Former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar paid tribute to a long-time fan responsible for a pivotal moment in his career.
“Rest in peace my friend and be sure to give Eddie [Van Halen] a big hug from me,” Hagar 77, wrote via Facebook on Monday, March 12.
Hagar penned a stirring tribute to John Pruner, the fan who he credited with giving him the nickname “The Red Rocker.” The singer explained that his long association with Pruner dated back to the late 1970s, just after he’d released his self-titled second studio album.
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Fans affectionately refer to Hagar’s 1977’s self-titled record as “The Red Album” because Hagar is depicted on its cover wearing a crimson button-up shirt and surrounded by a red car and a brick building. Since the album’s signature track is also titled “Red,” fans naturally started associating Hagar with the color.
In his remembrance for Pruner, Hagar wrote that the super-fan came up with a perfect moniker for him when he once asked for an autograph.
“I was checking out of the hotel and John Pruner, the man in these photos, stopped me and asked for an autograph on the newspaper review of the concert. He asked me to sign it ‘The Red Rocker’ – that was the beginning of being the Red Rocker,” he confirmed.
Hagar even credited Pruner with being “the first redhead before the fans became [known as] redheads.”
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“He followed me around the country, showing up everywhere,” the rocker remembered. “I got to know him well. Later, at a birthday bash in Cabo, he showed me that he had paid to see over 100 shows! I said, ‘You will never pay to see me again’ and gave him the golden lifetime all access pass. That was well over 100 shows ago.”
The musician developed a close bond with Pruner off stage in recent years, recalling how his friend’s “health [had] been failing him for well over a decade” before his death.
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“He still managed to make as many shows as he could in wheelchairs, I always made room for him on the side of the stage or wherever possible,” Hagar remembered. “Some of you might recall me giving him a shout out FaceTime from the stage when he would be in the hospital and couldn’t make the shows. His friend Jon, as well, took care of him and made sure those things happened. God bless him for that.”
The singer concluded: “Well, we lost the original number one redhead a couple nights ago. we will miss you, John pruner and the show will go on without you. I know you wouldn’t have it any other way.”
At the time of the iconic “Red Album” release, Hagar had recently left hard rock band Montrose to strike it out as a solo act. He scored his biggest solo hit with 1984’s “I Can’t Drive 55,” which hit No. 9 on the U.S. Top Rock Tracks chart that year.
Hagar was picked as David Lee Roth‘s replacement as Van Halen’s frontman in 1985, and went on to front the heavy metal group for 11 years. His debut album with Van Halen, 1986’s 5150, sold more than six million copies and has been certified six-times platinum.
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Following his departure from Van Halen in 1996, Hagar resumed his solo career and even coheadlined the Song for Song, the Heavyweight Champs of Rock and Roll Tour with Roth in 2002 before reuniting with Van Halen the next year for the Best of Both Worlds Tour. Van Halen cofounder and lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen died at age 65 from throat cancer in October 2020.
Hagar has since continued recording and touring with his backing back the Waboritas, and also formed the supergroup Chickenfoot with Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and influential guitarist Joe Satriani in 2008. Anthony and Hagar have also toured with drummer Jason Bonham as The Circle in recent years.
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