Chickenfoot, which featured guitarist Joe Satriani and Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony. The latter proved to be an enduring creative partner for Sammy, appearing in Sammy Hagar and the Circle, the outfit that brought the singer into the 2020s, playing rousing rock & roll with a vigor reminiscent of Standing Hampton but sounding bigger and brawnier, proving that the singer has found many ways to rock over the course of a long career. After giving up a boxing career, Hagar began singing in the late '60s, performing with various California bands including Skinny, the Fabulous Catillas, Justice Brothers, and Dust Cloud. During this time, he built up a solid reputation in the California hard rock scene. Former Edgar Winter guitarist Ronnie Montrose asked Hagar to join his band, Montrose, in 1973. Hagar recorded two albums with Montrose before going solo in 1976, taking the group's bassist, Bill Church, with him. Montrose's drummer Denny Carmassi later joined Hagar's band, along with keyboardist Geoff Workman.Hagar's self-titled "red album" was his first chart entry; it eventually went gold. In 1979, he created a new supporting band featuring Workman, Church, guitarist Gary Pihl, and drummer Chuck Ruff. This lineup played on Hagar's most popular solo album, 1981's platinum Standing Hampton, plus 1982's gold Three Lock Box with only one member missing -- drummer Ruff was replaced by David Lauser. After Three Lock Box and its number 13 hit single "Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy," Hagar played several shows with guitarist Neal Schon, bassist Kenny Aaronson, and drummer Mike Shrieve; the group recorded a live album under the name Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve (HSAS), as well as a studio version of Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of Pale." His 1984 album VOA contained the hit single "I Can't Drive 55," which peaked at number 26.