A deeply personal new single from Sammy Hagar, “Encore, Thank You, Goodnight,” has arrived via Big Machine Rock. Co-written with Joe Satriani, this melodic rock anthem weaves reflective lyrics with soaring chords and compelling musicianship, all stemming from a dream. You can find the track now on all major platforms globally, along with its official lyric video on YouTube.
Inspired by a vivid dream Hagar had about the late Eddie Van Halen, the song marks a full-circle moment in his storied career. “Encore, Thank You, Goodnight.” features Hagar on vocals, Michael Anthony on bass, Joe Satriani on guitar and Kenny Aronoff on drums. The production — handled by Hagar, Satriani and Eric Caudieux — delivers a sound that is at once nostalgic and forward-looking. According to Hagar, the dream that sparked the song came about a year after Eddie‘s passing and left a lasting impact. Rather than being a somber farewell, the song is a celebration and expression of appreciation — for the fans, and for the unforgettable chapter they shared in Van Halen.
“I had a dream and Eddie came to the dream and showed me a song. I start singing in the dream. I woke up and I said ‘I gotta remember what I was singing.’ And I remembered it and I showed Joe and he finished it. It’s called ‘Encore, Thank You, Goodnight’.”
Offering more insight, Hagar told Ultimate Classic Rock: “About two months ago, I had this dream and Eddie came. He’s going, ‘Man, let’s write some music!’ I said, ‘Yeah, f**k it, man. Here, let’s go!’
“[Eddie] did this harmonic thing and he slid it up to a chord, like a slide guitar. We wrote a song with that lick. I remembered it. I got up in the morning and I wrote the song. I used the lick that he showed me in the song.”
“This song is my final bow to that part of my life,” Hagar previously commented. “It’s not meant to be anything more than a ‘thank you’ — with love, with respect, and with one hell of a guitar solo.” Hagar also shared that Satriani‘s contribution to the track brought a unique emotional energy. “Joe was the perfect partner to help me shape the sound — he brought in that big, emotional, guitar-driven energy that feels like Eddie‘s spirit but is entirely of Joe‘s creation. With Michael Anthony‘s thundering bass and stellar VAN HALEN-esque background vocals and Kenny Aronoff‘s relentlessly powerful driving rhythms, the song really came together on all levels.”
The official “Encore, Thank You, Goodnight” music video, helmed by ZZ Satriani, premieres live on April 27th during Hagar‘s Stagecoach festival headlining performance (Palomino Stage) and globally on YouTube. Following that, the new song will be performed live for the first time on April 30th at the opening night of their Las Vegas residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM.
Writer and extreme metal devotee, Ialdagorth has spent over a decade covering the darkest corners of heavy music. A black metal lifer, he spends his free time wandering the Carpathian Mountains, likely humming blast beats to the trees.
