Sammy Hagar Invites David Lee Roth to Join His Las Vegas Residency

Sammy Hagar has extended a surprise invitation to his longtime counterpart David Lee Roth, offering him a spot at his upcoming Las Vegas residency. The gesture came after news broke that Roth had canceled most of the remaining dates on his North American tour. Hagar posted a video message to social media on Thursday (July 23) expressing his support and making the offer public.

Hagar’s offer marks a notable moment of public solidarity between the two rock icons, whose careers have been intertwined for decades through their shared history with Van Halen. The Red Rocker’s residency, titled "Sammy Hagar: The Best of All Worlds," is scheduled to launch at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas this September.

What Did Sammy Hagar Say in His Video?

In the video posted to X, Hagar opened with a direct and empathetic message. "Hey, Dave. Sammy here. I just got a call from Michael Anthony … about your tour getting canceled. And I wanna say from the bottom of my heart, I’m sorry," Hagar said. "I hope you’re well. I hope there’s not a physical problem."

He praised Roth for continuing to perform the band's music, calling Van Halen "the greatest band in the world that we were both part of." Hagar then made his pitch. "Come to Vegas for the residency in September," he said. "Come on, join us. Sing a couple songs, MC the damn show. Come out and just do what the f--- you do, which is pretty damn entertaining!"

• The Offer: A guest appearance at Hagar's Las Vegas residency in September.
• The Role: Singing a couple of songs or acting as the Master of Ceremonies.
• The Venue: Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas.
• The Catalyst: Roth's cancellation of nearly all his upcoming tour dates.

The Backstory of the Van Halen Frontmen

Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth represent two distinct, massively successful eras of Van Halen. Roth was the band's original, flamboyant frontman from its formation in 1974 until his first departure in 1985. Hagar then stepped in, leading the band through a multi-platinum run from 1985 to 1996 and again from 2003 to 2005. Roth returned to the band full-time in 2006 and remained through its final years.

Their relationship has famously been one of rivalry, punctuated by public jabs and a brief, tense joint tour in 2002. Hagar's recent comments in an interview with NME reflected that history, where he stated he "wouldn’t want to tour with him again" and described Roth as "miserable" and "no fun" during their past collaboration. This context makes his current public offer of support and collaboration all the more unexpected.

Why Did David Lee Roth Cancel His Tour?

The reason for Roth's tour cancellations remains unconfirmed. According to reports, the singer's official website now lists only one remaining date: an August 7 performance at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota. Shows in states including Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, and Illinois were removed. While some speculation has pointed to slow ticket sales, neither Roth nor his representatives have issued an official statement addressing the cancellations.

Roth had announced the "Don’t Love Me, Rent Me Tour" in January.

What Happens Next?

The ball is now in David Lee Roth's court. He has not publicly commented on the tour cancellations or responded to Hagar's invitation. Hagar, meanwhile, is preparing for his Las Vegas residency, which will feature his "Best of All Worlds Band" with guitarist Joe Satriani, bassist Michael Anthony, and drummer Kenny Aronoff.

In the caption to his video post, Hagar emphasized the sincerity of his message, writing that he hoped the news "is not AI" and that his post was "coming from my heart and soul." He stressed the importance of carrying on the legacy of real rock music in the face of AI-generated content. Whether this olive branch leads to an onstage reunion in Vegas remains the next chapter in this long-running rock saga.

Sources

• Billboard
• NME