Former Van Halen singer, Sammy Hagar, spoke in an interview with Uncle Joe Benson about how he was inspired to become a rock frontman by Rod Stewart’s time with the Faces. Hagar regards himself as a more quiet performer before joining Montrose in 1973.
“Montrose was a heavy metal band; I was a blues, R&B singer, and then I got thrown into this heavy metal band,” he recalled. “And I became it, and I dug it. I started trippin’ on guys like Rod Stewart – I was really a big fan of Rod’s. He was a great performer, and I dug the way he sang, and he had a great sense of humor with the Faces.”
Stewart’s approach was not received well by Montrose leader Ronnie Montrose. “Ronnie was so serious,” Hagar said. “’Don’t say anything to the audience! Don’t do this! Don’t do that!’ – and I was like, ‘Get outta here! Let’s make an event out of this thing!’ Rod Stewart was one of the first guys I saw really doing that.”
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