‘This is a homecoming’: Sammy Hagar debuts world premiere of ‘Encore, Thank You, Goodnight’ video at Stagecoach – Victorville Daily Press

Before there was TikTok, there was Sammy Hagar.
The Van Halen lead vocalist doesn’t have viral or trending songs on social media. He gained his fans the old fashioned way — musical talent and a rockstar attitude.
Festivalgoers only in it for the photo-op were phased out during Hagar’s undeniably „kick-ass“ set at Stagecoach 2025. Hagar’s performance was a refreshing break from the preachy country concerts of the preceding two days, the crowd of which could relate more to college acceptance letters than sore knees and tight backs.
Hagar knocked off the top of his Santo Tequila bottle, tossed it to the crowd and guzzled the contents down during his performance to an older, hard-rock-loving audience, many of whom have seen Hagar or Van Halen live during the glory days of fresh top-charting album releases in 1984 or 1995.
„I was born to do this,“ Hagar said into his red Hot Wheels microphone about performing to such a large audience.
Shudders of electricity shocked the crowd during the chorus echo of „Panama“ and again during the last song on the setlist, „I Can’t Drive 55.“
The onstage chemistry between Hagar and longtime bandmate and Van Halen brother bassist Michael Anthony was easily the glue that pieced a perfect performance, followed by cautiously preserved 77-year-old tenor vocals.
Hagar met with The Daily Press in haste only minutes before soundcheck for his Palomino Stage set.
We spoke on top of blue cheetah print bedsheets in true rock ‚n‘ roll fashion about the road to Stagecoach, his new song that was written in a dream collaboration with late Van Halen guitarist Eddie Van Halen, and excitement for the Stagecoach world premiere of the music video to his latest song, „Encore, Thank You, Goodnight,“ released in April.
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Stagecoach is a place that’s familiar to Hagar.
A big portion of the California local’s family lives in the Coachella Valley. His country music-loving relatives, including his children and wife Kari Karte, were at the festival.
„This is a bit of a homecoming for me, I belong here,“ Hagar said of his being asked to play at the country festival.
Stagecoach was „pretty cool“ for Hagar. He had high spirits before he hit the stage and was enjoying hanging around backstage with other artist friends he hadn’t seen in a while. A surprise appearance at Guy Fieri‚s Smokehouse pop-up at Stagecoach was a sneak preview for fans of the excitement to come.
Hagar had a late-night set, one of the last to close out the three-day festival, but he’s no stranger to late nights. He and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Van Halen bandmates would drink for 12 hours straight, seven days a week, Hagar recounted in his 2011 autobiography „Red.“ Sleepless or pill-needed nights were common in the band’s early days while touring, especially for the Van Halen brothers, who were in and out of rehab.
As Hagar took the stage Sunday night, he showcased the world premiere music video of the new single „Encore, Thank You, Goodnight,“ a track he says was inspired by legendary Eddie Van Halen, who died at 65 after a long battle with lung cancer.
„It’s a really special video because I reenacted the dream [where he wrote „Encore“ with Eddie]. Anyone that’s a Van Halen fan – it’ll choke you,“ Hagar says.
The reception of „Encore, Thank You, Goodnight,“ released on Friday, April 25, has been „really great,“ Hagar said. The fans are accepting of the homage to Eddie and agree with Hagar that the recognition is „a long time coming.“
Eddie’s son, Wolfgang Van Halen, released „Distance“ with the band Mammoth after his father died to pay tribute, and Alex Van Halen wrote the „Brothers“ memoir in 2024 about his brother, which Hagar says was his own way of saying „thank you.“ Now, he says, it’s finally his turn.
Hagar had the dream two years ago.
Although he says his dreams are always „really real,“ this was one of Hagar’s most vivid. In it, Eddie and Hagar were writing a song like they did during peak Van Halen stardom.
Hagar was in the middle of singing the melody when the word „thank you“ came to mind. His subconscious quickly snapped back to reality when he realized his good friend was no longer living, and he awoke, but not before forgetting the tune.
He quickly jotted the melody down in the middle of the night – a familiar writing process Hagar recounted with the hit song „Right Now“ in his autobiography.
„I didn’t know what to do with it,“ Hagar says from his artist trailer at Stagecoach, mini Yorkie „Money“ curiously at foot. „It wasn’t finished.“
Hagar played the unfinished tune for guitarist Joe Satriani, who backed Hagar on his Best of All Worlds Tour and had been playing Van Halen songs „perfectly“ according to Hagar. „[Satriani] channeled Eddie in a way“ and helped Hagar finish the track, and with it, secure closure for the vocalist and his late friend.
Van Halen’s lead vocalist says he truly believes Eddie was trying to break through to him. „Some people say, ‚Ah man, Sammy’s crazy‘ – Yep. Always have been.“ Hagar is a „firm believer“ that dreams help sync the departed and the living on the same plane.
Eddie may be in another dimension, but accessing the tools of the dreamworld allows him and Hagar to say „Hey, what’s up dude“ every once in a while.
Feedback for the new song has been emotional for fans, which is ironic because it’s such an „ass-kicking“ song, Hagar said.
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McKenna is a reporter for the Daily Press. She can be reached at mmobley@gannett.com.

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