Sammy Hagar Thanks Fill-In Drummer Kenny Aronoff for “Sav[ing] the Day” After Jason Bonham Misses Show Due to Family Issue

Sammy Hagar’s Best of All Worlds Tour was without drummer Jason Bonham for the Red Rocker’s concert Tuesday, August 27, at Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati. According to Ultimate Classic Rock, Bonham missed the show because he had to return to his home in the U.K. due to a family emergency.

Thankfully, Hagar was able to find a very capable replacement, as veteran session and touring drummer Kenny Aronoff was on hand to fill in for Bonham.

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During the show, Hagar dedicated a rendition of his 1987 solo tune “Eagles Fly” to Bonham and his family.

“Tonight, I’m gonna dedicate this to the Bonham family in England,” Sammy told the crowd, as seen in fan-shot video. “Hope everything works out OK over there, and, yeah, to our brother Jason.”

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“Eagles Fly” originally appeared on Hagar’s I Never Said Goodbye album, and featured Eddie Van Halen on guitar.

At the end of final song of the Cincinnati concert, a version of the hit 1988 Van Halen ballad “When It’s Love,” Hagar gave a special shout-out to Aronoff.

“The man who saved the day, Kenny f—ing Aronoff,” Sammy declared.

Aronoff Has Toured with Hagar Before

Aronoff’s participation in the Cincinnati show constituted a reunion of sorts of the Hagar-led supergroup Chickenfoot. Sammy’s group for The Best of All Worlds Tour features his ex-Van Halen bandmate Michael Anthony on bass and guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani. Anthony and Satriani were members of Chickenfoot as well, along with Hagar and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith.

When Chickenfoot toured in 2011 and 2012, however, Smith wasn’t able to participate in the trek because of his commitments to the Chili Peppers. To fill Smith’s drum seat, Aronoff was hired to tour with Chickenfoot during those years.

In a 2012 interview with Ultimate Classic Rock, Aronoff revealed that Smith chose him as his replacement in Chickenfoot.

“He picked me personally, he kept telling them this is the guy you should get to replace me while I’m out with the Chili Peppers,” Kenny told the website. “And it’s worked—he’s right. It was just the right combination of people.”

More About Aronoff

Aronoff has had an impressive career as a touring and session drummer. From 1980 to 1996, he played with John Mellencamp, and from 1997 until recently he was John Fogerty’s drummer. According to Aronoff’s website, other artists he’s worked with include The Rolling Stones, Sting, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Rod Stewart, Elton John, Lady Gaga, and The Smashing Pumpkins.

Hagar’s Upcoming Best of All Worlds Tour Dates

Hagar and company have three shows left on the U.S. leg of The Best of All Worlds Tour. The upcoming shows are scheduled for August 28 in Nashville; August 30 in Noblesville, Indiana; and August 31 in the St. Louis suburb of Maryland Heights, Missouri.

The trek then will head to Japan for three concerts in September. You can check out all of the dates at RedRocker.com.

Tickets for the shows are available now via various outlets, including StubHub.

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