Sammy Hagar was among those who honored Aerosmith as recipients of the MusiCares Person of the Year honor for 2020 Friday evening as part of Grammys weekend.
Afterward Hagar shared his thoughts via his website, saying that the night felt “like a class reunion” with so many of the bands he started alongside back in the day were there: Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, REO Speedwagon, Cheap Trick… alongside newer talents like Foo Fighters and Gary Clark, Jr.
Hagar was especially impressed with how many amazing female talents rocked that night:
“Highlights for me were Gavin Degraw and all the ROCKIN’ Women (of which there were many!), especially this phenomenal artist from England named YOLA, and a new country artist Ashley McBryde, who absolutely slammed “Dude Looks Like A Lady.” And Melissa Etheridge, HER, Orianthi, LeAnn, Jesse J, Kesha, Emily King! Music is universal…Rock is NOT dead…and Women F’ing Rock.”
Sammy himself performed alongside guitarist Orianthi to do “Back in the Saddle.” You can see a video of the performance via Eddie Trunk’s Periscope channel here.
Here’s the full setlist for the night:
- Cheap Trick – “Rats in the Cellar”
- The Jonas Brothers – “Crazy”
- Emily King and Luis Fonsi – “Angel”
- Ashley McBryde – “Dude Looks Like a Lady”
- Gavin DeGraw – “What It Takes”
- Kesha – “Janie’s Got a Gun”
- Yola and Gary Clark Junior – “Crying”
- LeAnn Rimes – “Livin’ on the Edge”
- John Legend – “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”
- Jessie J – “Home Tonight”
- Melissa Etheridge and Nuno Bettencourt – “Walk This Way”
- Sammy Hagar and Orianthi – “Back in the Saddle”
- Foo Fighters – “Let the Music Do the Talking” and “Toys in the Attic”
- AEROSMITH:
- “Big Ten Inch Record”
- “Dream On” with H.E.R. singing the second verse and playing guitar
- “Sweet Emotion”
- “Train Kept A’ Rollin’,” with Alice Cooper on co-lead vocals and harmonica and Johnny Depp on guitar.
Ultimately though, Hagar reminds us that the night was all about the cause.
“Most importantly, MusiCares takes care of musicians. I firsthandedly have brought two cases to them over the years and they both were taken care of! I support this organization wholeheartedly and will continue for as long as I can. What a night… It was an honor to be there as a performer.”
Today, Sammy Hagar separately announced a tour with Whitesnake and Night Ranger set for this summer.
