In Marin / CURRENTS
10 QUESTIONS FOR
Musician,
Entrepreneur
MILL VALLE Y
1What excites you about your new CD? It’s so cool to have played again with the Wabos and
to have so many great, eclectic and local musicians
play on every song — from Taj Mahal, Joe Satriani,
Kid Rock and Neal Schon to Toby Keith, Nancy
Wilson, Mickey Hart, Chad Smith, Michael Anthony
and Ronnie Dunn, and even my son Aaron sings on
it. This CD is a like a trip through four decades of
rock from Montrose;to the present.
2How did El Paseo House of Chops come about? I ran into Tyler Florence when he first moved
to Mill Valley. Our families started having dinners
together and one night while dining at El Paseo
together we found out the owner was willing to sell,
so I bought it. Tyler and I wanted to create the ultimate dining experience in our own hometown.
3El Paseo was recently recognized by Marin Magazine for its excellent carnivore-pleasing
dishes. Which is your favorite? I love the veal chop
with creamed spinach.
4Skill from your childhood?;I learned to cook standing on a stool at the stove next to my
grandfather (who was a chef) and my mother, who
was an excellent Italian cook. I cook at home all the
time; I love it.
5Favorite lunch in Marin? Oysters at Nick’s Cove with my wife Kari, driving one of my fast
cars on that scenic twisty, winding road.
6You’ve traveled the world, have homes in beautiful places. What keeps you
tied to Marin? Great people, great music,
great schools, great outdoors and great
restaurants.
7Perfect day? Sea, sun, salt and sex.
8Who/what gave you confi- dence to become Sammy
Hagar? My father always told
me I was great and that I was a
champion and that I could do
anything, from an early age.
9Do you ever get nervous onstage? Every time —
because I care so much — and
a shot of rum or tequila helps.
10What’s next? Launching a Sammy’s
Beach Bar rum line that’s made
from macadamia nuts, called
Sammy’s Redhead Rum in honor
of the fans, the Redheads. And of
course promoting and touring for
the new CD. M
Let’s face it: How often does a Rolling Stone article about you start off with “Like
always, (your name here) wants to rock out”? Unless you’re Sammy Hagar, that
would be never. Hagar, a longtime Marin resident, has just debuted his latest album
(25th total, if you’re counting), produced by John Cuniberti and
aptly named Sammy Hagar and Friends. And if you follow the Red
Rocker’s whereabouts, you know that music is just part of his story,
much of which was showcased in his autobiography (which hit No.
1 on the New York Times best-seller list) Red: My Uncensored Life In Rock. Besides his
music, Hagar has also struck gold with his Cabo Wabo–brand tequilas and cantinas as
well as his Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum, eight Sammy’s Beach Bar and Grill restaurants
and a Sammy’s Rockin’ Island Bar & Grill. But most important to us here in Marin are
Hagar’s involvement in downtown Mill Valley’s award-wining El Paseo House of Chops
and his frequent onstage appearances in local clubs like the Sweetwater. MIMI TO WLE
Sammy Hagar
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