Encore, Thank You, Goodnight.
Listen to Encore, Thank You, Goodnight. on Spotify. Song · Sammy Hagar · 2025
Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Sammy Hagar released his deeply personal single, Encore, Thank You, Goodnight, via Big Machine Rock. This melodic rock anthem, co-written with guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani, serves as a poignant tribute to Hagar’s late Van Halen bandmate, Eddie Van Halen, and marks a significant moment in Hagar’s storied career. Inspired by a vivid dream Hagar had about Eddie in 2020, the track is a love letter to their shared history, the fans, and the music that defined an era. With a powerhouse lineup featuring Michael Anthony on bass, Kenny Aronoff on drums, and Satriani’s searing guitar work, the song blends nostalgia with a forward-looking energy that resonates with longtime fans and newcomers alike.
The genesis of Encore, Thank You, Goodnight lies in a dream Hagar experienced roughly a year after Eddie Van Halen’s passing in 2020. Speaking to Rolling Stone, Hagar recounted a vivid encounter where Eddie, guitar slung around his neck, played a riff while the two shared a moment of camaraderie. “It was a love fest,” Hagar said. “I started singing, and when I woke up, the music was still in my head.” Seizing the moment, he grabbed a pencil and his iPhone to capture the melody and lyrics, describing the experience as “one hundred percent a communication from the beyond.” The resulting song, with lyrics like “Thank you for the music/Thank you for the songs/Thank you for the visit, what took so long?” expresses gratitude for the years Hagar and Van Halen spent together in Van Halen from 1985 to 1996, a period that produced iconic hits like “Why Can’t This Be Love” and “Right Now.”
To bring this dream-inspired vision to life, Hagar enlisted Joe Satriani, a guitarist whose technical prowess and reverence for Eddie Van Halen’s legacy made him the perfect collaborator. Satriani, who had spent the past year performing Van Halen songs with Hagar on the Best of All Worlds tour, meticulously studied Eddie’s techniques, even building a custom amp to emulate his favorite era of Van Halen’s tone. The result is a track filled with tapping licks, stadium-sized chords, and a soulful solo that channels Eddie’s spirit while remaining distinctly Satriani’s own. Hagar praised Satriani’s contribution, noting, “Joe brought in that big, emotional, guitar-driven energy that feels like Eddie’s spirit but is entirely of Joe’s creation.”
Joining them are Michael Anthony, Van Halen’s longtime bassist, whose thundering basslines and signature background vocals add a familiar warmth, and Kenny Aronoff, a seasoned session drummer whose powerful rhythms drive the track forward. The production, handled by Hagar, Satriani, and Eric Caudieux, strikes a balance between Van Halen’s classic sound and a fresh, modern edge. The song’s release was accompanied by a lyric video on YouTube, with the full music video, directed by ZZ Satriani, premiering during Hagar’s headline performance at the Stagecoach festival on April 27, 2025.
The song’s significance extended beyond the studio. On April 30, 2025, Hagar and the Best of All Worlds band performed Encore, Thank You, Goodnight live for the first time at the kickoff of their Las Vegas residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM. A live version, recorded during this residency, was released on August 1, 2025, and quickly gained traction, earning spots on Spotify’s All New Rock and Apple Music’s Breaking Hard Rock playlists. Hagar urged fans to “crank this up LOUD,” emphasizing the track’s electrifying energy in its live form.
The release week was a monumental one for Hagar, with a robust digital campaign featuring behind-the-scenes footage, social media reels, and fan-generated content. A seven-inch collector’s edition vinyl and exclusive merchandise bundles were also made available for pre-order, further cementing the song’s status as a special moment in Hagar’s career.
Hagar himself described Encore, Thank You, Goodnight as his “final bow to that part of my life,” a way to express gratitude to Eddie Van Halen, the fans, and the music that shaped his career. With a career spanning over four decades—from his early days with Montrose to his multi-platinum solo work, Van Halen, Chickenfoot, and The Circle—Hagar has solidified his place as one of rock’s most enduring figures. Beyond music, his ventures into the spirits industry with Cabo Wabo Tequila and Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum, along with his philanthropy through The Hagar Family Foundation, showcase his multifaceted legacy.
Encore, Thank You, Goodnight is more than a song—it’s a cathartic farewell to a chapter of rock history, delivered with love, respect, and, as Hagar promised, “one hell of a guitar solo.” Available now on all major streaming platforms, the track invites listeners to reflect on the music that brought them together and celebrate the enduring spirit of Eddie Van Halen.
Encore, Thank You, Goodnight. – Live
Listen to Encore, Thank You, Goodnight. – Live on Spotify. Song · Sammy Hagar · 2025
