Sammy Hagar's The Residency Live Album: 2025 Release History

Sammy Hagar To Release "The Residency" Live Album In October

Feature Photo: Geoffrey Clowes / Shutterstock.com

On October 10, 2025, the Red Rocker returned to record stores (yes, you remember record stores) with the release of Sammy Hagar & The Best of All Worlds Band – The Residency. It wasn’t a new studio album but an extended live record documenting his 2025 Las Vegas residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM, which followed the Best of All Worlds tour.

If you caught any of those shows, you just had to be blown away by how well Sammy could still sing. (You hear that, Dave?) The album featured 19 different live recordings across its physical and digital editions, with “Panama” on the physical release and “When It’s Love” on the digital release.

Just like the tour, it took an extensive dive into Hagar’s Van Halen catalog. With Michael Anthony by his side, the two of them were able to replicate that Van Halen vocal sound they showcased with their killer voices during the Van Halen years from the mid-1980s into the 1990s.

Besides showcasing Hagar and Anthony, the band also featured the sensational guitarist Joe Satriani, legendary drummer Kenny Aronoff, and multi-instrumentalist Rai Thistlethwayte.

Hagar’s solo career, which began in earnest after his departure from Montrose in the mid-1970s, produced numerous rock radio staples that remained fixtures of his live performances. Songs like “I Can’t Drive 55” and “There’s Only One Way to Rock” established him as a formidable solo artist long before his Van Halen tenure.

In case you haven’t noticed, we are huge Sammy Hagar fans at the site. Ever since I first saw Sammy Hagar open for Boston back in 1976, I have collected every Hagar release the Red Rocker has ever issued. The man is a huge inspiration.

When Hagar joined Van Halen in 1985, replacing David Lee Roth, he brought a different vocal style and songwriting approach to the band that allowed Eddie Van Halen to write melodies that Roth would never have been able to sing. Of course, I also loved the Roth years, so please don’t take that as a knock on Roth.

They were two different bands, and both of them brought so much incredible joy to us as rock fans.

Hagar’s first album with the group, 5150, reached number one on the Billboard 200 and featured songs like “Why Can’t This Be Love” and “Summer Nights.” Hagar recalled writing “Summer Nights” spontaneously during their very first studio session together.

The collaboration continued through albums like OU812, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, and Balance, producing classics such as “When It’s Love,” “Poundcake,” and “Right Now.” During his eleven-year tenure with Van Halen, the band achieved four number-one albums and sold millions of records worldwide, cementing Hagar’s place in rock history.

The 2024 Best of All Worlds tour experienced some drama when original drummer Jason Bonham, son of Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham, had to depart with four shows remaining because of a family medical emergency. However, Kenny Aronoff stepped in seamlessly, with Hagar praising the drummer’s ability to master Eddie Van Halen’s complex compositions on short notice.

Hagar emphasized how Eddie Van Halen’s intricate musical arrangements challenged even the most skilled drummers. Aronoff subsequently took the drum seat for the 2025 Las Vegas residency documented on the album.

Beyond his musical achievements, Hagar built an impressive business empire including Cabo Wabo Tequila, multiple restaurant ventures, and various spirits brands, while also earning recognition as a bestselling author and philanthropist. With a career encompassing tens of millions of records sold and honors including a Grammy Award, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, and a Hollywood Walk of Fame star, the live album celebrated his enduring legacy.

It also demonstrated the timeless appeal of the music he helped create across multiple legendary rock acts. When the album was first announced, I couldn’t wait to hear it. Below is the preview that gave fans a taste of what was coming.