Who called Sammy Hagar to dismiss him from Van Halen?

Eddie Van Halen called Sammy Hagar to dismiss him from Van Halen in 1996.

Hagar joined Van Halen in 1985 after the departure of original singer David Lee Roth. The resulting lineup became known as Van Hagar and produced four studio albums, including 5150 and For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. The band also scored major hits such as “Why Can’t This Be Love” and “Right Now.”

The split came after tensions surrounding a planned Van Halen greatest-hits project, new recording sessions, and the possible return of Roth. Hagar said Eddie Van Halen informed him by telephone that he was being replaced, with the news arriving around Father’s Day in June 1996. Contemporary reports describe Eddie as the person who made the call.

The wording remains slightly contentious because Eddie and other band members disputed Hagar’s characterization, suggesting that Hagar had effectively quit or that the separation was mutual. Nevertheless, for the specific question of who called Hagar with the dismissal news, Eddie Van Halen is the standard answer. Alex Van Halen was involved in the band’s decisions but was not the caller identified in contemporary accounts.