David Lee Roth, an American rock singer, is known for his wild and energetic stage persona and was the lead vocalist of the hard rock band Van Halen. Born on October 10, 1954, Roth wore a slim three-piece suit of his own design in plaid wool flannel, anchored by sturdy black. His fast-talking patter, jumps, and stunts won over audiences with his split-legged leaps and outrageous outfits. Roth’s famous split-legged leaps and outrageous outfits permeated 1980s pop culture through appearances on MTV and in films like The Beatles. In 2007, Roth came equipped with a bevy of rotating props, from giant chains to flags, batons, and more.
In the eyes of countless hard rock fans, David Lee Roth is the prototypical frontman. With a flamboyant, larger-than-life stage presence and a party-hearty surfer dude persona, Roth became the undisputed architect of Van Halen. The pants and jacket were made by a well-known high-end fashion designer, Maggie Barry, just for Dave. With the name solidified, the lineup complete, and the musical direction set, David Lee Roth became the undisputed architect of Van Halen.
In the 80s, fashion and fashion icons like David Lee Roth were essential to the success of Van Halen.
📹 Wild Stories From David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth is a legend. He’s one of the greatest lead singers of all time, for one of the greatest rock bands of all time: Van …
Who took David Lee Roth’s place in Van Halen?
In 1985, Roth was either dismissed from Van Halen or chose to leave the band, and Sammy Hagar assumed his position. Collectively, they sold 20 million albums between 1985 and 1996.
Did Sammy Hagar like David Lee Roth?
In October 2021, Hagar expressed his dissatisfaction with Roth and Dave Roth, stating that they have no problem with each other. He believes Roth always feels competitive and has to raise his flag, like “I’m VAN HALEN”, because he had a solo career before VAN HALEN. However, Hagar doesn’t care about this and would say “Eh” if someone knew he was in VAN HALEN.
In June 2021, Hagar criticized Roth for his voice, describing the original VAN HALEN singer’s onstage persona as “totally bullshit”. He enjoyed watching David perform live but couldn’t imagine how Roth would feel when he looked at old videos and his dancing. Hagar believed that Roth sincerely cared about his work and how it affected people, what they thought, and made them happy. He aimed to enlighten and elevate people spiritually, making them have big dreams and want to be better themselves.
When asked about David’s public presentation, Sammy said that he found him to be a strange character, pretending to be who he is and not honest about his image or performance. He felt that when he saw David, he saw him as putting on an image and performing poorly. Hagar tried to be friends with David, but he didn’t know what he cared about.
In summary, Hagar and Roth have different perspectives on their relationship and their differences in their approach to music. Hagar believes that Roth’s focus on enlightenment and personal growth is more important than his genuine concern for others.
Is David Lee Roth a climber?
In 2006, the individual obtained a private pilot license for rotorcraft helicopters. He was the principal vocalist of Van Halen from the mid-1970s to 1985 and subsequently resumed his role in the ensemble in 2007. The group briefly reunited in 2000, but subsequently disbanded due to legal disputes.
Did Van Halen make more money with David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar?
Sammy Hagar, the lead vocalist of Van Halen, revealed that a double-header tour he staged with David Lee Roth in 2002 significantly increased the original singer’s income by six. The tour, known as “Song for Song, the Heavyweight Champs of Rock and Roll”, featured both vocalists performing on the same stage. However, backstage, Hagar and Roth struggled to connect at a personal level, with Roth selling out arenas and amphitheaters while Hagar was making $25, 000 a night.
Hagar, on the other hand, was making $150, 000 a night and was told that they would both make the same money. Hagar, however, refused, stating that Dave had made 150 in his life except in Van Halen, and he felt compelled to do the same.
Who broke up Van Halen?
Following the 1984 tour, Eddie Roth decided to quit and form a new band. The members of the group had different reasons for the split, but all were rooted in control of the band’s sound, artistic direction, singles released, and pace. Roth was concerned about Eddie playing music outside of Van Halen and was launching a successful solo career with two hit cover songs off his Crazy from the Heat EP. He was offered a $20-million film deal for a script titled Crazy from the Heat, but the deal fell through when CBS Pictures was reorganized in 1986.
Eddie invited Patty Smyth of Scandal to replace Roth, but she declined. Daryl Hall was also offered the lead vocal position in 1985, but also declined. Eddie was introduced to Sammy Hagar in 1985, who was the former frontman for the hard rock group Montrose and a solo artist. Hagar agreed to sing and play rhythm guitar.
