Here's the transcript of the interview guys. After reading it, I'm actually kinda wondering what all the fuss has been about at the Links:
Friend of mine e-mailed me this, it's posted elsewhere (he didn't have the source). Supposedly some of this was cut from what got aired. Sammy got nervious because under contract he's not allowed to say anyting "derogatory" about Van Halen untill the tour is done..
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KSHE: So how are things in camp Van Halen these days? The tour is still going strong.
Sammy: You know, this tour is something I'm really glad we could do for the fans. There was so much work that went into this, you know- before it went public. It's been surreal being on stage again with these guys again.
KSHE: So how are things looking for the future? Is the band going to put out a new CD?
Sammy: The future is really up in the air. We made it clear that there was no long term commitment going into this. You know I have a lot going on right now. I'm in the process of turning Cabo into a franchise. I have a growing Tequila company to look after. At this point in my life, what I do on stage is my downtime. It's not work, when it becomes work it starts to cross a line for me, because you know... There's enough work in the real world; too much.
KSHE: Do you see yourself in Van Halen a year from now?
Sammy: If that happens it would great.. It would be great to put out another album and.. and if did I think we could make the [explicit] chart again. But there are many powers working against that right now. It's like, like I said, I've got a whole lot a [explicit] going on, too much to take this on too seriously and the truth is, it's really hard work. When you put out an album you're competing, and when you're going up against (laughs) bands like Nickleback and Velvet Revolver that's not easy to do. Those guys are working their [explicit] off. I'm pround of every
Sammy Hagar album. I'm pround of every Van Halen, but my music isn't really trying to compete anymore. It's just a release for me. If you like what I put on a record, great, if not that's fine too.
KSHE: Art is in the eye of the beholder
Sammy: Exactly! But what it takes today is different, you know the music biz isn't the same as it was back in 85 or even 95, man it's a different game today. Creative freedom; I'm not willing to give that up, okay? I've worked too hard for it.
KSHE: So you want creative freedom and you want to have fun doing it, but do you think that will happen inside Van Halen?
Sammy: I'd rather just leave that one. Man I love these guys like brothers, ok. We're back at that level. But brothers can fight and argue it out. I don't think all of that needs to be public (laughs).
KSHE: There has been a few, strange stories about Eddie. I heard he's calling people who write negative reviews and making threats. What do you make of all that?
Sammy: Eddie is... Eddie today isn't the same guy I toured with on Balance with ten years ago. He's gone though a lot. I don't judge anybody man, only God can judge you know, but when you screw up, you don't have to apologize to the audience and go threatening journalist.
KSHE: Sounds a bit like a control freak.
Sammy: Well, you said it (laughs)
KSHE: Do you think that's just a phase for him? Is it creating friction for the band.
Sammy: Everyone in the band is evolving with this tour differently. Some nights it feels like 1985 all over again, some nights unfortunately it feels more like 1995, but it's not. It's here, it's now. All I can tell you is how I'm evolving and this tour is... It's something I needed to do.
Now we have closure.
KSHE: That doesn't sound very promising.
Sammy: I hope the fans can appreciate this tour for what it has been. Van Halen was always an "in the moment" kind of band. If we all walk off that stage for the last time this year and that's it, it would have been worth it. I wouldn't change anything.
KSHE: What if the band decided to go with another singer? Any bad blood?
Sammy: If I leave Van Halen for whatever reason, the bad blood is all under the bridge at this point. If they want to try for singer number four, all the power to them. I wish them the best actually.
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