Sammy Hagar Talks Chickenfoot III

In a brand new interview with Billboard the supergroup's frontman revealed that they hadn't intended to make their sophomore album quite yet.

"The reason Chickenfoot had to go in was because of Chad," Hagar tells Billboard.com, meaning drummer Chad Smith (drummer), who was also busy recording the Red Hot Chili Peppers' new "I'm With You," which comes out Aug. 30 -- two weeks before "Chickenfoot III's" Sept. 13 release. "We had a window where he was available, and I was going, 'F*ck, I don't want to be rushed into it. I was in Cabo (San Lucas, Mexico), summer vacation was coming up, I was just planning my time off. I had my feet deep in the sand, and I was going to vacation this whole summer. Everybody was trying to get me to go in and do this Chickenfoot record, but I just didn't feel like going into Chickenfoot mode."

But other voices - including bandmates Smith, Joe Satriani and Michael Anthony - and Hagar's late manager John Carter prevailed to bring the album into being. And the Red Rocker is pleased it did.

"We were so comfortable making the music," Hagar says. "We got to know each other on the first album (in 2009) and then touring for it. Joe and I got to know each other as writers. I struggle my ass off on the lyrics, 'cause the music is so good. I can't just start talking about girls and cars, y'know? So I wrote 'Up Next' five different times. I wrote 'Different Devil' five different times...and once everything was done I could look at it and go, 'F*ck, this is good.'"

In the interview Hagar also confirms that veteran session drummer Kenny Aronoff is Smith's likely replacement should they head out on the road in the near future.

Hagar revealed that the band would "road test" the new material in five US cities at the beginning of November before heading out on the road, although he's unsure about how big the tour will be.

"Right now we're getting all these offers," he says, "and, y'know, I don't want to tour," he says. "I do not want to pack my bags up for six weeks and go out...I do not want to go on a plane for South America or Japan to work. But when I listen to this music, I go, 'I got to.' I just can't see letting something this good not be played. So we'll probably start accepting shows."

And Hagar also addressed Van Halen once more as 2011 marks the 25th anniversary of his debut album with the band.

"I'm so disappointed in those guys," Hagar notes. "I'm not even angry. I'm just disappointed. I really don't like them anymore, and I can't tell you how sad it is to me that what we had as creative guys, and as a friendship, how it just went away. Mike and I had the biggest laugh when they canceled (the Soundwave Festival in) Australia. He was like, 'I thought you told me they had canceled a couple months ago,' and I was, 'No, no, I told you they announced it.' 'Oh, they announced it,' and we just cracked up. They kill me."

Chickenfoot III is released as a Classic Rock Fan Pack on 5 September before the album is released in shops on 12 September.

The Fan Pack edition will be packaged with a full magazine dedicated to the supergroup, featuring brand new interviews and articles. And the album will be expanded by two bonus tracks that won't be available anywhere else.

You can pre-order the fan pack below:

CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER