Sammy Hagar’s 2025 Birthday Bash: Complete Recap + Best-Available Setlists by Night

Each October, Sammy Hagar turns his birthday into one of rock’s most anticipated fan events — the Birthday Bash at his legendary Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The 2025 edition was no exception, featuring four sold-out nights of music, celebrity guests, and unforgettable collaborations.

Dates/venue: Oct 7, 9, 11, 13, 2025 — Cabo Wabo Cantina (Cabo San Lucas)
Band: Sammy Hagar (vocals/guitar), Michael Anthony (bass/vox), Vic Johnson (guitar), Kenny Aronoff (drums)
Guests across the run: Jerry Cantrell, Belinda Carlisle, Joey Belladonna, Deen Castronovo, Phil X, Zach Throne (select songs)

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Night 1 — Tuesday, Oct 7

Known songs (with guest credits when documented):

• “Would?” — with Jerry Cantrell (guitar/vox)

• “Man in the Box” — with Jerry Cantrell (guitar/vox)

• “Why Can’t This Be Love?” — house band

• Additional Hagar/Montrose/VH staples were performed but not yet fully documented song-by-song.

Notes: Opening-night Cantrell sit-ins set the tone; fan videos confirm the Alice in Chains pair-up and core BOAW band lineup.

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Night 2 — Thursday, Oct 9

Known songs (with guest credits when documented):

• “Rooster” — with Jerry Cantrell (guitar/vox) & Zach Throne (guitar)

• “Would?” — with Jerry Cantrell & Zach Throne

• “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” — Joey Belladonna (lead vox), Deen Castronovo (drums/vox), BOAW band

• “Livin’ on a Prayer” — Hagar + Belladonna + Castronovo + Phil X (guitar)

• “Whole Lotta Rosie” — Hagar + Belladonna + Castronovo + Phil X

• “I’m the One” — tribute to David Lee Roth; Michael Anthony (lead vox), Phil X (guitar), Kenny Aronoff (drums), Hagar (gtr/vox)

• Crowd led in “Happy Birthday” to David Lee Roth (71)

• Additional staples were played but are not yet fully enumerated by reliable sources.

Notes: Night-two was the “classic-rock revue” night, with multiple rotating guests and the Roth-era salute.

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Night 3 — Saturday, Oct 11

Known songs (with guest credits when documented):

• “We Got the Beat” — with Belinda Carlisle (lead vox)

• “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” — with Belinda Carlisle (lead vox)

• “Man in the Box” — with Jerry Cantrell (Hagar on lead vox in documented clip)

• “Best of Both Worlds” — house band (fan video)

• Additional Hagar/VH/Montrose cuts likely filled the set; full accounting not yet published.

Notes: Pop-meets-hard-rock party vibes; Carlisle’s cameo was the social-clip moment of the weekend.

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Night 4 — Monday, Oct 13 (Sammy’s birthday)

Known songs (with guest credits when documented):

• “Ain’t Talkin’ ’Bout Love” — Jerry Cantrell (lead vox) with BOAW band

• Additional birthday-night numbers (encores/closers) circulated in short clips but aren’t yet verified track-by-track.

Notes: The finale traditionally saves a few surprises; coverage so far has centered on Cantrell’s VH turn.

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Songs Documented Across the Run (alphabetical sampler)

(Appeared on at least one night per credible reporting/videos; not all songs appeared every night)
“Ain’t Talkin’ ’Bout Love” (with Jerry Cantrell, 10/13) • “Best of Both Worlds” • “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” (with Belinda Carlisle, 10/11) • “I’m the One” (Michael Anthony lead; with Phil X, 10/9) • “Livin’ on a Prayer” (Belladonna/Castronovo/Phil X, 10/9) • “Man in the Box” (with Jerry Cantrell, 10/7 & 10/11) • “Rooster” (with Jerry Cantrell & Zach Throne, 10/9) • “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” (Belladonna/Castronovo, 10/9) • “We Got the Beat” (with Belinda Carlisle, 10/11) • “Would?” (with Jerry Cantrell; 10/7 & 10/9) • “Why Can’t This Be Love?” (10/7)

If/when a fully verified, song-by-song list for each night is published by a primary source (Sammy’s site, official setlist archive pages stabilized with confirmations, or a credentialed review with full setlists), I can merge it here and tag every guest per song.

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Atmosphere & Takeaways

• Community: Redheads packed the 600-cap room four times over; lines for dinner-show tickets formed at 9am the day prior.

• Band energy: Michael Anthony’s harmonies and Aronoff’s punch locked the room; Vic Johnson was the utility knife.

• Guest chemistry: Cantrell’s AIC/VH crossovers, Belladonna/Castronovo’s arena-rock turns, and Carlisle’s pop sparkle kept each night distinct.

• DLR salute: Night-two’s “Happy Birthday” + “I’m the One” (Anthony on lead) was the feel-good headline.

Fan Reactions & Atmosphere

Fans described the Bash as “electric,” “intimate,” and “like a family reunion for rock fans.” The vibe blended Cabo’s beach-party energy with the spontaneity of a jam session.

Social media was flooded with clips of impromptu performances, backstage singalongs, and guest stars dropping in unannounced. Michael Anthony’s bass solos and Vic Johnson’s guitar runs drew major praise, while Aronoff’s drumming gave every track live intensity.

At one point, Hagar brought several fans on stage to play air guitar and sing backup vocals, continuing his tradition of making the Bash feel like a shared celebration rather than a typical concert.

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The Legacy Continues

The 2025 edition cemented the Birthday Bash as one of the premier fan pilgrimage events in rock. Hagar’s ability to blend old-school rock attitude with a welcoming, community-driven atmosphere keeps the Cabo shows unique year after year.

Next year’s Bash is already rumored to expand with satellite events in Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe, allowing even more fans to join the party.