Renowned rock icon Sammy Hagar is set to unveil an exciting new track that features a distinctive guitar lick he claims was revealed to him by Eddie Van Halen during a vivid dream. This highly anticipated single, titled “Encore, Thank You, Goodnight,” is scheduled for release on Friday, April 25. It showcases Hagar collaborating with a majority of his celebrated Best of All Worlds band, including the legendary guitarist Joe Satriani, the talented bassist and fellow Van Halen alum Michael Anthony, and the esteemed drummer Kenny Aronoff.

In an enlightening interview with UCR conducted nearly three years ago in August 2022, Hagar shared the intriguing backstory of this new song. He described the surreal experience of dreaming about Eddie Van Halen, where he vividly recalled Eddie saying, ‘Man, let’s write some music!’ Hagar enthusiastically responded, ‘Yeah, fuck it, man. Here, let’s go!’

Continuing his narrative about the dream, Hagar explained that “[Eddie] Eddie did this harmonic thing and he slid it up to a chord, like a slide guitar. We wrote a song with that lick,” he elaborated. “I remembered it clearly. Upon waking the next morning, I immediately penned the song, incorporating the remarkable lick that Eddie had shown me.”

Hagar’s impactful tenure as the lead vocalist for Van Halen spanned over a decade, during which he fronted the band for four critically acclaimed albums: 1986’s 5150, 1988’s OU812, 1991’s For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, and 1995’s Balance.

READ MORE: Discover the Sammy Hagar Song Alex Van Halen Regretted Dismissing

Following a tumultuous breakup in 1996, the band’s 2004 reunion tour ended on a discordant note. However, just prior to Eddie Van Halen’s passing in 2020, he and Hagar reconciled, leading to a heartfelt tribute tour called Best of All Worlds that Hagar launched last summer, honoring his rich legacy with Van Halen.

Fast forward two years, and it was during this reflective period that Hagar experienced the dream which would inspire his forthcoming single “Encore, Thank You, Goodnight.” In a press release, he expressed, “This song is my final bow to that part of my life. It’s not intended to be anything more than a heartfelt thank-you — delivered with love, respect, and an extraordinary guitar solo.”

He also mentioned that Joe Satriani’s contribution to the track infused it with a unique emotional resonance. “Joe was the ideal collaborator, helping me to shape the sound. He brought in that grand, emotional, guitar-driven energy that resonates with Eddie’s spirit while remaining distinctly Joe’s creation,” Hagar noted with appreciation.

In addition to the release of his new single, Hagar and his talented bandmates have a packed schedule for April. They will headline the prestigious Palamino stage at the Stagecoach festival on Sunday, April 27th, followed by the launch of their exclusive Best of All Worlds Las Vegas residency at Dolby Live, Park MGM just three days later.