On Saturday night, Sammy Hagar started his Best of All Worlds touring at West Palm Beach, Florida’s I believe Financial Amphitheater. Joining him were bassist Michael Anthony, guitarist Joe Satriani, drummer Jason Bonham, and multi-instrumentalist Rai Thistlethwayte for a night filled with Van Halen hits, Hagar’s solo work, and songs from Montrose, Chickenfoot, and Satriani.
The concert prominently featured songs from Hagar’s era with Van Halen, including “Poundcake,” “Right Now,” “Runaround,” “Why Can’t This Be Love,” and “When It’s Love.” Hagar also performed “Jump” and “For the first time since Van Halen’s 2004 comeback tour, “Panama” from the David Lee Roth period will be heard. Michael Anthony took lead vocals on “Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love,” a regular feature in Hagar’s shows since 2022.
“Jump” was included in a medley near the end of the concert, along with Montrose’s “Space Station #5” and Chickenfoot’s “Oh Yeah.” In an interview with Ultimate Classic Rock, Hagar discussed his newfound enjoyment of playing Roth-era Van Halen songs.
“I wanted to prove that Van Halen was a new band with original material when I joined,” Hagar said. Ed, Al, and Mike all concurred, so it wasn’t just me. We were tired of the old songs and wanted to play new ones. Now, it’s different. I’m playing for the fans. This tour is a ‘thank you’ to all the fans who have supported us and waited for this reunion.”
Joe Satriani dedicated months to mastering Eddie Van Halen’s guitar techniques. “Eddie had a unique touch and intensity,” Satriani told Rolling Stone in December 2023. “Playing his parts made me realize how irreplaceable he is.”
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Before this tour, Satriani had brief discussions with Alex Van Halen and Roth about a Van Halen tribute show. However, the idea never moved forward, and Alex Van Halen sold his gear earlier this year. Fans won’t have a chance to see a Van Halen reunion until the Best of All Worlds tour, since Wolfgang Van Halen is concentrating on his solo career and Roth is retiring from music.
The North American leg of the tour concludes on August 31 in St. Louis, Missouri, before heading to Japan for three shows in September. While additional dates have not been announced, Satriani expressed hope to take the tour worldwide, saying, “This music has been the soundtrack of people’s lives, and it deserves to be shared globally.”