The idea to form Chickenfoot came from informal jam sessions at Hagar's Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Of course, Hagar and Anthony had played together for decades in Van Halen. Both men found they enjoyed playing with Smith at the jams.
"Chad Smith is the hardest-hitting ... he's got more chops than any drummer I've ever seen with his right foot in the pocket," Hagar said.
Once Satriani joined the trio, the jam sessions became a full-time venture.
"I'm sure Chad is going to have to do something with the Chilis," Hagar said. "Every time they have a break, he'll be back with us. We'll work around it, until maybe it's more important to everyone than anything else."
Hagar's work with Chickenfoot means the demise of his own band, the Wabos.
"An era is coming to an end," he said. "I really want to concentrate on Chickenfoot. I think Chickenfoot probably will go back into the studio next year and make another record. I just don't see why we would not do that. This is way too good."
Hagar said he isn't parting ways with the Wabos. He's just putting his focus elsewhere.
"I'll keep on paying them," he said. "Honestly. I want them to stay a band because we'll still do parties and play the Cabo Wabos."
Hagar said there's no jealousy on the part of Wabos' guitarist Vic Johnson, drummer David Lauser and bass guitarist Mona.
"Oh, hell no, man," Hagar said. "Vic and Dave are the greatest people on the planet. If there were any animosity, I'd say 'OK guys, you go do your own thing and I'll do mine.' But they've been so cool about it. Vic's at the studio with Joe helping him fix the foot pedals before rehearsals. And Mona and Mike are like twins. They're great people."
The Tahoe shows
When Hagar and the Wabos perform this weekend at Harrah's Lake Tahoe, they'll cull songs from Montrose, Van Halen, the pre-Van Halen-Red Rocker era, the post-Van Halen era and Hagar's 2008 studio album, "Cosmic Universal Fashion."
"It'll be a party," Hagar said. "My fans know that this (The Wabos) is coming to a close."
Hagar said he'll be back in Northern California later this year for several performances with Chickenfoot.
"We'll play a Sacramento show, San Jose, maybe Oakland," he said. "We'll play a bunch of Bay Area shows because Joe and I are Bay Area boys and Chickenfoot is a Bay Area band."
And the Wabos will be back in Tahoe because of the success of Hagar's Cabo Wabo Cantina inside Harrah's Lake Tahoe.
"If not for the Cabo Wabos, I probably wouldn't be making music today," Hagar said. "It's not profitable enough to work that hard. It's so ... expensive to go on tour this day and age. The cantinas gave people a place to party and drink tequila, listen to loud rock 'n' roll music and have a good time.
"I'm fortunate because I don't do this (perform) for the money anymore. Let me tell you, it's a real pleasure to do it this way."
