Van Halen opening act recalls fight between Eddie and Hagar

Back in 2004, Van Halen reunited with Sammy Hagar and the band toured across the United States. One of their opening acts during those shows was the band Shinedown, formed in Jacksonville, Florida three years before. At the time they only had one record out and were promoting that material.

In an interview with Paltrocast (Transcribed by Ultimate Classic Rock), the band’s drummer Barry Kerch recalled that he saw Eddie Van Halen kicking Sammy Hagar “square in the nuts” on stage. He said that it was really incredible to have toured with one of his favorite bands but that it was a strange experience as well.

Because at the time he said that was a clear division in the band, since Alex Van Halen would show up for the gig and then go away right after, Eddie would be in his own world with the guitar but would eventually show up in their dressing room and talk about guitars. But on the other side, Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony would always be together and they had the chance to hang out with the singer and bassist.

Van Halen opening act recalls fight between Eddie and Hagar

“Eddie (had a) cigarette in his mouth, bottle of wine in one hand, guitar on, 24-7 – that’s how he lived. He’d kick open our dressing room door, (start talking), teach how (he did something) on guitar. Wolfie was still riding a scooter up and down the hallways – he was like 10 – and Valerie was there, taking care and everything. So I got to meet all that. She’s the sweetest, Wolfie was a good kid.”

“You never saw Alex; Alex would just show up, do the gig, get out – he didn’t want part of the drama, I’m sure. But I did get to sit behind his drum set, which was awesome!”

“(…) There was one night Sammy was singing, and I don’t know why Eddie was pissed at him, but he was. Eddie comes over and just kicks him as hard as he can, square in the nuts, while he’s singing. Yeah, they really don’t like each other! But I had a dream come true, and they sounded great every night,” Barry Kerch said.

Although there was a lot of tension between Sammy and the brothers Van Halen, the singer said after Eddie’s passing in 2020 that he had the chance to say goodbye and be on good terms with the guitarist before he died. However he noted that the same thing didn’t happen with Alex, who doesn’t return his calls and doesn’t talk to him for more than 20 years already.