Sammy Hagar Performs Surprise Show at Daimler Truck Event
Legendary Rocker Draws From a Trove of Fan Favorites
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SAN DIEGO — Legendary rock musician and former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar performed a surprise show for trucking industry executives and their guests at Daimler Truck North America’s 2025 Customer Appreciation Event.
Hagar, also known as the Red Rocker, played an hour-and-a-half set for the invitation-only audience of more than 1,000 at the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, an open-air, waterfront music venue.
DTNA, the manufacturer of Freightliner and Western Star trucks and Detroit engines, hosted the private event Oct. 27 in conjunction with American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference & Exhibition.
Hagar played a variety of hard rock anthems spanning his career, including solo hits such as “I Can’t Drive 55,” “Heavy Metal,” “There’s Only One Way to Rock” and “Mas Tequila,” along with Van Halen classics including “Ain’t Talkin’ ’Bout Love,” “Runnin’ With the Devil,” “Right Now” and “Why Can’t This Be Love?”, as well as a couple of selections from his years in ’70s rock band Montrose.
He closed out the evening with a cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man” and an a cappella version of “Cabo Wabo.”
Sammy Hagar performs with band members Michael Anthony (left) and Vic Johnson at DTNA’s Customer Appreciation Event at MCE 2025 in San Diego. (Seth Clevenger/Transport Topics)
As in years past, the evening’s entertainer was kept secret until DTNA CEO John O’Leary introduced Hagar to the stage alongside David Carson, DTNA’s senior vice president of sales and marketing, and Karin Rådström, the CEO of Daimler Truck globally. All three executives downed shots of tequila on stage with Hagar moments before he began the show.
Recent past editions of DTNA’s annual event have featured performances by Def Leppard (2024), Chris Stapleton and Sting (2023), Billy Joel (2022) and Bon Jovi (2021).
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