Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony crash the stage for surprise set at Barrett-Jackson 2024
The members of Red Voodoo had just finished dusting off their latest single, "Mystery Girl," at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2024 car auction when Sammy Hagar strolled on stage with Michael Anthony to join them on a raucous set of Hagar classics and Van Halen's "Finish What Ya Started" on Friday, Jan. 26.
Hagar was in town to introduce the Arizona market to his award-winning Sammy's Beach Bar Cocktail Co. sparkling rum canned cocktails at WestWorld of Scottsdale.
He and Anthony had been watching the show from the side of the Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum Live Music Stage.
"Well, I've gotta tell you folks, I'm broke," a grinning Hagar told the crowd as he and Anthony got settled in. "I'm broke. I bought every car that came across the block tonight."
Red Voodoo, a California band whose name was taken from a Sammy Hagar and the Waboritas album, had prepared a list of Hagar songs they know, which Hagar joked was more than he knows.
Sammy Hagar played 'Mas Tequila,' 'Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy' and more
Selecting "Mas Tequila," the opening track on the "Red Voodoo" album, to get the party started, Hagar followed through with "Heavy Metal," his contribution to the soundtrack for the animated science fiction movie of the same name, while rocking a 5150 hat a fan had thrown onstage.
"I had to put my drink down," he said with a smile when the song was over. "Imagine, Sammy Hagar putting his drink down. Not down the old hatch. On the floor."
Then it was back to the action with "Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy," Hagar's biggest solo hit, and a suitably spirited "There's Only One Way to Rock."
Hagar was clearly enjoying his time at Barrett-Jackson, where he and Anthony, he told the crowd, had been drinking all day.
"I'm gonna be hanging around here tomorrow, too, man," Hagar said. "This is so awesome. For me, this is like (expletive) heaven. I would rather be here than at a (expletive) Rolling Stones concert. All these cars?!"
Hagar was supposed to auction off his rare 2015 LaFerrari this weekend, but upon final inspection, it was determined that the car’s original high voltage battery was nearing the end of its anticipated eight-year lifespan, so he held it back for Barrett-Jackson's new fall auction coming up in October 2024.
Hagar ends set with 'Finish What Ya Started' and 'I Can't Drive 55"
The crowd went wild when Hagar said, "All right, let's get some Van Halen going" (on what would've been Eddie Van Halen's 69th birthday), treating the crowd to "Finish What Ya Started" before bringing the set to a raucous conclusion with the perfect song to end a night at Barrett-Jackson — Hagar's signature song, "I Can't Drive 55," which turns 40 this year.
It was a blast to see Hagar and Anthony having some fun with the hits in a loose, informal setting, and the young musicians in Red Voodoo did a great job of backing them up.
Hagar will return to Phoenix on Tuesday, Aug. 20 when his highly-anticipated The Best of All Worlds Summer 2024 Tour is scheduled to perform at Talking Stick Resorts Amphitheatre. For tickets and details, go to RedRocker.com.
Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 602-444-4495. Follow him on X @EdMasley.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Sammy Hagar's surprise set wows Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2024 fans
