Jason Bonham has opened up about his ouster from Sammy Hagar‘s “Best of All Worlds” band in a new interview.
As previously reported, Bonham was recently permanently replaced in Hagar’s live band by Kenny Aronoff. The lineup change came after Aronoff filled in for Bonham on the last four dates of Hagar’s summer tour, when the son of late Led Zeppelin legend John Bonham had to drop off to be with his ailing mother.
Bonham initially broke the news of his permanent replacement to fans on social media who had inquired whether he would be rejoining Hagar for future dates. Now the drummer has shared more details about the split — which came as a surprise to Bonham, who had toured and recorded three studio albums with the Red Rocker since 2015.
“Sammy rang me awhile ago,” Bonham told Ultimate Classic Rock. “He was asking about my mom, but then he said, ‘Y’know, I’m not gonna do much next year,’ blah, blah blah, ‘and I’m gonna go with Kenny.’ I was a little shocked, I must say. I’d be lying to you if I wasn’t a little sad, because we were on fire at the end of the tour. And I got a little upset. That was strange, after 10 years of being with him.”
Despite his bemusement as being dismissed, Bonham said he still loves Hagar “to bits” and doesn’t wish him any ill.
“I still speak to him,” Bonham said. “Honestly, the guy has taught me so much — about business, being positive. I’m an English guy; I can be really negative half the time. Even if the sun is shining, ‘but it could rain.’ He really helped me in that aspect big-time, and business sense and never taking no for an answer, always believing in yourself.”
Bonham added that his mother is thankfully on the mend and “absolutely doing amazing,” as the drummer is now in the midst of another tour, a fall US leg, with his “Led Zeppelin Evening” tribute band (pick up tickets here).
As it turned out, Hagar just announced a “Best of All Worlds” Las Vegas residency with his all-star backing band featuring Aronoff, guitarist Joe Satriani, and bassist Michael Anthony. The Vegas run kicks off April 30th, with tickets available here.