Jason Bonham SHOCKED by Sammy Hagar letting him go

[@bigpoppa5732]

Jason dropped out due to Family illness.... I admire anyone who takes the time to care for someone else 👋👍👋🖖✌️

[@andrewrivera4029]

You would too if mom was heir to the fortune…😅😅😅

[@ericjencson9489]

He got fired after that

[@VFCtoallJP]

I agree, Sammy's not that loyal! Makes you think if Alex may have a point about him.

[@jrshield7793]

It probably ain't what you think ( the fortune, or little Bonzo leaving )​@andrewrivera4029

[@acelarson1872]

Most important thing is his mom is doing much better!

[@peteywheatstraws4909]

Arnoff was John Cougar's drummer back in the 80's and 90's.

[@jimbattista1120]

Who and who?

You don't say! I don't think there's a single person here who doesn't know that. Did you also know Trump won the election?

[@danielleal1037]

I met Sammy Hagar 21 years ago and had the chance to chat for a few minutes. He was 100% down to earth, humble and as friendly as one could possibly get.

[@akfreed6949]

Yeah ? You didn't work with or for him . BIG DIFFERENCE .

[@poeslanding]

Jason dropped out due to family issues as well as doing his own thing after that. Sammy did not let him go! Do your homework dude.

[@ZumaDogg]

WRONG! Sammy DID let him go. Because Hagar is doing a Vegas residency run, next year, and he's using Aronoff, not Bonham. And, Bonham has already said, publicly, that he was taken by surprise and is disappointed. So YOU are WRONG! DO YOUR HOMEWORK DUDE.

[@ISOLATIONHUB]

LOL..Bonham himself literally said that Sammy let him go. wtf are you even babbling about?

[@TheOceanMan-xc7qp]

yah he did...and he told him over the phone too...atleast be a man and tell him in person....after 10 loyal years that is the least Hagar could do

[@detroitdiezel7856]

​@@TheOceanMan-xc7qpWell, did you ever think that Jason was probably in Great Britain and Sam was in North America? Not exactly easy to tell him face to face if you're in different continents, bub.

[@TheOceanMan-xc7qp]

@@poeslanding he fired him flat out

[@KeithStLouis-kd5nz]

Did Jason hijack those two truckloads of tequila?😂

[@siauciunaite]

lol

[@sicotshit7068]

Jason will be fine, after all he is the son of the greatest drummer ever, & he learned from his dad The Drum GOD!

[@WineSippingCowboy]

Kenny Arronoff started with John Mellencamp. When his management fired him, other musicians hired Arronoff. Corey Hart, Brian Setzer and The Smashing Pumpkins 🎃 are some of the musicians.

[@flyingburritobro68]

Jason is on the road with his own band right now anyway. He will also be doing shows with the other band he is in - Black Country Communion with Glenn Hughes and Joe Bonamassa in 2025.

[@aschule5684]

Black Country Communion is a fantastic band too! Great chemistry between them, all great musicians that write and play great music together.

[@scottsbaitsandtackle]

He left on his own. Sammy didn't fire him.

[@massapower]

It's called BUSINESS Dude !!😊

[@walterevans2118]

Jason has been through stuff. Have to cut him some slack. Things seem ok between Jason & Sammy Hagar. (Paul)

[@JoeBlanton-wq3sm]

Arnoff is a great choice, he has a ton of studio experience with plenty of styles.

[@ralphashford9022]

I'm surpirsed you could only mention CCR and a Hired Gun movie. He deserves more than a passing remark. His list includes: John Mellencamp, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Chris Cornell, Tom Petty, Sting, The Smashing Pumpkins, Billy Gibbons, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Bob Seger, Steven Tyler, Bob Dylan, John Fogerty, Jon Bon Jovi, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, B.B. King, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Beyonce, Santana, Crosby Stills and Nash, Celine Dion, Lenny Kravitz, and many others.

