Bringing his Van Halen era to the UK for the first time since 1995 Sammy Hagar landed at London's new British Airways ARC for the first of a three-night residency on Thursday night [9th July 2026]. Backed by his all-star Best of All Worlds band, it was a night of hights, hits, and mas tequila.
Photo: Marcin Golicz. With Thanks to Victoria Purcell at RAMzine.
For UK fans, this has been a long time coming. Much has been made of Sammy Hagar's 31 year absence from the UK. Okay, he played here with Chickenfoot in 2012, but the last time these songs were performed on these shores was in 1995, when the Britpop battle between Blur and Oasis was at its peak, Toy Story had just debuted in cinemas, and OJ Simpson was trying on gloves in the trial of the century.
Back then it was with Van Halen, as special guests to Bon Jovi on their 'These Days' tour, and while this is not that band, its as close as we're likely to get these days. Hagar however, has assembled a formidable cast for this 'Best of All Worlds' jaunt including long time band mate and Van Halen original Michael Anthony on bass, and virtuoso Joe Satriani on guitar.
Let's get one thing straight: this band is phenomenal. Half of the Van Hagar line-up is here, joined by one of the few guitarists with both the stature and sensitivity to tackle Eddie Van Halen's legacy. Satriani approaches the material with respect, never slipping into imitation, and he honours Eddie's playing while bringing enough of his own personality to make the performances feel alive rather than nostalgic.
Of course, none of that would matter without the songs—and what a catalogue this is.
There's no elaborate intro as the band strolls onstage before launching straight into 'Why Can't This Be Love'. Instantly, it's obvious they're having a blast. The chemistry between the five musicians is genuine, and it spreads through the crowd within moments.
If opening with 'Why Can't This Be Love' wasn't enough, they immediately follow it with 'Top of the World'. These are encore-level anthems, yet they're dispatched before the audience has barely caught its breath.
The five-piece are on fire, and the momentum never lets up. 'Runaround', 'Best of Both Worlds', and 'Summer Nights' arrive in quick succession, making it obvious that '5150' and 'For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge' provide the evening's backbone.
The sound is immaculate. Anthony's unmistakable falsetto cuts through beautifully, Hagar's voice remains remarkably strong, and Satriani captures Eddie's distinct signature tones on tracks like 'Why Can't This Be Love', 'Runaround', and '5150' without ever sounding like a tribute act.
Hagar, meanwhile, is in his element as a host and entertainer. A detailed story about writing 'Love Walks In' is both funny and heartfelt, while frequent tequila toasts with the front rows reinforces the party atmosphere. "Are we having fun yet?" he grins. "This band—they just want to play! I haven't talked to these people in thirty-one years or something." Raising a glass, he adds, "Cheers, happy to be here!" Later, paying tribute to both EVH and Satriani, he jokes: "Joe, if I could play this shit, I wouldn't need you in the band!"
It's not exclusively Van Halen material of course. Montrose's 'Bad Motor Scooter', solo staples 'There's Only One Way to Rock', 'Heavy Metal', and the inevitable 'I Can't Drive 55' all receive thunderous receptions. Hagar even straps on a guitar for some impressive shredding during 'There's Only One Way to Rock', while Satriani gets his own spotlight with a blistering 'Satch Boogie', backed by a band powerful enough to match every note.
On a night packed with highlights, 'Right Now' stands tallest. Arguably the defining song of the Van Hagar era, it has lost none of its emotional weight in the thirty-five years since its release, while Satriani's soaring solo is simply magnificent.
As the evening draws to a close, Hagar introduces 'Eagles Fly' as "my favourite song I ever wrote in my life," before delivering a heartfelt, understated performance that provides a welcome emotional pause before the finale.
The night comes full circle with 'Encore, Thank You, Goodnight', Hagar and Satriani's tribute to Eddie Van Halen. Accompanied by touching visuals, it's a moving and fitting conclusion to a celebration rooted in gratitude rather than nostalgia.
