Former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar has taken his “Best Of All Worlds” tour around the United States and to Japan. The trek, which largely pays tribute to eras of the Van Halen catalog, initially featured veteran drummer Jason Bonham.
Bonham has had a lengthy and diverse career, and he notably is the son of Led Zeppelin legend John Bonham. The drummer, however, had to exit the Hagar tour due to a family issue, and now it’s been revealed that Hagar won’t be asking him back instead sticking with replacement Kenny Aronoff. Bonham initially addressed his fans in a response on social media writing: “Sammy has decided to carry on with Kenny.” He’s now elaborated further with Ultimate Classic Rock saying that the decision has him “a little shocked.”
Bonham said: “I was trying to answer fans, really, because they were asking me, ‘Why aren’t you involved with the new thing they’re recording?’ and saying, ‘Aren’t you gonna do it again?’ ‘I was let go, so, no.’ Sammy rang me awhile ago. He was asking about my mom, but then he said, ‘Y’know, I’m not gonna do much next year,’ blah, blah blah, ‘and I’m gonna go with Kenny.’ I was a little shocked, I must say. I’d be lying to you if I wasn’t a little sad, because we were on fire at the end of the tour. And I got a little upset. That was strange, after 10 years of being with him.”
Still despite his being let go, Bonham had praise for Hagar. “Listen, I love the guy to bits,” he said. “I don’t wish him any ill. I still speak to him. Honestly, the guy has taught me so much — about business, being positive. I’m an English guy; I can be really negative half the time. Even if the sun is shining, ‘but it could rain.’ He really helped me in that aspect big-time, and business sense and never taking no for an answer, always believing in yourself. So, yeah, I had a great 10 years. He allowed me to always do what I wanted to do. When my thing would get busy he always gave me the space. I couldn’t ask for more.”
Aronoff has played with a host of notable artists including John Mellencamp, John Fogerty, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Smashing Pumpkins, Lady Gaga, Bob Segar, Joe Satriani, Jon Bon Jovi and The Rolling Stones, among others.
