Sammy Hagar’s 1987 track “Eagles Fly” is a song steeped in irony, missed opportunities, and lasting impact. Originally intended to be part of Van Halen’s catalog, it never made it to the band’s studio sessions due to a dismissive first impression by Alex Van Halen. In hindsight, however, it became a beloved track—one Alex and Eddie Van Halen would both come to cherish.
In a recent episode of his Storytime YouTube series, Hagar recounted how the song was introduced—and rejected—by the Van Halen camp. “I’m at the studio,” Hagar explained. “I’m playing it for Ed, and Alex is standing in the background, and I’m… on guitar, acoustic. And Alex goes, ‘Sounds like John Denver!’”
Hagar didn’t hold back his reaction to the remark. “I’ll never forget it!” he said. “I’m going, ‘Yeah – what’s wrong with that? John’s a bad motherf***er! Shut your mouth when I’m talking about John!’”
Rather than shelve the song, Hagar decided to include it on his solo album “I Never Say Goodbye,” released the same year. Despite Alex’s initial reaction, Eddie Van Halen contributed guitar, bass, and backing vocals, giving the track a distinctive connection to the band.
Alex’s regret came after hearing the polished final version. “Alex heard it on the record,” Hagar recalled, “and he goes, ‘Hey, man, you should have saved that for Van Halen!’ I said, ‘Dude, don’t you remember what you said about that song?’”
The irony wasn’t lost on Hagar. Though “Eagles Fly” became a staple in Van Halen’s live shows during his tenure, it always remained a solo piece. “It was just really ironic that it [became] one of his favorite songs,” Hagar said. “[It was] one of Eddie’s favorite songs of mine… And it should have been on a Van Halen record.”
Reflecting on its potential inclusion in the band’s 1988 album “OU812”, Hagar admitted, “That would have been unbelievable if it would’ve been on “OU812”. But it is what it is, and it’s a song that I will play for the rest of my life.”