The new song will premiere this week during Stagecoach and his Las Vegas residency
Sammy Hagar will release a personal new single, “Encore, Thank You, Goodnight,” on Friday, April 25th via the Nashville-based Big Machine Rock. The track, a melodic rock anthem written by Hagar and guitar legend Joe Satriani, was inspired by a dream and brought to reality by introspective lyrics, powerful chords and rhythmic guitar and drums.
Inspired by a vivid dream Hagar had about the late Eddie Van Halen, the song marks a full-circle moment in his storied career. “Encore, Thank You, Goodnight.” features Hagar on vocals, Satriani on guitars, Michael Anthony on bass, and Kenny Aronoff on drums. The production — handled by Hagar, Satriani and Eric Caudieux — delivers a sound that is at once nostalgic and forward-looking. Hagar says the dream that sparked the song came about a year after Eddie’s passing and left a lasting impact. Rather than being a somber farewell, the song is a celebration and expression of appreciation — for the fans, and for the unforgettable chapter they shared in Van Halen.
“This song is my final bow to that part of my life,” says Hagar. “It’s not meant to be anything more than a ‘thank you’ — with love, with respect, and with one hell of a guitar solo.” Hagar also shared that Satriani’s contribution to the track brought a unique emotional energy. “Joe was the perfect partner to help me shape the sound — he brought in that big, emotional, guitar-driven energy that feels like Eddie’s spirit but is entirely of Joe’s creation. With Michael Anthony’s thundering bass and stellar Van Halen-esque background vocals and Kenny Aronoff’s relentlessly powerful driving rhythms, the song really came together on all levels.”
A seven-inch collector’s edition vinyl will also be available, along with bundles and exclusive merchandise drops.
On Sunday, April 27th, the official “Encore, Thank You, Goodnight.” music video, directed and edited by ZZ Satriani, will premiere live during Hagar’s headlining set at the Stagecoach Festival’s Palomino Stage in Indio, California, and globally during a YouTube video premiere.
On April 30th, Hagar will premiere the song live at the launch The Best of All Worlds Tour – The Residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM. The tour will reunite the rock powerhouse band of Hagar, Anthony, Satriani, and Aronoff with a new “only in Las Vegas” setlist running through May 17th. The tour represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see this band of brothers deliver one of the most legendary hits-packed live shows of their careers.
