Vocalist SAMMY HAGAR (CHICKENFOOT, ex-VAN HALEN) recently spoke with LA Weekly. An excerpt from the interview is available below:

LA: You took a lot of flak for some of the things you put in your book (Red: My Uncensored Life In Rock). Were you ever worried that you were being too honest?

Hagar: "There were a lot of times where I said, 'I really shouldn't say this.' But I felt that my fans, who've been with me all this time, deserved the real story; they need to hear why and understand why I am who I am and why I've become what I've become and how I did it and what I went through for it. I just figured at this stage of my life I'm just gonna tell the whole story. A lot of it had to do with Van Halen; there was always a controversy of who said what and 'He did this and he did that,' and I wanted to tell the truth about all that."

LA: You told me you haven't heard the new record yet but they are out on tour.

Hagar: "The fact that they're out right now, that's so great; I'm so happy that they're out doing it -- but look how long it took. It's so dysfunctional and who knows how long it will last like this and I just can't be part of something like that. I don't think I ever slowed down and stopped trying to prove something in that damn band 'til the reunion in '04, but by then it was too late. Eddie was shot at that point, though I heard he's great now, and I'm really happy that he's supposedly sober and playing great and doing good. People think, 'Oh you hate the guy.' I don't hate the guy, I love the guy. I hate what he did in '04 to me on the reunion tour, but other than that I still love the guy."

Go to this location for the complete interview.

As previously reported, Hagar's world-famous club Cabo Wabo in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico has announced its 2012 Birthday Bash dates celebrating the Red Rocker's 65th birthday.

Says Hagar: "We know that a lot of you have been waiting for confirmation on the dates for this year's Birthday Bash so you can make your travel plans and we're happy to announce that this year's dates are October 7th, 9th, 11th and 13th. Tickets will be handled similar to last year and further details will be announced as the dates get closer."

You can relive last year's bash by watching the 2011 Birthday Bash documentary below: