Overview
- Alex Van Halen told Brazil's Roadie Crew that he did not want to read Sammy Hagar's 2011 memoir and called Hagar "a complete idiot," a remark that reignited public tensions between the former bandmates.
- Hagar answered on SiriusXM with a direct challenge asking Alex to "come clean" about his animus and demanding an explanation for what Hagar says is Alex's effort to erase the Van Hagar era.
- Hagar accused Alex of monetizing old Van Halen photos and demos and said charging fans for archival material harms the band's legacy.
- Hagar suggested resentment over his turnaround and later sale of the Cabo Wabo tequila business helps explain Alex's attitude, citing conversations he has had with industry figures including Irving Azoff.
- Despite the sharp exchange, Hagar offered an olive branch and invited Alex to appear at his Las Vegas residency, and Alex has not issued a public response to Hagar's on-air challenge.