Three decades may have passed since Sammy Hagar last brought these songs to a UK stage, but judging by tonight, the wait has only made them more special. This isn't a tribute act trying to recreate the impossible; it's a celebration of an incredible era of music performed by the people who helped create it, alongside musicians worthy of carrying the torch. For anyone who ever wondered if they'd get to hear these songs live again, it's as close to perfection as anyone could hope for.
Back then it was with Van Halen, as special guests to Bon Jovi on their 'These Days' tour, and while this is not that band, its as close as we're likely to get these days. Hagar however, has assembled a formidable cast for this 'Best of All Worlds' jaunt including long time band mate and Van Halen original Michael Anthony on bass, and virtuoso Joe Satriani on guitar.
Let's get one thing straight: this band is phenomenal. Half of the Van Hagar line-up is here, joined by one of the few guitarists with both the stature and sensitivity to tackle Eddie Van Halen's legacy. Satriani approaches the material with respect, never slipping into imitation, and he honours Eddie's playing while bringing enough of his own personality to make the performances feel alive rather than nostalgic.
Of course, none of that would matter without the songs—and what a catalogue this is.
There's no elaborate intro as the band strolls onstage before launching straight into 'Why Can't This Be Love'. Instantly, it's obvious they're having a blast. The chemistry between the five musicians is genuine, and it spreads through the crowd within moments.
If opening with 'Why Can't This Be Love' wasn't enough, they immediately follow it with 'Top of the World'. These are encore-level anthems, yet they're dispatched before the audience has barely caught its breath.
The five-piece are on fire, and the momentum never lets up. 'Runaround', 'Best of Both Worlds', and 'Summer Nights' arrive in quick succession, making it obvious that '5150' and 'For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge' provide the evening's backbone.
The sound is immaculate. Anthony's unmistakable falsetto cuts through beautifully, Hagar's voice remains remarkably strong, and Satriani captures Eddie's distinct signature tones on tracks like 'Why Can't This Be Love', 'Runaround', and '5150' without ever sounding like a tribute act.
Hagar, meanwhile, is in his element as a host and entertainer. A detailed story about writing 'Love Walks In' is both funny and heartfelt, while frequent tequila toasts with the front rows reinforces the party atmosphere. "Are we having fun yet?" he grins. "This band—they just want to play! I haven't talked to these people in thirty-one years or something." Raising a glass, he adds, "Cheers, happy to be here!" Later, paying tribute to both EVH and Satriani, he jokes: "Joe, if I could play this shit, I wouldn't need you in the band!"
It's not exclusively Van Halen material of course. Montrose's 'Bad Motor Scooter', solo staples 'There's Only One Way to Rock', 'Heavy Metal', and the inevitable 'I Can't Drive 55' all receive thunderous receptions. Hagar even straps on a guitar for some impressive shredding during 'There's Only One Way to Rock', while Satriani gets his own spotlight with a blistering 'Satch Boogie', backed by a band powerful enough to match every note.
On a night packed with highlights, 'Right Now' stands tallest. Arguably the defining song of the Van Hagar era, it has lost none of its emotional weight in the thirty-five years since its release, while Satriani's soaring solo is simply magnificent.
As the evening draws to a close, Hagar introduces 'Eagles Fly' as "my favourite song I ever wrote in my life," before delivering a heartfelt, understated performance that provides a welcome emotional pause before the finale.
The night comes full circle with 'Encore, Thank You, Goodnight', Hagar and Satriani's tribute to Eddie Van Halen. Accompanied by touching visuals, it's a moving and fitting conclusion to a celebration rooted in gratitude rather than nostalgia.
Three decades may have passed since Sammy Hagar last brought these songs to a UK stage, but judging by tonight, the wait has only made them more special. This isn't a tribute act trying to recreate the impossible; it's a celebration of an incredible era of music performed by the people who helped create it, alongside musicians worthy of carrying the torch. For anyone who ever wondered if they'd get to hear these songs live again, it's as close to perfection as anyone could hope for.