Sammy Hagar defined why he was satisfied that Joe Satriani was the precise guitarist to signify Eddie Van Halen on the Van Halen tribute tour that kicked off this week.

The pair have recognized one another for years and have been been members of Chickenfoot collectively, alongside Michael Anthony.

But in a brand new interview with Classic Rock, Hagar stated there was extra to it than simply hitting the street with an outdated pal.

READ MORE: Joe Satriani: Playing Van Halen Songs is ‘Really Frightening’

“A million guys could’ve done it – well, not a million,” the singer defined. “But you walk into a music store, and you see a 12-year-old kid sitting on an amp with one of Eddie’s guitars, and he’s playing ‘Eruption.’ These genius little kids can do it now, but he doesn’t necessarily know what he’s doing.

“You ask him to write a song like that, and he’s going, ‘Ah, I don’t know how.’ You say, ‘Joe, write me a song like that’ – Joe will write you a song like that, ‘cause he knows where it’s coming from.”

How Does Joe Satriani Know When He’s Screwed Up a Solo?

Hagar did agree that his expertise with Chickenfoot gave him confidence in Satriani’s talents. “Joe’s the professor,” he stated. “He’s a scholar. … Every time I’ve ever worked with Joe … I knew he knows what he’s playing.”

He added, “Joe can play a shredding solo – just on fire – and then he stops and is like, ‘Hold it. I fucked up.’ I’m going, ‘Where did you fuck up? How did you even hear it, you’re playing so fucking fast?’ ‘Oh, that one note right there.’

“And it’s like, ‘Holy shit! He knows exactly what he’s playing.’”