Who inspired David Lee Roth?
David Roth, born in Bloomington, Indiana, was raised by a Jewish family of immigrants from Russia and Lithuania. His interest in art, particularly film and radio, began from an early age. Roth spent much of his youth in New Castle, Indiana, where he learned the work ethic of Van Halen and the sense of humor he admired. The Roths briefly lived in Swampscott, Massachusetts.
In his teens, the family relocated to Pasadena, California, where Roth attended The Webb Schools and John Muir High School. His parents arranged for him to receive treatment with a psychiatrist for three years due to his hyperactivity, known as “monkey time”. He also attended a horse ranch for troubled teens to build a sense of responsibility.
While attending Pasadena City College, Roth met the Van Halen brothers, Eddie and Alex, and worked as a hospital orderly. Roth’s family’s Jewish heritage and his interest in art and music contributed to his unique and successful career.< /p>
Does Wolfgang Van Halen like David Lee Roth?
In December 2021, Wolfgang Van Halen, who joined his father Eddie Van Halen in VAN HALEN for the band’s 2007 reunion tour, discussed David Lee Roth’s retirement in an interview with Consequence. He expressed his happiness for Roth and his accomplishments, stating that he is a phenomenal musician. In November 2020, Wolfgang told Rolling Stone about his relationship with Roth, stating that it was business-related and they only saw each other onstage.
Last year, Wolfgang implied that David Lee Roth was largely to blame for a proposed Eddie Van Halen tribute concert never materializing. He stated that there were always people that made it difficult to do anything in VAN HALEN, and that he would love to say everything and say the truth, but people have already decided how they feel about things. He knows how VAN HALEN fans are motivated by which specific people they like in the band, and it’s not worth it.
Van Halen fans are motivated by which specific people they like in the band, and it’s not worth it to make an attempt at something that may not happen. In conclusion, Wolfgang believes that David Lee Roth’s retirement is a result of personal issues and not the band’s overall success.
Is Van Halen heavy metal?
Van Halen is an American heavy metal band known for its innovative electric-guitar playing. The band was formed in 1955 by Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony, and David Lee Roth. The band’s debut album, Van Halen, sold over 10 million copies in the United States alone. The band’s second album, 1984, made them megastars.
Roth left Van Halen to pursue a solo career, and the band produced three chart-topping albums between 1986 and 1991, culminating in the Grammy Award-winning For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. Hagar departed in 1996, and Roth returned briefly but was replaced by Gary Cherone. Cherone left the group in 1999, and the band drifted without a singer for three years.
In 2002, Roth and Hagar shared headlining duties on a tour featuring each singer’s solo material and selections from both Van Halen eras. Van Halen released the greatest hits collection The Best of Both Worlds and recruited Hagar for a North American tour. In 2006, Anthony left the band and was replaced on bass by Eddie’s teenage son Wolfgang. The following year, with Roth as lead singer, the group embarked on its most successful tour.
A Different Kind of Truth, Van Halen’s first collection of new material in over a decade, surfaced in 2012. The band’s second live album, Tokyo Dome Live in Concert, was released in 2015.
Is Eddie Van Halen shy?
Eddie Van Halen was a shy, introverted musician who played guitar his entire life, drinking beers and smoking cigarettes. He changed the guitar world and was burdened by fame and being a human being in a complicated world. However, he was a super-sensitive person, allowing him to be an incredible musician with sympathy and empathy.
George shared that he and his wife Valerie used to hang out at Monsters Of Rock, playing guitar all night. During a tour, Eddie allowed George to use his gear, including heads and cabinets, which was a rare practice for headliners. This was a rare occurrence, as headliners usually don’t do such things.
Eddie also gave his son a guitar lesson, as his son wanted to be a guitar player like his dad. George took him to meet Eddie at a show and he showed him how to play guitar. This was a unique experience for George, who was surprised to learn that Eddie was a guitar player himself.
How did Eddie Van Halen meet David Lee Roth?
Eddie Roth and his brother Alex, both from the Netherlands but raised in Pasadena, California, met while auditioning singers for their band in 1972. Despite their initial animosity, the brothers invited Roth to join the band due to his sound system, which he owned. The pair became a perfect match, with Roth’s personality and Eddie’s genius. Despite their creative differences, they never got along, but they worked together to accomplish something. This pairing is seen in many popular bands, where the two brothers work together to achieve something, unlike in cowboy movies where they constantly sabotage each other.
Who is best climber ever?
The world’s top climbers include Adam Ondra, Chris Sharma, Janja Garnbret, Alberto Gines Lopez, Alex Megos, Ashima Shiraishi, and others. Ondra and Sharma are among the top climbers, but a new generation of young savages is already starting to crack the world’s most difficult routes. Alexander Megos and Ashima Shiraishi are among the rising stars of the sport climbing scene. Alberto Gines Lopez and Janja Garnbret are also rising stars in the sport climbing scene. Ondra celebrated the first ascent of the “Silence” route in Flatanger, Norway, in September 2017.
📹 WTF Happened to David Lee Roth?
If one were to list the greatest rock n’ roll frontmen of all time, Van Halen’s David Lee Roth would be near the top. With a swagger …
My wife and I ran into David Lee at a Club Med in Moorea in about 1986. I had spent the previous year working in Sydney, Australia, and we were on our way back home to the US and decided to stop for a little R+R on the way. We were sitting in the bar, and in walked Dave who sauntered up to the counter, put one arm up, and turned around to scan the room. He was in the process of twisting together a little multi-colored cord bracelet. My wife and I had done some work together in the music business, and she had become a bit of a fan of Van Halen’s music, so she strolled up to him and introduced herself. She said she respected his work, and he very kindly spent a few moments having a conversation with her. Among some of the things he mentioned was that Van Halen had just finished a big tour, and as often happened, his record company had sent him to the Club Med for a couple weeks as he put it, “To get me back to 33 and a third”. 😉 At the end, he handed her the bracelet he had been braiding and thanked her for saying hello. A first-class gentleman in every way. The next day, we were on our way over to the Club Med dining room for lunch and happened to catch a glimpse of Dave standing against a railing next to the sidewalk into the dining room. He was in his Speedos and voraciously wolfing down a huge slice of watermelon. We decided to just stand and watch him awhile, and when he had eaten his last bite, he took the rind and heaved it with all his might into the middle of the perfectly manicured lawn in front of the dining room.
Van Halen’s litle “no brown m&m’s” was actually a very good contract trick to fiscalize how to-the-letter the venue was following their specifications. If they found brown m&m’s in the bowl they requested, that was grounds for termination of contract, since that if the venue skipped that little trivial detail, the band could assume corners were cut with other critical details that could end in damage, death or injury. I don’t remember who came up with the idea, but it was after a stage collapse caused $80k in equipment damage and badly injured a roadie. Van Hallen created the precedent for “eccentric” requests. I don’t doubt some of these were “just because I can” deals. But I’d guess most are guarantees against oversight.
Dave didn’t have the greatest voice in rock & roll, but he was an unequaled front man and performer . I seen VH a few times when they were at their peak, and those shows were incredible. Roth really was a cross between a circus ring man and an bombastic athlete on stage . Sex and drugs were just part of the scene in the late 70’s and 80’s,cocaine and booze flowed like water and promiscuity was at its peak . Every girl wanted to be with Roth and every guy wanted to be Roth .
I remember having a very teenage row with a boyfriend at a DLR gig. My friend breaks the tension by running at me excitedly with a pass for a backstage party. The ‘party’ was the venue corridor!!! I then saw a guy I knew crying his eyes out because his gf was in Dave’s dressing room, doing god knows what. I desperately wanted to leave, but my friend wouldn’t (we were about 15/16 at the time) we ended up eating pizza on the tour bus, and I was so uncomfortable, I told her if she wanted to stay, it was without me. We walked to meet our friends at a club (and my v angry boyf) and this 50 year old roadie followed us there. She dumped him with my boyf and his friends, and one of the guys walked him crestfallen, back to the bus. Let’s just say that was the last time I held a musician in high regard. It was utterly gross.
In the mid 80’s, my high school friend would sometimes wear a leather jacket that belonged to his older sister. She LOVED metal, and had seen many bands. The walls of her room were completely covered in magazine pics of metal bands. On the inside lapel of her leather jacket was a Van Halen backstage pass sticker from the 1984 tour. It was made of fabric and I thought it was the coolest thing. What I couldn’t understand was why one edge of the sticker was “dog eared”, and peeling off. Who would try to peel off such a cool sticker?? Years later, I found out that Dave would check the back of the sticker, to identify which roadie gave it out, so he could compensate him. Now I wish I’d looked at the back of the “dog ear”!
