Rock icon Sammy Hagar, 78, on how he stays at top of | Music News

Former Van Halen frontman turned solo star Sammy Hagar, 78, boasts one of the best voices in music, well-known for his energetic two-hour-long reveals, belting out smashes like Panama and Right Now.

The Red Rocker loved a packed life of intercourse, medication, drink, and rock and roll, but had a “conservative” security swap in his mind which prevented him from going off the rails.

The star even had managers lock him in lodge rooms away from the chaos because his focus was always defending his voice, no matter how tempting after-parties have been.

Sammy’s outlook was not to wreck his profession, for concern it might spiral into dropping his household, his funds, and his life.

The 78-year-old energy-packed rock powerhouse vocalist is still as dedicated to his craft as he prepares to head out to the UK for his first solo tour in 30 years.

He works out, takes vitamins and is present process stem cell. Sammy said of his wild past: “I was guilty as everyone else. I would just always conservatively did all those things.

“I was always the first guy to leave during the heavy party in years and I’d say, ‘I’m out of here.” And I’d go to my room, lock myself in and tell my tour manager, I don’t care if I come beating on your door, drag me back to my room.’

“Because I had a job to do. My job was more important to me than anything.

“I also don’t like feeling like a piece of s— because I drank or did too much coke or something or stayed up all night with a bunch of ladies. I don’t like myself the next morning for doing any of that. So it’s more important to have more fun tomorrow night.

”And it is labored for me. I’ve run my life like this from day one. I used to never even drink and do any medication of any variety. I always was a inappropriate man. I’m a sucker for that, I did not even drink and stuff until I used to be in my 40s.

“And then I discovered fine wine and then tequila but I’ve never had a drinking problem. I’ve just always had discipline. I’ve never had an iron fist on top of me telling me, ‘Don’t do this.’

“In fact, the people I run with, like in a band like Van Halen where everybody was so undisciplined, it was like I had to use my own strength and my own sense. If my voice was shot and I did a s—- show, I felt like a piece of s—.

“That bothered me more than anything the few times I did overdo it. People say the most important thing is family, but it’s your job because if you don’t have a job and can’t support your family, then you’re an a——.

“So I take my job as seriously as my family. A singer cannot get trashed and still pull off shows. That’s been my saving grace for keeping me out of deep trouble. Because you get all f—— wasted four o’clock in the morning. That’s when you start making big mistakes.

“It’s the same financially. People say, ‘How come you’ve done so well with your money and all that and not ended up broke a million times like most rock stars?’ I didn’t make all those mistakes by getting too wasted and making bad decisions.”

Sammy insists that performing on stage stays his greatest buzz. And he still works arduous to keep his voice high quality while friends like The Who’s Roger Daltrey and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler have battled twine points and undergone surgical procedures.

“There’s a lot of luck and genes concerned. I’ve good genes. I’ve still bought muscle tissue. I still can do every thing I ever did. And I do not know why and how, other than I take care of myself. I take dietary supplements, I do not take medication.

“I take things that stop my body from getting stiff – anti-inflammatories and vitamins, things that nutrition that you need in your body as you get older, your body stops producing it. I do stem cell therapy with an IV. I do it every six months. I put young stem cells in my body. And I feel the difference.

“I don’t smoke and I don’t stay up later than I should. I just don’t abuse myself. And I sing all the time. I don’t really sing scales, I sing hard songs to sing. One of my favorite warm up songs is Whiter Shade Of Pale.

“It’s like the scales are tough. So when I have a hard time singing that, I’m going, ‘Oops, I need to work out a little bit more tomorrow and get ready for these shows.’

“I know singers that don’t even practice and go on stage. Bruce Springsteen walks out there and sings.”How the f—- does he do that? anybody that can do that – God bless them.”

Sammy is chomping at the bit to wow the UK with his Best Of All Worlds tour alongside acclaimed rock idols: bassist Michael Anthony, guitarist Joe Satriani, drummer Kenny Aronoff and keyboardist Greg Phillinganes.

Sammy, who begins the run at the AO Arena in Manchester on July 4 , before stops in Birmingham, Leeds and London, said: “I cannot wait and we want to great.

“I want these people to feel we are the best fricking rock’n’roll act they’ve seen in a long time. This band is damn good. Unlike other bands there is nothing played on tape. So if we can’t pull it off live, we don’t play it.

“I like to ad lib, jam and stretch songs for two and three minutes and we go out for a long walk in the woods because it’s so musical and we have such great players. I feel f— this band is good. All you have to do is listen to the live record from our Vegas residency.”

Sammy spoke solely to promote his upcoming UK tour dates, AO Arena in Manchester (July 4), the BP Pulse Live venue in Birmingham (July 5),First Direct Bank Arena in Leeds (July 7), and O2 Arena in London (July 9)

For tickets and more data go to www.redrocker.com.