Sammy Hagar may not have the will to drive at any speed less than 56 miles per hour, but he does prefer to be interviewed while in transit. It’s a good use of the Red Rocker’s car time as he prepared for the first set of dates as a Dolby Live resident performer with Sammy Hagar: The Best of All Worlds Stays in Vegas The Residency. It’s an extended headlining engagement, as well as part of his latest tour featuring his Chickenfoot bandmates.

“I’m in Orange County heading for Downtown L.A. to a rehearsal hall, where we’re shooting a video with Mike Anthony, Kenny Aronoff, Joe Satriani and myself for a new song I wrote with Joe,” said Hagar during the mid-afternoon, mid-March drive. “This song is so special that we’re gonna do it, and the world has to see it. The world has to hear it for it to make sense. It’s important. That’s all I have to say.”

It’s up to Hagar to bring it to the fans who come to Vegas for the nine-date Best of All Worlds shows. “I’ve had this song in my pocket for about a year and I got Joe to finish it with me,” said Hagar. “It’s perfect timing for me to release it, for the residency to have a new song.”

The new song will be added to a set that will run the gamut of Hagar’s career. The Red Rocker’s most recent concerts kicked off with his ’70s origins in Montrose (“Bad Motor Scooter”) and cruised through his solo years (“There’s Only One Way to Rock,” “I Can’t Drive 55”), Van Halen era (“Why Can’t This Be Love,” “Poundcake”) and a cover or two.

The band has Chickenfoot’s catalog to draw on and Hagar is game enough to sing lead on early Van Halen (“Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love”), but the new song was a direct tribute to that band’s late guitarist.

“It’s about Eddie,” said Hagar. “I had a dream. Eddie was in the dream. We were in a room with a bunch of people and he had a guitar wrapped around his neck. Eddie goes ‘Hey, c’mere c’mere c’mere! I want to show you! I want to show you this thing!’ And he starts playing this riff and I started singing, and I woke up from the (expletive) dream and I remembered everything. I jumped out of my bed and, 4 in the morning, grabbed my notepad, started writing the lyrics.”

Hagar recreated the melody from his dream and figured out the guitar riffs then showed it to Satriani. “He finished it, and (expletive) it’s magic! It has to be done. This is a gift.”

The Best of All Worlds may be the only place to experience “Encore, Thank You, Goodnight.” until the video is released. Hagar describes the song as conceptually beautiful, rocking and reminiscent of classic Van Halen.

“I dream about people all the time after they’ve passed,” said Hagar. “I’ve had so many dreams about songs.… I’ve actually had quite a few that I’ve remembered. This is a classic one.”

Raise a Toast!

To celebrate Hagar’s residency, several bars are serving cocktails in his honor, including his own Cabo Wabo Cantina at Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood. Insider tip: To access the secret happy hour menu, just give the password: “Best of All Worlds.”

Park MGM, 8 p.m. May 7, 9-10, 14 and 16-17, starting at $59 plus tax and fee. parkmgm.mgmresorts.com

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