DAVID LEE WAS GREATEST ALL TIMES AND I LOVED HIS SOULFUL VOICE MORE THAN ANY OTHER ROCKER. I NOT ONLY WANTED TO LISTEN TO THE MUSIC I WANTED TO WATCH IT AND BE ENTERTAINED. SEE HOW MANY STADIUMS EDDIE WOULD’VE FILLED SITTING ON A PIANO SEAT PLAYING TO AN AUDIENCE WITH JUST HIM AND ALEX. DAVID LEE MADE VAN HALEN
I bought Noel Monks autobiography book of his time managing VH. There are many other amazing stories, as well as stories that will really make you angry at how poorly they treated ppl, as well as how badly they screwed Mike Anthony in trying to kick him out of the band. Toward the end, that band really imploded spectacularly. Quite a book, I highly recommend it..
I’ve still got that poster of Dave! Had it on my bedroom wall for years.😆 My brother told me too take it down. Because it would intimidate any new suitor (I just came out of a 10 year old relationship). I said no! 😁 Had a 6 year old summit, and one 3 year old relation after that. Don’t think my DLR poster and the 3 Frank Z poster, all framed, has improved my chanses in finding “the one”!😄
I only remember him as a joke in the 1990s as I was raised in the era of rock stars like Kurt Cobain and Eddie Vedder where DLR’s antics were frowned upon BUT Van Halen was the best of their scene and DLR was an incredible frontman who didn’t take himself too seriously and had a great sense of humor. In fact even though I was a huge Seattle grunge rocker my first hard rock album I ever bought was Van Halen’s 1984.
Born in 1968 I was turned on to Journey’s Infinity album by bro’s in 1980. VH a male babysitter in 1978, who also turned me on to Rush and Yes. I loved early VH in definitely more of an ass kicken way than I did Journey, but you had to appreciate Journey’s music. That said, even in Jr High in 1981, when Journey was THE biggest they would ever become I thought old Steve was a bit too soft for his profession. AND, in the late 70s rocknroll needed VH, and unless you lived it you wouldn’t know. Was the era of the corporate band, and they did to those bands what Nirvana did to hair bands 15 yrs later.
I remember when the alleged paternity suit insurance made the news. DLR supposedly said he didn’t want some strange girl showing up with a kid and claiming he was the kid’s father. “His name is Spike and he needs a bicycle.” I thought it was hilarious at the time. Now I don’t know if he actually did say that, or it was just something the PR guy came up with.
My son was a drummer in an opening band for a very well-known rock band over seas. He also had to sub for their drummer at times and appeared on TV and radio, while on his world tour. The stories he’s told me about the drugs and drinking are insane! Do you know who starts drinking at 6am? Nobody, he started drinking in about 1972 and only stopped when he died(almost 2 years ago now). My son also appeared in a music article made while touring with him too. He was also in a very well-known band here in Canada too. He’s played at Nathan Phillips Square and the El Mokambo among other places. My son just could not live the Rockstar lifestyle, he’s too ‘normal’, lol!
So I have been in the music biz since the mid 80’s & I have a Dave Lee Roth story to be fair to Dave it was second hand from a groupie . So one of the girls who was brought to his house at the time claims the was no furniture in his house only beds in every room of the house that it.seemed weird to me at the time it was told to me but being they were on tour constantly then it might be true ? Dave do U want to verify ?😎🎵🎶🔈👍
Dave is a party veteran for sure but come on. Keef,Ozzy,Bonzo, The Toxic Twins,MOON,Joplin many before him but he did a great job carrying on the tradition of Sex, Drugs and Rock n Roll!! Miss those days those types of bands. Today it’s cyberSex,Video games and whatever they call that shit they play on the radio.
DLR may have been the ‘craziest’ singer of a major, commercially successful arena rock band – but many other less commercial bands had singers who were more nutz – Iggy with the Stooges comes to mind – Black Flag with Henry Rollins was an experience – and if you ever saw Wendy O. Williams with the Plasmatics in the early 80’s – she raised crazy on stage to a whole new level.
“allegedly” during his first solo tour he and the band played a game with blind folded gals back at the hotel called “guess who’s in my mouth?”. The winners got to stay the ones who lost were escorted out of the room and his band mates were left high and dry while Diamond Dave took the winners back to his room. Haha ah the early / mid 1980s.