[@victorneckar7743]

Seeing Jason tonight at mgm casino 😎🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@planetcorey]

Side note: Kenny also composed the iconic breakdown percussion on John Mellencamp’s Jack And Diane.

[@andrewSUN17]

With the help of Mick Ronson actually.

[@PNW_Sportbike_Life]

Big deal lol

[@joseruiz9781]

What a stupid post, he has his Zeppelin Tribute band with gigs already lined up, Sammy wants to do a Vegas residency. What is supposed to happen? Jason cancel his Zeppelin thing or Sammy move the residency dates? No, they do their thing and get back together later.... He is replaced on the Best of Both Worlds, not let go from everything....

[@idiotburns]

Thanks for stepping in Kenny and best to yours Jason.

[@hsad1234]

Sammy should have offered Jason the spot back in the band imo

[@deybydey99]

Agreed however Jason has JBLZE going strong. If you have never seen JBLZE, go see a show.

[@TheOceanMan-xc7qp]

the timing was horrible and petty

[@detroitdiezel7856]

​@@TheOceanMan-xc7qpHow do you know? Were you on the inside? Or is this just your dumb opinion?

[@Jackdesj]

Isn't it always about the money? Kenny was probably cheaper. End of story.

[@termsofusepolice]

The weird thing is I would guess the opposite. Kenny's drumming resume blows Jason's out of the water. Unless Hagar was just paying Bonham for his iconic last name I would bet Kenny's contract has him making more per show than what Jason got paid.

[@a5dr3]

@@Jackdesj Bonham is not close to the level of the thousands of pro hired guns today looking for a gig. There are absolutely phenomenal drummers everywhere. Because of the internet, way more than ever.

[@SteveBurk]

Best of both worlds? WRONG! No Running with the Devil, Atomic Punk, On Fire, Light Up the Sky, Bottoms up, Fools etc...

[@DavidHoover-e5r]

Cuz Sammy can't pull off the Dave era's songs. So obvious to any rocker. Sammy's just straight out. Sucks

[@j.reveille6815]

@@DavidHoover-e5r nah Sammy is just Sammy dude has rocked for 50-60 yrs cut him some slack.

[@blsdmfs1]

@@DavidHoover-e5r LOL. Dave can't pull off Dave era's songs. Sammy is playing songs he wrote. Makes sense.

[@detroitdiezel7856]

It's called "The best of ALL worlds" idjit. That means Sammy's worlds: Montrose, Solo Career, Van Halen, Wabos, Chickenfoot and The Circle. Do some research before you open your dumb yap! I've seen the show and it's phenomenal. Obviously, you haven't.

[@ROBERTTIMCO]

Sammy did a great video explaining the entire story, Jason had no idea when he would return

[@WATCHEROFTHETIME]

Kenny is a very disciplined machine where Jason has more off the cuff feel. At least in my opinion. I don't like what I'm hearing about letting Jason go under the circumstances. Was he going to let Jason go even if he hadn't left for a family emergency. If not it's BS. I think Kenny is great and a machine But for this music, I found Jason's approach to VH quite good.

[@danielabilez3619]

Some people like to stir the pot of discontent. I CALL BULL S!

[@shawnbruce6934]

Sad situation in that moment but Kenny Is an Amazing Always Go To Guy. I have no problem with it. There is something else going on.

[@realloganshow]

Kenny is certainly phenomenal!

[@walterevans2118]

@@realloganshow BRILLIANT sight reader. ...Great player too. If you need a musician to pick things up quick KENNY is the guy. (Paul)

[@geneboris33]

Kenny definitely is ..BUT...Jason Bonham has the groove! LIKE HIS DAD DID. TBBW Sounded wayyyyyy better with Jason behind the drums. ​@@realloganshow

[@thelolguy007]

Didn’t Jason drop out for Family Issues? And he’s got some shows with BCC

[@eddiejr540]

“Please don’t do coke in the bathroom”… now ya tell me🤣

[@bozeeke]

This has really been a Chickenfoot/Wabos/Circle tour. He's just cashing in on the VH name to promote the tour. If guitarists who were bigger VH fanatics (Nuno Bettencourt, Steve Vai, Jon 5, Steve Lukather etc.) were involved instead of Satriani who was not as big an Eddie fan, or if Wolfgang Van Halen himself had some involvement, then we could say it's a true VH tribute.

