It’s a particularly difficult question for Sammy Hagar — who, after all, has worked alongside Ronnie Montrose, Eddie Van Halen and Joe Satriani, among others: Of the guitarists you’ve played with, who is your favorite?
He starts out — call this the hometown discount — by mentioning Vic Johnson, guitarist in Hagar’s solo bar-band amalgam the Wabos. “He is such a versatile guitar player,” Hagar says in this WDHA clip. “He can play anything, and he’s the nicest guy in the world.”
After that, Hagar attempts to the answer the question, difficult though it may be.
“Besides Vic, because he is my dearest friend, I think Joe Satriani is the best guitar player in the business,” Hagar says. “Everybody will argue with me all day long, but I’ve worked with different people — and Joe is so prolific, and so quick. He knows music; he doesn’t play bad notes. He doesn’t sit there and noodle around trying to find something. That guy brings it.”
Hagar played with Montrose from 1973-75, with Van Halen from 1985-96 and has been with Satriani in Chickenfoot since 2008. He also played with Neal Schon of Journey/Santana fame from 1984-85 in HSAS. The Wabos have been together since 2005.
Satriani, Schon and Johnson appear on Hagar’s forthcoming album, Sammy Hagar and Friends.
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Sammy is absolutely correct. Joe is the best – there is no one on the planet that can touch him on an overall level.
So hard to pinpoint just one player! My personal favourite is Mark Knopfler, but you’re right, as is Hagar. Joe is just great!
I can understand how some people would say Joe is better then Eddie. However, you honestly think Vic Johnson is a better guitar player then eddie van halen?! I mean come on. Hagar is just talking sh*t cause that’s all he knows how to do
Sammy knows guitarists, but he doesn’t know guitarists like Mark Saleski knows guitarists:
http://somethingelsereviews.com/2011/12/18/move-over-rolling-stone-here-are-mark-saleskis-top-10-guitarists/
Sammy lost all credit there putting Vic Johnson ahead of eddie van halen. what a jack@ss. Simply because he had a falling out with the guy doesn’t make Eddie Van Halen a bad guitarist. I really hope people put this into perspective. sammy is still the bitter ex girlfriend to Van Halen. Can’t be any more clear now
I believe Sammy’s point was that as a friend and decent human being he puts Vic ahead of Eddie. I don’t think it has to do entirely with skill as a guitar player, it also has to do with working and travelling with a person for years. I don’t think there is any denying that Eddie as a person is a big dick with a lot of personal baggage. When you have three different singers come and go from your band, it’s not them that’s the problem it’s you!