Sammy Hagar's Amnesiac Tour Days with Van Halen

Van Halen's former frontman, Sammy Hagar, reveals his hazy memories of touring with the iconic band, citing a wild time on the road and an unforgettable encounter with a New York State trooper.

Van Halen's iconic vocalist, Sammy Hagar, has shed light on his fragmented memories from the band's tumultuous touring era. Decades after leaving the legendary rock group, Hagar admits he can barely recall the adventures and excesses that defined their time on the road.

Hagar, now 76, fondly remembers an incident with a New York State trooper that inspired his 1984 hit single, "I Can’t Drive 55." After being pulled over for speeding in his rental car, Hagar's memory of the encounter is surprisingly vivid.

Sammy Hagar's Amnesiac Tour Days with Van Halen

"I had been traveling for 24 hours with a young boy, my wife, and I was cooked," Hagar said of his family vacation. "I was driving 62 mph by accident. I was unconsciously driving, not even trying to disobey the speed limit."

Despite his remorse, the trooper issued a ticket that would later ignite inspiration. "I was telling my wife to write down lyrics on a piece of paper," Hagar recalled. "I just sang the whole damn song. It was just like automatic writing. It was just coming out of me."

Sammy Hagar's Amnesiac Tour Days with Van Halen

The song became a smash hit for Hagar, but his memory of the trooper remained hazy. "I Can’t Drive 55" was released two years before Hagar joined Van Halen, and the trooper who stopped him did not recognize the then-rising rock star.

Hagar's recollection of his touring days with Van Halen is equally vague. "I remember the first couple of years of being in Van Halen, but after that, it's a blur," Hagar admitted. "It was such a crazy time. We were on the road all the time, and there was so much partying going on. It's hard to remember specific things."

Sammy Hagar's Amnesiac Tour Days with Van Halen

Despite the hazy memories, Hagar fondly remembers the camaraderie and musical chemistry he shared with the band. "We had some great times together," he said. "We were like brothers. We had a lot of laughs, and we made some great music."

Today, Hagar yearns to reconnect with the trooper who inspired "I Can’t Drive 55." He extends an invitation for the trooper to join him backstage at an upcoming show. "If he remembers giving some long-haired, rock-and-roll-looking guy a ticket in a rent-a-car at 2 o’clock in the morning, that was me," Hagar said. "I'd love to buy him a drink and thank him for the inspiration."

Sammy Hagar's Amnesiac Tour Days with Van Halen