Spinner recently conducted an interview with CHICKENFOOT/ ex-VAN HALEN frontman SAMMY HAGAR. In the interview Hagar talks about music, money and the madness surrounding Van Halen, which can be found in his new book, Red: My Uncensored Life In Rock. Excerpts from the interview are below:

Spinner: In your the book you say EDDIE VAN HALEN was completely wasted and barely able to play his guitar during most of the 2004 reunion tour. What made you finally dish on your former bandmate?

Sammy Hagar: “He got away with a lot on that tour. There are YouTube videos out there with Eddie too wasted to play - but his fans are so devotional they would think that I was singing in the wrong key. I want to explain to the people why the tour didn't continue, why we didn't make an album, and why we'll never do it again. I set the record straight, and I feel real good about it. Eddie's not going to like it 'cause he's exposed.”

Spinner: You wrote that you grew up 'bone poor,' so how is it that you developed your business acumen?

Sammy Hagar: “It didn't dawn on me how poor we were until I was a teen and started dating. You know, you meet a girl and go over to her house and it's like, 'Where did you get all this nice stuff?' Being a poor kid is a little humiliating and it instilled in me a desire to be somebody. I was willing to work hard to ensure I was never poor again. So the first royalty cheque I got, I went and bought something valuable and I've invested almost every penny. It's not like I'm brilliant. I don't know anything about business, I just have good ideas, good instincts and I'm lucky.”

Spinner: As for Chickenfoot, what can we expect from that band?

Sammy Hagar: “We are just finishing a new record, and it is awesome. I think it's better than the first one. We know each other better so musically it's more cohesive. And it's a little darker; I'm a lyricist and I can't help but write about what's happening in the world.”

Read the full interview here.

Hagar has announced that he is singing the National Anthem, for the first time, on Saturday April 9th - with bandmate JOE SATRIANI - at AT&T; Park in San Francisco, CA.

Check out Sammy's video message at this location.