[@timg185]

It’s more of a best of Sammy tour with a nod to Eddie. Would have been more of a VH tribute if Alex wanted to be involved . Its fine as far as I’m concerned. These guys are getting older , Eddies gone and I’m getting older. Everyone just do what you need to do to be happy. If someone isn’t into it then don’t go.

[@williamronald3857]

That is too bad what happened to Jason! He is great! I am shocked!

[@lilian896]

It's not nice to Jason for not getting a reason!! Hurtful for sure. I definitely would not go to any Sammy Hagar shows.

[@peevee605]

It’s no drama. If a family problem occurs on a level that you need to get off the tour and you get replaced, that’s normal. Not anything weird about it.

[@ISOLATIONHUB]

Availabilty is what it boils down to probably. Sammy aint getting any younger and he's got shit to do. At least he didnt have his manager fire him and was a man about it and did it himself. If Bonham wasnt in england I'm sure Sammy would have done it in person. As good as Kenny Aronoff is though. Bonham is a better fit for that band. So it's a shame...

[@J.T845]

Jason mentioned in an interview a few weeks ago that at one time joe satriani was not happy about jason playing with them in chicken foot so that’s why he didnt play with them in that band, so maybe that had something to do with this? Just speculating

[@robertbishop5357]

It seems from the comments that everyone has an opinion on what happened. Only Jason, Sammy and Kenny know the business. The music business is kind of a cut throat, wildest business. One day your in the next your out.

[@cranjismcbasketball946]

"You cant quit, you're fired".

[@Ticonderous1]

Screw Sammy ... Guy just went down a few spots in my book ... Thought he would be better than that , especially when he always talks about VH and loyalty blah blah blah...

[@TheDoug625]

Sammy didn't kick him out.

[@zenos.5315]

This is totally shocking !!

[@RockbertoRocks]

Jason Bonham is way too good of a drummer to be wasting his talents with Haggar

[@GAMECLOSET]

Okay, hot take here: Jason is a great drummer and fantastic guy, but honestly there’s one thing in honoring his dad and there’s another in always riding his dad’s ghost’s coattails. Be Your own guy and stop sucking of the tailpipe of Zeppelin (unless they are doing a final gig and he’s stepping in for dad like he has previously). I've seen Jason play with The Circle and it was great, I just get tired of him rolling on John’s legacy (from the 1970s) instead of creating his own. What’s your legacy, Jason? “90% John Bonham/Zeppelin and 5% my stuff., and 5% me playing other people’s stuff. By the way, my dad was a famous drummer from Led Zeppelin.”

[@Lionsdenpm1qg]

Jason tried that in the 80s, it didn’t work out.

[@iplaypearldrums7935]

I could have seen JB in "" Bonham"" in 1989 in St Pete,,,,,,I wish I did .

[@streamofconsciousness5826]

@@Lionsdenpm1qg calling your band Bonham is not going out on your own. Jason has spent his life chasing his fathers ghost, even so far as to get a Japanese Jimmy Page. It's sad, and ironically, Wolfie seems to be headed down the same path. As for this article, it seem to be a new trend to take three words and turn it into a story, I'm not even paying attention to this drama and I know Jason left the band for family reasons. They are not shutting down the tour because Jason needs time, that is dozens of people's livelihood.

[@Lionsdenpm1qg]

@ We are not in his shoes

[@GAMECLOSET]

@@Lionsdenpm1qg Good point.

