Sammy Hagar’s laid-back 78th birthday party in Cabo exploded into total disbelief when Chad Kroeger leapt from the drums into the mic, ripped from Hot for Teacher into Enter Sandman, and left the crowd frozen before the room erupted — a surreal moment fans say no one there will ever forget

Moderation doesn’t come naturally to Sammy Hagar. So when it came to celebrating the former Van Halen legend’s 78th birthday, of course it’d turn into a multi-day series of performances replete with guest stars and all-star covers.

A new video on YouTube shows the moment Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger jumps up to sing Metallica megahit Enter Sandman. But not before first bashing it out on the drumkit for a bit of Van Halen’s Hot For Teacher, before joining guitarist Vic Johnson, drummer Kenny Aronoff and former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony on the Metallica cover.

A longstanding tradition stretching over two decades, Hagar’s birthday bash sees him play a series of gigs each year at his bar, Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo, San Lucas. 2025’s guests included Anthrax vocalist Joey Belladonna, Alice In Chains’ Jerry Cantrell and pop singer Belinda Carlisle.