For the record... I am NOT Sammy Hagar's friend, he does not know me, but he has always treated me like family when we have crossed paths over the years.

It has been many years, but I would LOVE to meet Sammy again and thank him personally for being such an inspiration in my life.

OK, I go back a Long, LONG Way Back with Sammy Hagar - Here's PROOF...

1st Hagar Concert: 3/15/1979 - Opening for BOSTON at the Old Chicago Stadium, complete with the Trans Am on the Stage. Already an avid Montrose fan, I was pleasantly surprised to see Sammy Hagar was the opening act.

2nd Hagar Concert: 6/25/1980 - Sammy's 1st EVER Headlining Concert at Poplar Creek Music Theater in Hoffman Estates, IL. We had 1st Row Seats and Sammy gave me a High Five. There were only 2500 people in attendance in this 25,000 seat outdoor venue.

3rd Hagar Concert: 8/11/1983 - Sammy performed at Soldier Field the final Chicagofest. He pulled the old, 'Red Spraypaint' joke on a girl in the crowd, painting her pumps RED...

1st Van Halen Concert: 5/23/1986 - Van Halen's 5150 Tour at Alpine Valley Music Theater, East Troy, WI. We sat Front Row, dead-center and took turns exchanging high fives with Sammy + Eddie. A Supergroup was born!

On July 31st, 1993, again at Alpine Valley Music Theater, the B+W photo of me, Sammy + Eddie was taken. The band signed the Drumhead for me, as well as my OU812 Album cover. Sammy's Manager, the late, great Ed Leffler called my home and left me a voice mail message after I sent Sammy a letter asking if I could meet him. My wish was granted and YES, I actually got to meet Van Halen!

Final Van Halen Concert: 9/21/2004 - Van Halen Reunion Tour w/ Sammy at Assembly Hall in Champaign, IL. Sitting VIP, inside the stage at Eddie Van Halen's feet, where several of the attached pix were taken. I also got a bunch of guitar picks and the SETLIST off the Stage, complete with Eddie's cigarette burns.

Over the years, I have seen Van Halen perform a dozen times (With Sammy ONLY), and have seen Sammy perform Solo over 30-times, including 1st Row on 11/18/2000 at the Chicago Theater, when Sammy filmed his Birthday Bash. When the DVD was released, I spotted myself on the video, staring at Sammy in a virtual trance as he stood directly in front of me during one of his Guitar solos.

I have met many musicians over the past 30+ years, in Los Angeles and when I operated US Tech Support for a Car Audio manufacturer. Having been backstage over 100-times, I have met many of my heroes. Without a doubt, Sammy Hagar is THE Coolest, Nicest, Rock Legend I have ever met, with Steven Tyler, John Fogerty and the Scorpions right behind him. Most of the others are complete jerks, including a former bandmate of Sammy's - a Guitar hero who FIRED him and shall remain nameless. For the record, I will never see Van Halen perform again, unless Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony are back in the band.

Sammy Hagar to this very day, never lets me down. Sitting 1st Row for The Circle in San Bernadino, CA on 9/10/2017, I tossed my PROMO Copies of Montrose 1st Album and an ultra-rare 'I Can't Drive 55' EP onto the stage. Michael Anthony picked them up and grinned. After the song was over, he handed them to Sammy, who looked shocked when he saw an original Montrose PROMO Record Album. Sammy signed both of them, then pointed at me, gave me the thumbs-up and tossed them to the security guard, who handed them back to me. How COOL is that...? I just saw The Circle again a few months ago and again Sammy did not disappoint me, he never has and I'd be willing to bet he never will...

There's ONLY One WAY to ROCK - GOD Bless Sammy Hagar - The Red Rocker...!