Surf, sand and viva la margarita

AH, to be Sammy Hagar. He will be inducted in March into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with his on-again-off-again pals in Van Halen (as well as his occasional foe, David Lee Roth) and he spends his days surfing, keeping tabs on his Mexico beach bar and tequila company, and indulging his passion for fine cuisine. The onetime boxer says he’s learned to roll with life’s punches and tune out sour notes.

ON THE HEADSET

“I love mariachi music. It’s so great, you can’t have a bad time when you’re listening. At least I can’t. Down in Cabo, I get the best stuff. There’s such a joy in the music and so many of these guys can play. They kill. Some of the ones lately I like: Mariachi Vargas, Mariachi Sol de Mexico, Mariachi Gama Mil.

INTERNET FAVORITES

“Oh, man. My wife has to answer my e-mail for me. I don’t even know how to turn a computer on. It’s a good thing, man, the way I am, I’d sit there forever.... That one would be a deep hook for me.”

IN THE NETFLIX QUEUE

“ ‘Pulp Fiction’ is always there because I could just watch it over and over and see something new each time. And ‘[Chuck Berry] Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll’ and ‘The Last Waltz.’ I was there in the audience that night when they made ‘The Last Waltz.’ Unbelievable. Van Morrison, Eric Clapton ... all my heroes. Rock ‘n’ roll is so sweet.”

ON THE CELLPHONE

“My ring tone is Chad Smith, the drummer from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, yelling ‘mas tequila!’ The guy is a nut.”

CULTURAL ADDICTION

“I love the Food Network. I’m happiest in a kitchen. When I’m home from touring I don’t want to eat out, I want to cook and try out new things. Gourmet food and fine wines.... Emeril Lagasse is a good pal of mine and we did this charity auction where the bidder comes to my house in Cabo for dinner with us and Emeril cooks. The guy is a rock star.”

BEDSTAND READING

“Everything by Ayn Rand.”

AN UNKNOWN WHO SHOULDN’T BE

“There’s an artist I really like, Gil Bruvel. He creates these bizarre paintings, sort of a cross between H.R. Giger and Max Parrish.”

SECRET WEAPON FOR

NAVIGATING THE CULTURE

“Did I mention margaritas? I think you need to take life like a day at the beach. You have to work hard but also sit back, listen to the ocean and look at the sun, feel everything and not take yourself too seriously. Does that answer the question? Probably not.”

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-- GEOFF BOUCHER