Rocker Sammy Hagar has music, businesses to keep him going

Looking at and listening to Sammy Hagar it’s impossible to comprehend that this rock star is turning 70 next month.

“Maybe my mom got confused with my birth certificate and I’m really only 50,” quips Hagar. “I can sing anything I’ve ever sang and play anything I’ve ever played. I feel great. I’m a very lucky guy.”

While many of his contemporaries have slowed down, Hagar has never been busier. In addition to touring with his band The Circle, which plays Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater on Sept. 23, he owns restaurants (Sammy’s Beach Bar & Grill), clubs (Cabo Wabo Cantina), liquor brands (Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum, Santo Mezquila), runs his own TV show (“Rock & Roll Road Trip with Sammy Hagar”), radio program (“Sammy Hagar’s Top Rock Countdown”) and musical side project (Chickenfoot).

“I get off on accomplishing stuff,” he says. “When my plate is clear, I go, ‘Now what am I going to do?’ ”

The massive amount of recent musician deaths has turned Hagar’s thoughts to the reuniting with his old band, Van Halen.

“The last thing I want to do is have one of us, that are still alive and able to do something, die and then go, ‘I wish we would have got together one more time,’ ” says Hagar.

This past spring, Hagar promoted the idea of a VH reunion with him and original singer David Lee Roth taking turns on the mic.

“My dressing room would be on stage left and his would be on stage right,” says Hagar. “It got out to the press and everybody thought it was a good idea.”

But it seems his concept fell on deaf ears and now he’s changing his tune.

“The Van Halen thing I think is a dead horse,” says Hagar. “Honestly, I’m so busy and occupied with everything else in my life that it’s not on my front burner where every day I’m checking my email. It’s not on my bucket list.”

Regardless, the Hagar train rolls on as his rock ‘n’ roll business ventures keep him active.

“I’m nuts — there’s no question about it,” Hagar says. “My wife thinks I’m crazy. If I ever go to rehab it’s because I’m a workaholic.”

By David J. Criblez

david.criblez@newsday.comDavidJCriblez

David J. Criblez is a reporter for Newsday's exploreLI, covering entertainment-related events from local music to stand-up comedy to festivals.