Sammy Hagar Receives Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

The Red Rocker Sammy Hagar is now a shining star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.

Hagar was honored with the 2,779th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in a ceremony that took place on April 30 at 6212 Hollywood Boulevard, adjacent to the Amoeba Music record store in Los Angeles.

“The idea of where I came from in life, and where my beginnings were, and to have this [star] here, the amount of people I would have to thank, it would be impossible to do in one day,” Hagar said as he accepted the honor.

“[My mom] would want to come down here and want to see the movie stars,” Hagar said. “She was really in love with the movie industry, and Clark Gable and those guys. I remember seeing this thing and to think — I mean it was just way beyond even a dream. You have dreams and then you have the dream that you didn’t dream. This is one of those dreams that come true that I didn’t dream.

“The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to honor rock legend Sammy Hagar for his contributions to the world of Rock & Roll music,” said Ana Martinez, Producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The ceremony was emceed by Hagar’s good friend, celebrity chef Guy Fieri. Guest speakers included John Mayer–who met Hagar in 2015 after he joined Dead & Company– and Hagar’s longtime manager, Tom Consolo.

“As you can see, I’m a Van Halen fan,” said Mayer, who donned a Van Halen t-shirt as he put on his reading glasses. “But I’m an even bigger Sammy Hagar fan.”

He continued: “Sammy’s studio was down the street from Bob Weir’s — he and Bob were already good friends. Sammy came to visit the rehearsal. During a break, I sat down at the piano and started playing “Dreams” from the 5150 [Van Halen] album and Sammy sat down next to me and started singing the tune along with me — the first time we’d ever met. It was one of the most unforgettable moments of my life. From there we were off and running as friends.”

Hagar understood what it was like to join an already established band, taking over after Van Halen singer David Lee Roth left the band, and offered Mayer advice.

“Sammy understood my nervousness about joining an already established legendary rock band, and he was incredibly supportive of me,” Mayer recalled. “It’s not easy stepping into a position that the audience isn’t quite ready to accept, and Sammy knew that and he gave me great comfort in his instant friendship, his kindness — and by letting me drive his Lotus Esprit around the neighborhood alone without even thinking twice about it.”

“Sammy shares his toys,” he added, laughing.

Mayer continued, “Sammy was already a hugely successful artist in his own right. When he was asked to be the front man of Van Halen, he certainly didn’t have to join another band to continue making hit records. I think the reason he took them up on the offer was for the same reason he does anything — because it sounded like fun. Sammy is driven by having fun. Sammy has the kind of fun that we only dream about letting ourselves have, if only we could get out of our own way and simply enjoy the fact that we’re alive and on this planet for a relative blink of an eye.”