Check Out The Master Cutz Playlist Here:

Fire up the time machine. We’re kicking off a fresh chapter by dropping into February 1984, the moment when big riffs, big hair, and even bigger ambition collided with mainstream radio and MTV. From KISS shedding the makeup and hardening their sound to Mötley Crüe riding controversy into sold-out arenas, we map the pulse points that turned a loud scene into a cultural force. And yes, Van Halen’s 1984 takes center stage—Eddie’s synth swagger, Diamond Dave at full blast, and Jump proving that hard rock can punch through to number one without losing its bite.

We don’t stop at the headlines. We sit the Red Rocker in the chair and trace Sammy Hagar’s road from Bay Area hustler to arena headliner. Montrose, Space Station #5, and the stubborn streak that kept him writing his own songs set the stage. Then come the solo wins—Standing Hampton, Three Lock Box, VOA—and the left-field pivot that changed everything: a phone call via a mutual mechanic that pulled him into Van Halen. One chaotic jam, one goosebump playback, and a decade of hit-making followed, including nine number one rock singles and a touring machine that defined an era.

What makes Hagar’s story essential today is what came after. The memoir cracks open the human side of success, but the real sequel plays out in real time: Cabo Wabo as a lifestyle, venue, and tequila brand; tours that turn amphitheaters into beach towns; and ongoing projects that prove reinvention isn’t a phase, it’s a practice. We wrap with our new Master Cuts playlist so you can feel the timeline through the tracks, plus ways to connect, share your stories, and shape what we spin next.

Crank the playlist, share this with a fellow rocker, and tap follow so you don’t miss the next deep cut. If you’ve got a 1984 memory or a favorite Hagar-era track, drop us a note and join the ride. Your stories fuel the show; your volume sets the tone.