Sammy Hagar isn’t holding back when it comes to his feelings about Alex Van Halen’s highly anticipated book. The Red Rocker has voiced his frustration over the drummer’s decision to sideline the Van Halen years that featured Hagar as frontman—a move Hagar believes does a disservice not only to him, but to the band’s legacy and to Eddie Van Halen’s full body of work.

In recent interviews, Hagar expressed his disappointment that Alex’s forthcoming memoir places almost exclusive focus on the David Lee Roth era of Van Halen, leaving his own tenure with the group largely overlooked. For Hagar, who fronted the band from 1985 to 1996 and again in the mid-2000s, that omission feels both personal and historically inaccurate.

“Alex is not doing his brother’s musical legacy justice,” Hagar said. “The Van Halen I was part of sold millions of records, topped the charts, and filled arenas around the world. To pretend those years didn’t happen—or that they weren’t important—is rewriting history.”

Hagar pointed out that albums like 5150, OU812, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, and Balance produced some of Van Halen’s biggest hits, from “Why Can’t This Be Love” to “Right Now.” For him, ignoring that era reduces Eddie Van Halen’s achievements to just one chapter of a much broader story.

Hagar also admitted his frustration comes from a place of love and respect for Eddie. “I loved that man like a brother, and I miss him every day,” he explained. “But if you’re going to tell the Van Halen story, you can’t just leave out ten years of Eddie’s brilliance. That’s not fair to him, to the fans, or to music history.”

While Alex Van Halen has yet to respond publicly to Hagar’s comments, the clash highlights long-standing tensions within the Van Halen camp over how the band’s story should be told. Fans remain divided—some loyal to the Roth years, others staunch defenders of the “Van Hagar” era. But one thing is certain: the debate over Van Halen’s legacy is as fiery as ever.

For Hagar, the issue isn’t about ego—it’s about respect. “We all played a part in making Van Halen what it was,” he said. “I just want Eddie to be remembered for everything he gave us, not just part of it.”