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Sammy Hagar is taking his "Best of All Worlds" show to Las Vegas next year, and he's not bringing Jason Bonham with him. When the Red Rocker announced the 2025 residency last week, he revealed that his backing band would consist of guitarist Joe Satriani, bassist Michael Anthony and drummer Kenny Aronoff.
Aronoff replaced Bonham during the "Best of All Worlds" tour over the summer when the original drummer went home to take care of his mother who suffered a stroke. In a new interview with Rolling Stone, Hagar explained why he decided to make the switch permanent.
"There's two reasons," he said of his choice to stick with Aronoff. "Number one, he's one of the greatest drummers on the planet. I think he's been on more million-selling records than any musician in the world. And he did so well on this tour, and he plays with Joe on a full-time basis..."
"And he blew my mind," Hagar continued. "I played with Kenny in Chickenfoot, and he blew my mind then too, because when we auditioned him, he learns every song. 'Tell me what songs we're playing.' 'Okay, here they are.' He charts them out and he sits there, and he f***in' can read it, and play it with soul and power perfectly, just one time, the first time he plays it. If that don't blow a musician's mind, I don't know what would, especially these kinds of songs. These songs are crazy. They're f***in' Van Halen arrangements."
With Aronoff behind the kit, Hagar reunited the last Chickenfoot touring lineup. They've also been seen recording in the studio together. Bonham recently opened up about being "let go" and divulged that Hagar broke the news to him shortly after the tour ended.
"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,'" Bonham explained. "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."
That being said, there's no bad blood between the two musicians. "Listen, I love the guy to bits. I don't wish him any ill. I still speak to him," Bonham clarified. "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."