[@detroitdiezel7856]

Let's get something straight. This is Sammy's band. He has gone through different musicians in his band since leaving Montrose. Besides, he already had Kenny replace Chad Smith in Chickenfoot because Chad had an obligation to RHCP at the time. And it isn't like Jason doesn't have a gig. He has another tour with his own JBLZE band (who are phenomenal BTW) coming up. Plus, it gives him some free time to spend with his ailing mom. If anyone should be ticked off here, it should be Vic Johnson, Mona Gnader, and David Lauser. They haven't been is Sammy's band in years. Vic just one year though.

[@huntergatherer4223]

As soon as Kenny replaced him the band sounded better. Sorry, Kenny is just that much better.

[@meila22]

More freaking clickbait. He wasn’t shocked was his decisions. Goodness

[@jamnjayjams577]

Just a good business decision. Insurance companies need to know who they are insuring before you can book A tour. Sammy had to keep the machine moving. Jason’s a pro and im am sure he understands.

[@savage75_]

Sammy : I know your mom is sick, but you're fired. 🤷😈

[@drummingfool1649]

Kenny Arnoff was John mellencamps drummer. He is amazing!!!!

[@TimAnthonymkmusicnw]

When Sammy and the guys started the tour , I thought they would do some Zeppelin too. Just like they did a Satriani tune. I think Sammy should go join Bonhams band and sing some Zeppelin.

[@Humblemumble7]

Oh no bud. You frame yourself way too closely to the camera. You arent streaming video games as your setup aesthetically suggests. You need to do whatever you can to move that camera back from you at least 3ft minimum. It jarring as it is. I know you're a dude probably like me who doesnt care or believe those things matter, but they will. I assure you. What have you got to lose from trying? If youre creative enough, there's thousands of ways you can enhance quality, in its most esoteric sense, that will translate to more attention and overall viewership. No disrespect intended. Just offering free help

[@AVSSharky]

Side note…Sammy has always had a revolving band and everyone who plays with him knows that, Jason knows what’s priority in his life at that time. Don’t make something out of nothing. 🫤

[@kman0146]

Kind of ironic since Sammy was let go from Van Halen for choosing family over the band.

[@iplaypearldrums7935]

sounds like a circle ,,,,,,,,,goes around comes around......

[@johnperiard9594]

Sometimes the magic's there and sometimes its not

[@robvale1]

Did shows with both Jason and Sammy (very different size venues of course), but I’ll take Jason anytime, super nice……even though security had to break down his door and literally drag him to the stage door, said hes yours now, I said, His Jason, big fan of your dads….he says thank you, where’s the beer, and walks out on-stage (we still hadn’t rounded up his entire band yet), says hi, raises a toast of Jack Daniels to the crowd. 90 minutes late (so we crammed the audience in from the 2nd show)….then he started a 25 minutes late drum solo until we found his singer and he started the regular show for about 10 minutes until the bass player heard it going, and came running backstage to grab his bass and hop on stage. Crowd didnt seem to mind…..the casino LOVED Jason, as hed lose his pay at the tables and I’d have to pay his guys by drawing it out of the casino cage (paid back by deducting it from his pay for his next gig…whcih, he promptly lost at the tables,,……repeat like 6 times in a row)…….then he disappeared from performing for awhile. This was 98-2000ish. He was playing the same Ludwig set as his dad, minus the Tymps, and not the Plexiglass ones (damn, I love those). Overall, great guy…..just had to have a tech assigned to make sure he got backstage on-time, condition? Who knows….but, first and o ly time we crammed 2 audiences into 1 show- fire marshal was pissed….but the casino chain was a shithouse cheap operation….thats another story.

[@chuckbrowning1612]

That’s Sammy Hagar for you,it’s all about him and his time in Van Halen,Jason just take care of you’re mom screw sammy and his merry band of puppets!!!

[@anthoneyschwoch9104]

I have to point out, nobody named Van Halen is doing a tribute to edward. Only Sammy and mikey. And everybody I have heard speak, a couple personally, that have worked with Sammy Hagar say that he is a dream boss. There's more to this than meets the eye.

[@chuckbrowning1612]

@ I have to point out sammy is tributing himself in Van Halen not Eddie,mike Anthony is Sammy’s puppet a tribute to someone is one large show not a frickin tour!!!

