Sammy Hagar

Hagar married Betsy Berardi in 1968, and they had two sons, Aaron and Andrew, before divorcing in 1994. He married Kari Hagar on November 29, 1995, and they have two daughters, Kama and Samantha.

In 2008, Hagar and Kari founded the Hagar Family Foundation, a nonprofit focused on children's causes and hunger relief for families in need. Hagar's cousin is Christian metal singer Ken Tamplin.

Hagar began performing in local bands as a teenager and fronted the Fabulous Castilles at age 14. He later sang and played rhythm guitar with groups including the Johnny Fortune Band and the Justice Brothers. In 1973, guitarist Ronnie Montrose recruited him for Montrose, where Hagar appeared on the albums Montrose and Paper Money.

Montrose recorded Hagar's first songwriting credit, "Bad Motor Scooter." After leaving the band, he developed a solo career with albums including Standing Hampton, Three Lock Box, and VOA. The song "Red" helped establish his red-themed stage persona and nickname, while "Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy" reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. His 1984 song "I Can't Drive 55" became his best-known solo recording and reached No. 26 on the chart.

Following David Lee Roth's departure from Van Halen, Hagar joined the band in 1985 after an audition recommended in part by Eddie Van Halen's appreciation of Montrose. With Hagar as lead vocalist, Van Halen released four consecutive No. 1 albums on the Billboard chart: 5150, OU812, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, and Balance. Hagar left the band in 1996 and returned for its 2004 tour, which produced the compilation The Best of Both Worlds and three new tracks featuring him.

Hagar also formed or joined several collaborative projects. He created HSAS with Neal Schon, Kenny Aaronson, and Michael Shrieve in 1983, and later joined Planet Us with Schon, Michael Anthony, Deen Castronovo, and Joe Satriani. In 2008, he formed Chickenfoot with Anthony, Satriani, and Chad Smith. In 2014, he formed Sammy Hagar and the Circle with Michael Anthony, Vic Johnson, and Jason Bonham. The Circle's 2019 album Space Between reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and topped several other U.S. album charts.

Hagar expanded into hospitality and beverage businesses through the Cabo Wabo brand, which includes a cantina in Cabo San Lucas and a tequila line. He also opened Sammy's Beach Bar & Grill locations, launched Sammy's Beach Bar Rum, and partnered with Guy Fieri on Santo tequila. Earlier ventures included a mountain bike store and the Sausalito Cyclery, for which Hagar designed a bike called the Red Rocker.

His screen work has included a bartender role on Nash Bridges, voice appearances on The Simpsons and Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and a guest appearance on American Restoration. He hosted and executive-produced Rock & Roll Road Trip with Sammy Hagar, a television series built around conversations and jam sessions with musical and entertainment guests. His autobiography, Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock, reached No. 1 on the New York Times hardcover nonfiction bestseller list, and he later published Are We Having Any Fun Yet? The Cooking & Partying Handbook.