Sammy Hagar Plays Exclusive Gig at Crestron Party

The Rock-and-Roll Hall of Famer, along with his band that included Michael Anthony, Jason Bonham and Vic Johnson, rock Crestron’s annual InfoComm festivities. >

Heading into the annual InfoComm 2015 event in Orlando it would be easy to expect a big-name rock star to mail in an effort during a paid corporate gig.

Thankfully for Crestron‘s invited guests, that did not happen when Sammy Hagar took the stage with his fellow ex-Van Halen bandmate, bassist Micheal Anthony, and the rest of his band that included Jason Bonham on drums and Vic Johnson on guitar.

Slipping the Crestron event into his summer touring schedule Hagar was promoting his “Circle” tour that is based around songs that span his entire career, as well as some of the songs that inspired his beginnings as a musician.

Crestron, the N.J.-based electronics company known for its extensive line of control and automation solutions, distribution media DM line of products, and accessories, sparred no expense in its host duties. Bussing guests to the Hard Rock restaurant and live arts venue in Universal Studios the company provided free food, drinks, and live music before escorting patrons over to the Hard Rock’s concert venue where the company paid tribute to its founder George Feldstein who past away this fall before ushering Hagar on stage at approximately 7:45.

View more InfoComm 2015 coverage.

Running through his 40-year catalog of Montrose, Van Halen and solo material, Hagar exchanged banter with the crowd, explained his initial meeting with Crestron president Randy Klein—which didn’t go so well at first he noted—and teased Anthony about his party habits, and Bonham about driving up to the show from his Ft. Lauderdale residence, the 60-plus Hagar was in good spirits.

Some of the hits that were played include “Rock Candy” from the first Montrose album, “One Way to Rock” and “Heavy Metal” from Hagar’s solo career, “Right Now” and “Why Can’t this be Love” from Van Halen, and Led Zeppelin covers of “Good Times, Bad Times” and “Whole Lotta Love.”

Towards the end of the show Hagar said to the crowd the show didn’t “feel like” a corporate gig and he added it was the best corporate show he ever played. Ending the show with a stripped down, rearranged version of the Van Halen song “Dreams” from his first Van Halen record “5150” Hagar and Johnson armed with a Sammy Hagar model Gibson Les Paul softly wrapped up the evening.

Crestron, going the extra mile for its invited guests also provided bussing back to Orlando’s various hotels to ensure everyone made it back to their rooms without any hassles.

Sammy Hagar opens Crestron’s InfoComm party with his solo hit, “There’s Only One Way to Rock.”

Paying tribute to drummer Jason Bonham’s father John Bonham and one of his musical influences, Sammy Hagar and his band cover Led Zeppelin’s “Good Times, Bad Times.”

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Robert Archer is CI's product editor. He has been covering the electronics industry for more than a decade.

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