[@alexhicks5889]

Tribute? You mean parasitic cash grab.

[@sunnibird]

@@anthoneyschwoch9104 It's not a EVH tribute tour. It's a Hagar solo tour.

[@mr.timebombman2230]

Wrong

[@binkwood]

I suspect there was more to this, Sammy has a history of being loyal to his musicians. He paid his solo band members when he started The Circle. Both Jason and Kenny are awesome drummers but I will miss Jason if The Best Of Both World comes here to Detroit again. By-the-way Jason did a spectacular job playing Alex Van Halen's parts... much better than Satriani did on Eddie's parts.

[@dwayneroberts6616]

I use to play in a band out of Boston and one of the other bands we opened for had the original guitarist for God smack. He literally helped right a couple of the songs that became hits. He had to drop out of the band because his girlfriend had got pregnant and was about to have a baby right before they signed. Eventually Sully came back and signed the guy to his own recording label. I always thought of the guy as a stand up dude for staying with his girl during such an important moment instead of chasing the dream.

[@bobmartino8073]

Arnoff probably offered to play for less money. We all know Sam would sell his mom for the right price.

[@charlesdjones1]

First of all, no one listens to Hagar era VH. You NEVER hear it on the radio, or anywhere out in public. But I hear DLR era VH all the time. Everyone knows Sammy has been trying to sell snake oil ever since he got fired, but no one is buying it and no one cares. He tried to make the BOAW tour such a big deal but the crowds were a joke. With that being said, Jason did the band wrong by just up and leaving, stay in touch, do what you can to support your mom from afar but trust that the doctors are doing what they can and finish up those last four tour dates THEN go home. Sammy was right on this one.

[@royharper2003]

they play VH with hagar all the time on the radio where I live

[@charlesdjones1]

@royharper2003 hats off to Roy Harper 👍🏻.

[@mick6986]

I think Sammy was just mad that someone stole his booze.

[@crankmosh]

I think Kenny was better suited for the show

[@fab.silva1119]

There’s a reason why EVH couldn’t stand him at the end. This is an indication

[@gl3605]

Does it really even matter? Who is buying these albums? They all need to call it a career. But it's not hard to see why Hagar would do this. He doesn't want KA to be unavailable if JB has to leave again for his mother. Which is probably very likely given her age.

[@1rwjwith]

In the end any sideman musician has to expect to be replaced at some point. After all Sammy Hagar has that whole other CABO WABO band where VIC JOHNSON was his longtime guitarist, maybe for 20 years or more and he is not involved in the Las Vegas residency as far as I know. Jason Bonham is a fantastic drummer maybe Hagar just thought Kenny Aaronoff was just better suited for the Van Halen centric project..who knows.

[@brentjeralds777]

Sammy ,& guy. stole their own booze....

[@grantmorrey5138]

In the live music venue if you step aside you say goodbye

[@AutomaticProductions]

he's going to Primus!

[@benbusy7295]

Jason's mom is in bad health

[@MiguelPaulettePerez-bj8ml]

Pat Finnerty video incoming.

[@evangaryhirsch]

Why is that so "strange" and "abrupt"? Sammy obviously has his reasons, as you said. Kenny got the job done, and Sammy was satisfied enough to keep him on. Bonham bailed on the tour and didn't get invited back. As valid as his reason for departure was, it still left them high and dry in the middle of a tour. Hmmmm, wonder what could have led Sammy to go with Kenny... The only real question is why Bonham would be surprised. Oh, yeah, he thinks negatively like a Brit, as you also said. There ya go. Now it all makes sense... 🤩

[@rdgilby]

Spot on analysis.

[@technicalitems731]

Is this even a problem? Just worked out this way?

[@rosecitywriter]

I feel like this vindicates the Van Halen brothers. But that's my opinion.

[@SteveBurk]

Sammy and Mike are just ripping off Eddie's name to draw people in. Eddie hated these two.

