Flashback Friday: “I Can’t Drive 55” by Sammy Hagar

Nobody should be taking this 78 year old’s license away anytime soon.

Dec 05, 2025

Sammy Hagar’s The Residency is a 78-year-old’s declaration of defiance against the very concept of retirement, proving that the Red Rocker’s natural state is on stage singing hit, after hit, after hit. Spanning tracks from his storied tenure in Montrose, his solo chart dominance, and his highly successful, tequila-fueled Van Halen era, this live album is essentially a karaoke night where only the best songs are sung by one of rock’s most enduring voices.

Rather than face the rigors of a traditional tour bus, Hagar wisely settled into a Las Vegas residency where he could simply fly in, blow the roof off the Dolby Live stage with his all-star “Best of All Worlds” band, and still be home in time for the early-bird special. The whole affair is a high-octane celebration of his formidable rock legacy, capturing the sheer, unbridled joy of a man who has spent 50 years ensuring every stage he steps onto feels like an endless beach party. It’s clean, it’s loud, and it’s a testament to the fact that while the man himself might be aging, his songs remain perpetually 25.

The band he assembled for this 2025 Las Vegas residency run at Dolby Live at Park MGM is just staggering, consisting of guitarist Joe Satriani, bassist Michael Anthony, drummer Kenny Aronoff, and keyboardist, rhythm guitarist, and vocalist Rai Thistlethwayte.

Choosing the best track on this album of greatest hits of this caliber could be accomplished by simply throwing a dart at the track list while blindfolded—it’s splitting hairs and comes down to personal preference. For me, the choice is simple… “I Can’t Drive 55.” The justification is simple: This is Sammy’s song… untainted by the unfortunate, but ever-present Van Halen“ baggage. Also, in the context of The Residency, the song becomes a fantastic piece of self-referential comedy. Here is a Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, nearly 80 years old, performing a song about reckless abandonment and anti-authoritarian speeding in a city defined by excess.

The energy captured here is palpable, with the crowd enthusiastically chanting the song’s signature number, which stands as the definitive anthem of Hagar’s solo career. While he delivers classic Van Halen tunes with masterful precision (thanks in no small part to Joe Satriani nailing the guitar parts), “55” is pure Sammy, a timeless, rebellious shout-out that perfectly encapsulates his enduring, youthful spirit—even if he’s probably being driven home from the venue, and hopefully sticking closer to the speed limit.