Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock

Easy read and candid point of view from Sammy... I am a huge fan of the guy already and reading this book sold me on the person he is and I like him that much more. Thanks for sharing your story...wish I could have bumped into you in Maui this last January...can't wait to go back and our next goal is to get to a Cabo birthday bash!

First off let me say liking Sammy Hagar helps when reading this but it is not necessary. Red has a few "typical" rock and roll autobiography moments but much more about the man than most. I like the man and his music well before I read the book and the book didn't let me down. Nobody is perfect and from the unemployment line to alien invasions Sammy lets you know about it. Definitely a good read

I have enjoyed the music of Sammy Hagar since the early 80's...I believe that his addition to Van Halen raised the level of the band to a whole new level...Sammy Hagar tells it like it is and this book is a great read....I hope you are well Red Rocker and always remember there is only one way to rock brotha!!! Here is to you and all your continued successes.

Sammy Hagar is my all time favorite. What a great read this was. There were so many defining moments in his life that have led to his success, but most of all, he made it happen for himself. I also bought this for my brother, who hasn't read a book since high school. (he's almost 50) He read it in a week and loved it! He then bought one for his son. It's just a great story about a genuinely great guy.

the book says alot ....deep and personal wow!!! ...I WAS FEELING SORRY FOR THE POOR BASTARD IN SOME PARTS OF THE BOOK , THEN REALIZED ...HEY!!!! LIKE THE SONG SAYS "HE'S LIVING ON TOP OF THE WORLD" in all i dug the book:)

I have been a "Red Head" since before Sammy joined Van Halen. This book confirms the fact that I have always believed this guy to be a class act. A good portion of this book focuses on his Van Halen era but, I love the early childhood stories, early music carreer and post VH as well. I love the fact that he lived in my hometown of Rochester, NY for a while(something of a rumor before I read this). I was actually at the Sammy and The Wabo's show at The Palms in Vegas(where the un named at the time) Chickenfoot played the encore, their first every peformance. As one of several thousand rowdy fans at the show, I completely relived my surprise and excitement when I read that portion of the story. Even if I wasn't at that show, I feel I still would have almost felt the excitment because, I almost felt like I was there for the rest of the book. Very well written by him and his co-author. I would give it more than 5 stars of I could. Everyone needs to read this book!!!

WOW!! To live the Rock and roll dream, Survive it, and still be on top, Sammy kicks A_s. He is my mentor.
Now, How do I still stay married and have my Margaritas delivered to my place of party by leggy, total babes in skimpy leather 2 piece party ware!! Where did I go wrong???

I loved it. This autobiography is brutally honest. Not just in regards to the people in Hagar's life but about himself the most. It was insightful to learn about his childhood, his rise to stardom, and the other ventures in which he involved himself. It's such an easy and entertaining read, I'll probably re-read it someday.

I have read many Rock Biographies and have enjoyed most of them. This one not so much. I surprised myself by finishing it. I am not a fan of Sammy so much though I did love Montrose. Too much talk of money for me and not enough talk of trying to help others that really needed it, even if that help failed.

Very good book. Sammy holds nothing back. I say that because there are some things that do not put him in a good light. Reading this book, it seems like later in life he figured things out but made no excuses for his mistakes. If you like the story types of "poor kid makes good" you will love this. I think it is a very honest "rock star" book and that is why I enjoyed it.

Great Read, Sammy shows that hard work pays off big time. He insight into the crazy world of the Van Halen brothers was interesting and tragically sad. I love Sammy and Van Halen its a tragedy that they wont be making any more great music together. If your a fan of rock music this is a great book.

I have read many autobiographies and biographies about rock stars. Sammy's book is one of the best, an easy and very interesting read. I couldn't put it down. I do not judge any of his actions - just think he is one smart guy to be able to see outside of the box and open the Cabo Wabo Cantina and make his own brand of tequila and all the other businesses he started. To come from such a poor background with an alcoholic father, it is amazing what he has done with his life. There is a lot written about his time spent with Van Halen which is shocking as far as Eddie Van Halen goes. You have to read this book if you are into the "Red Rocker" and his life story.

Book was an awesome read. A friend recommended I read Sammy's book a while back. I regret I did not read it sooner. Sammy's life is about hard work, passion and giving everyone a fair shake. That's a great example. I hope Sammy takes a few more bulls by the horn. One of the best written and read I've laid my hands on. Bravo Sammy! God bless

This is the ultimate story about our Red Rocker, Sammy Hagar. Through pain, loss, financial lows and highs, and eventual triumph, no one tells Sammy's story like Sammy. Kudos to his success, independence, finding love again, being a family man and kicking it up instead of hanging it up!

Go Team Sammy!!!!!!

One of the best music autobiographies out there! (And I've read MANY.) Not a HUGE fan of Hagar, but he's a good writer and the book moves along at a good pace. I also appreciate his honesty about the VH brothers and others.

Was there anything in this book you didn't expect to read? Don't we all know the "on the road" groupie stories. To me, this guy comes across as a narcissistic, selfish, douchbag. Wife #2 starts dating him while his five year old is at home with no daddy during the winter holidays because he's got to get into future wife #2 pants? This woman knows he is married with a child at home and it's Christmas, but she wants him to meet her grandmother. So meeting future #2 wife's grandma is more important than spending Xmas with your son?
Sammy - you're a real piece of s*#t, as is wife #2. The guy really hasn't learned anything about being a human being. I already knew that the Van Halen scene was scumbag city all the way around, as it is with many rock "stars". So no surprises here, unless you were born under a rock and don't get out much.

Saw him interview with Howard Stern. Bought the book and was even more impressed. The guy worked hard and earned his money, gotta respect that. Well written and laid on paper. If Sammy reads the reviews kudoos. Makes me want to drink tequila and be at the beach.

I profess to being a diehard Diamond Dave fan but always enjoyed Sammy’s solo material both before and after the VH years as well as his stint as frontman with Van Halen.
The first part of the book is somewhat boring as he does a lot of namedropping but those name mean little to me. Granted, his life was not easy, father being a drunk and being married to an overly-needy wife, and I’d wager his drug use and adultery was not overly conducive to a healthy marriage.
Book really picks up when he joins VH. Sammy paints the VH brothers as hardcore drunks. He is less than positive regarding his co-headlining tour with David Lee Roth. His years in Van Halen seemed like the best of times and the worst of times. A shame as a lot of the material they produced is timeless.
He does mention forming Chickenfoot in the later chapters but I would have liked to have seen a lot more on his relationship with Mike Anthony as well as performing with Chad Smith and Joe Satriani and how this band differed from others he’s been involved with.
Of special interest is Sammy’s outside business ventures, like the Cabo Wabo Cantina and brand of Tequila, his mountain bike company, and his failed clothing line. The Red Rocker is to be applauded in that music was not his sole source of income. He comes across as very blue- collar with an above average work ethic whether it be the music business or otherwise

The information in this book is interesting and fun to read about but the structure and quality of the written word leaves a little to be desired. Better wrting would have garnared it 4 stars. Suffice it to say, Sammy is obviously not a writer of books but he is a teller of stories, and he lays some real whoppers on you in this tome. In the end, those stories alone are worth the price of admission, but that's not all this book has to offer. Sammy tells a real story of struggle, growing up in poverty, living and working with addicts, and finally overcoming these road bumps to become not only one of the most successful rockers in our time, but an even more successful business man. In the end this is a story of perserverance, "can-do", and indomitable spirit. Warning #1: rated R; Warning #2: this book may have the un-intended consequence of causing you to buy all of Sammy's current and past work (Montrose, Solo, VH, Chickenfoot), or perhaps that is intended. Either way; get it, read it, ROCK ON.

I LOVE Sammy Hagar! He wrote a wonderful autobiography. The only thing I take exception to is his opinion that David Lee Roth can't sing. Hello! Yes, he can Sammy, but he's a narcissistic jerk and you're not. :-)

Excellent book. It definitely shows the "decadent and dirty" side of the Rock n' Roll lifestyle, but unlike so many other bands/artists of the same genre/era, Hagar actually had a good head on his shoulders, and was also a success at "life". A great read, and after finishing it you feel like you're buddies with him.

The book was inspiring about how Sammy came from nothing and worked his ass off to become a rock star. His comments about Montrose and Van Halen were bumers! I saw every Van Hagar tour except the last reunion tour and I had a great time. I can't believe how negative hs comments were about the Van Halen brothers.

I also saw Sammy on the Three Lock Box and VOA tour and he said nothing about his bad ass guitarist Gary Phil. I caught Chicken Foot's first tour in Corpus Christi and had a blast. Keep on rockin Sammy! Great tequila.

The brothers Van Halen lose their sheen in this book . It may have been sour grapes but Sammy tells it like it is. It may have been easy to kick Ed when he was down but lets face it Ed had decades to work on his demons, And it is not like he was alone he had plenty of people surrounding him enabling his self destructive behavior. The good thing is all seems well in the Van camp now and most of the material here is history . It is evident though that Sam and Mike's involvement in VH is over .

Sammy Hagar was a DRIVING force for my brother and I growing up in the 80s...from Standing Hampton to Three Lock Box to his stint leading Van Hagar (uh...I mean, Van Halen)...Sammy Hagar is the freaking man.

His memoir walks us through the early years of his struggle...on welfare and holding doors open for other people...to his rise as a solo artist...to his days with the Van Halen bros...the book sometimes feels...how do you say..."light on the editing" since it is sometimes hard to determine who's saying what...it's not the best WRITTEN book, but I love the glipse into the life of one of my all-time musical heros! Rock on Red Rocker!!!

(Tom Harvey, author of "The Eighties: A Bitchen Time To Be a Teenager!")

I really liked the history about Sammy especially with Montrose and the behind the scenes Van Halen stories were very interesting, but it seems like Sammy has something negative to say about everyone and anyone that he "used" to work with. David Lee Roth gets roasted as does Eddie Van Halen. I liked the book and am glad I read it, but it wasn't the best rock bio I've read by far. For Hagar and Van Halen fans it is worth reading.

Lots of behind the scenes, behind the music. Book seems to be out of order, jumping all over the place. Off the cuff, not really following an outline. Yes, the chapters go in order, but not always, and within the chapters, stories repeat themselves, contradict themselves, or flat out don't make sense. Almost as if Sammy is talking to you instead of writing to you.....then again, some may find this a positive. You do get the Sammy vibe, but if I am comparing this to other rock and roll books, does not quite measure up. hard for me to say than, as I love everything Sammy is and stands for.

lost my hard cover at the Dr. office, so purchased the paperback version, Sammy has gone back and added chapters to this version on "what happens after you write a best selling book.

A great read ro any Rock Fan!