At 77 years young, the great Sammy Hagar is still an invigorating presence who has never stood still. Earlier this year, he took his well-travelled bones and his star-laden Best Of All Worlds Band to the neon streets of Las Vegas, which has now resulted in an anthem-dripping live album, featuring tunes from his tenures in Van Halen, Montrose and solo material, simply but effectively titled The Residency.
Sammy Hagar & The Best Of All Worlds Band
The Residency
Release Date: 10 October 2025
Words: Brian Boyle
While Sammy Hagar is the name that is up in lights, this album is far from being all about the Red Rocker. Along for the ride is an ensemble of legendary talent, including his bass-slapping wingman and former Van Halen buddy, Michael Anthony.
Also on board is his fellow Chickenfoot-er Joe Satriani, and the forever-in-demand drummer Kenny Arnoff, who had initially temporarily stood in for Jason Bonham, but now, in cutthroat fashion, has become a permanent fixture.
Definitely lesser known but absolutely crucial to proceedings is keyboard maestro Rai Thistlethwayte, who also weighs in with key background vocals.
A Jukebox Of Worldwide Household Hits
Needless to say, this album is a near on a jukebox of worldwide household hits. But it opens up in a bittersweet and unfamiliar fashion, with a brand spanking new tune called Encore, Thank You, Goodnight, a rip-roaring tribute to Eddie Van Halen, apparently inspired by a vivid dream had by Hagar.
Refreshingly, it is not in the least bit corny, and it fits in perfectly with the rest of the heavyweight material, and the robust chants of “Eddie” are genuinely from the heart.
Like a lot of gigs, there is a small percentage of punters who were probably still in the bar when Hagar and co took to the boards and tore through the fledgling opener. But the opening chords to the jolly Top Of The World should have been more than enough to make them gulp up.
The closing track to VH’s F.U.C.K. album still sounds mountainous and pulse-racing thirty-four years on.
Summer Nights, one of the first songs written in the Van Hagar era, and probably one of the most underrated, does not fare too badly either. Satriani stays true to EVH’s wonderfully sloppy riff, and the master of ceremonies’ vocal swagger totally defies his advancing years.
When Sammy Hagar joined Van Halen in 1985, some, and I include my then 13-year-old self in this, might not have been familiar with his material prior to his recruitment. But what a body of work the Tequila entrepreneur had amassed.
One of his big boys, the hell for leather There’s Only One Way To Rock, blows the casino’s doors clean off, with Hagar and Satriani dual riffing like joined-at-the-hip axe buddies.
Humans Being is the black sheep of the set, not high up as a go-to VH track, and most will only remember it from being blared in Bill Paxton’s jeep as he tore through Oklahoma, chasing tornadoes in the movie Twister. Hagar’s enthusiasm for the song is evident, and the rousing yell of “shine on” is still as fresh as a daisy.
Timeless Anthems Are On Tap
It is fair to say it is the Sammy Hagar period in Van Halen that shifted nine nights’ worth of tickets at the Dolby Live At The Park MGM. The timeless anthems are on tap, and in many cases, they sound reborn.
Thistlethwayte’s exquisite intro to Right Now maintains its unifying quality, and Satriani evoking great memories of EVH and his Black & Decker on Poundcake is a revelation.
Even as far back as 1986, just watching Hagar perform 5150 was exhausting. So hats off and Margherita’s aloft to him for still having the stamina to do it. In fairness, the man to his stage right, the ever-consistent Michael Anthony, does his fair share of the heavy lifting too.
Anthony lightens Hagar’s load on a funky Why Can’t This Be Love, and with that famous scream, he takes the entire lead and completely bosses Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love.
Picking the setlist for this stay in Vegas must have been one colossal headache, and what we get truly is an embarrassment of riches. So much so, it is very easy to forget something as pivotal as Best Of Both Worlds, and also his stint in Montrose, which is represented proudly with a punishing run through of Rock Candy.
And there is a lot more. The three-way lead vocal on Heavy Metal is a complete riot, with Thistlethwayte unanimously winning the bout. This is swiftly followed by the foot through the floor I Can’t Drive 55 which gets the crowd enthusiastically in on the action.
For two smoochie numbers like Love Walks In and When It’s Love, they don’t half pack a punch. And no disrespect to those who have performed these tunes with Hagar before, but they have never sounded better.
In the flesh, this must have been one hell of a night. The Residency has no brakes. As soon as you digest one classic, another one is rammed right in your face.
What a wonderful celebration of timeless rock music.
Sammy Hagar & The Best Of All Worlds Band release The Residency on 10 October 2025. For more details and to order, visit ffm.to/sammyhagartboawb.