[@scottnorris8071]

How do you know? lol

[@iplaypearldrums7935]

Mike's getting $$$ back after being cut off from royalties after 1984...

[@j.reveille6815]

@@iplaypearldrums7935 yep good for him

[@jcmusic5150]

They were 50% of Van Halen at one point and wrote a ton of songs with them. I think they have every right to use this legacy to draw a crowd.

[@SteveBurk]

@@jcmusic5150 Mike never wrote a note or lyric and Sammy totally made the great band lame

[@grindhousecartoons6896]

THEY SHOULD RE NAME IT, " CHICKEN FOOT COVERS VAN HALEN!"

[@america1st721]

joe satriani on drums also?

[@dgcdgc856]

This whole tour is sad. Can’t Sammy and the guys find something else to do?

[@shotgunsnare]

Sammy might be a nice guy ive never met him , but that was a total bs move letting jason go ...he knew it too telling jason he wasnt doing much next year then booking vegas , chicken s..t move ~

[@WilliamHomer-o3i]

And I agree with above comments who gives a crap anymore they’re not really a band anybody wants to hear anymore

[@CristyDeLeon-gr3ro]

That's Sammy he used john Bonham big name I really don't like him I stopped liking him when he spoke bad about Eddie. Eddie was sick on drugs n out of his mind n Sammy was just looking out for himself i really didn't like sammy with VH or chicken foot Sammy there gas to be a reason why alrx doesn't like him God bless us all 💕🙏

[@akfreed6949]

Shows you how much respect Hagar has for other : none . He quit Van Halen because he couldn't be the leader . The proof is in a Howard Stern Show compilation of Van Halen video clips . In one clip , im guessing is around the Carnal tour , Hagar says " This is MY band " . And the clip right after Hagar says " Lead singer of the band , leader of the band what's the difference ? " . Hagar is a 2faced narcissist lying ahole .

[@kevingartland723]

It's the music BUSINESS and Kenny Aronoff is a better drummer anyway

[@ronengle9524]

Sammy lost a few points for this one.

[@Taylor-kd6lr]

I think it boils down to a difference in style. I didn't think Jason was a good choice for the BOBW Tour myself. There were better choices for what Sammy's music needs. Kenny can adapt to any musical situation IMO.

[@truescotsman4103]

This has turned into some narcissistic fantasy for Sammy. I'm in favor of Alex and Wolfie shutting this down at this point. Turning it into a Vegas residency is absurd. It's all business and no more rock n roll. F*ck Sammy and f*ck Van Halen.

[@detroitdiezel7856]

Triggered much, Karen?

[@anthonylove821]

Click bait 😂😂😂😂😂. This guys desperate for money for putting out fake news. Trump2024. ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@UnklePecos]

What the fuck does Trump have to do with this post? The answer is nothing. Keep your politics to yourself.

[@anthonylove821]

⁠lmfao 😂😂😂😂. Is your name uncle pedos? Lmfao. At least It shows it doesn’t take much to trigger you lol😂😂😂. Learn how to spell uncle also before you make demands to a Trump supporter. I appreciate you speaking your free speech which Trump will guarantee you and your 2nd amendment rights. Under commie kamala u would have been censored and wouldn’t have been able to say what you said…. So you can thank me if you decide to write me back and tell me how much you are glad you were part of the red wave that took over most of America. God Bless you. Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to you. Trump2024❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@hardinFrisco]

It’s Musicians stuff happens all the time , one of the biggest cut throat business in the world even in the minors,the bar room scene, you show up for practices and you hear is in the corner with ,sorry dude we replace you with and so on

[@catpocalypsenow8090]

Jason Bonham is vastly overrated because of his last name.

[@jetcat132]

Really? I don’t see you doing much headlining….

[@willymaykit1482]

He is a mediocre drummer at best. Riding his fathers fame.

[@jetcat132]

You wish groomer. I don’t see you doing anything big.

[@peterarenella8265]

Sound's like no one is gonna loose any sleep..