Okay Weird History… I’d like to see you do a article on Frank Marino, (and Mahogany Rush), from Canada… A fantastic guitarist and a great showman, Frank Marino is well know… “Sortta.” He’s been playing licks for headbangers since the 70s, or longer. But what’s REALLY in Frank’s past, his life as a musician and a member of a famous band? What was his life like, behind the scenes and off the stage?
We need to look to Christ for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life without Christ we’re lost Allen to Eternity life begins after you leave out of this Earth when you leave your body you are a living soul the soul is conscious Jesus Christ said you will see and hear everything around you there is fire and brimstone for the rebellious Center and the unbelieving Jesus spoke in Revelation about this place sorry if I disrespected the Legends but this is what Jesus said about everyone that dies out of two spirit if they die in their sins they’re going to hell for the rest of Eternity and you will burn forever and ever but Jesus said if you accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your savior you will not have to go to this place you are free from the curse of death and you will be given eternal life Jesus can protect and deliver you from the kingdom of Satan and bring you to the kingdom of light will you will live eternally with him in heaven that’s a promise from Jesus Christ
He was the definition of 80$ hard rock singer. He set the standard. EXCEPT for his live performances after 2. Even the best you can find on YouTube or released live sucks. Sammy did Dave live better than Dave did. Studio wise? Sammy and Dave were a lot like individually vocal wise. Sammy being the better technical singer, Dave had a great feel and timing. His lyrics always made sense even when they didn’t You can’t say David Lee Roth sucks and still know anything about modern performance art.
Roth did partake in groupies; a little, but most of what you hear as history is highly exaggerated. I knew a girl that was with DLR and her insight is what I’m basing my knowledge about this. It is genuine and confirmed. There’s nothing wrong or unusual with DLR and I don’t want to imply there is but he is not the sexual satyr that history portrays. There was a LOT of show business in Van Halen history and DLR was great at it. He’s the Ray Croc of rock and roll. I still admire him.
What do you mean WTF happened to David Lee Roth. It’s just time bro. I’d like to see how the rest of you will look when you’re damn near 70 years old. He lived the rock life to the max and made it out alive. Which is a miracle in itself. And it’s not often that singers hold on to their voices as they age. Even Sammy Hagar, as good as he still is, is nothing like when he was younger. Same with Steven Tyler. Still awesome. But not like their very early albums. Glenn Hughes and Graham Bonnet may be the exception. Those two are still killing it!
Saw the man perform 3 times. Twice in Lakeland, FL. And once in Orlando at a Rock Super Bowl. I met Dave at the bar in Disney’s Polynesian Resort, we spoke and he graciously signed by ticket stub from the show the night before. We met the rest of the band later that day, and chatted with them at their tour bus in the Disney parking lot. It was a magical weekend my buddies and I will never forget. We were starstruck to meet the guys who made the soundtrack of our youth. To the best frontman to ever do it,thanks for all the memories and music.
As an old dude now who has seen and read about many bands, I will say Dave is one of the most eccentric humans around. He dabbled in everything and has a resume a mile long. Plus all his VH albums have given me years of enjoyment so I owe him a beer at least. People don’t realize how intelligent he is and many VH lyrics are quite interesting and not always about sex.
Truley one of the greatest front men in rock history. I got to see him in concert during his second solo album. He started out in a boxing ring what was above the audience. He was bouncing around up there and doing his kickflips and stuff. Then he got on a surfboard and flew around above the audience to the stage below. Really great stuff to see live.
VH-1 came out in my junior high school year and it crash landed on me and all my classmates in way I can’t describe any other way than to say we all went insane over it! We forgot about every other band for an entire summer. It was Van Halen all day, every day! We of course had to go see them in concert, and it was everything we could have dreamed of!
David Lee Roth is one of the most interesting rock stars of all time. He wit is second to none, and usually flies over people’s heads. He is incredibly intelligent and has a history of diving in to the subjects he is interested in. Check out his interview with Joe Rogan for some amazing stories (especially about becoming an EMT in NYC).
My best friend, bodybuilder Kay Baxter, was his trainer and we got to party with him on occasion especially after the premiere of “Pumping Iron 2” and his debut concert with the new band featuring Stevie Vai. I heard his first solo album demo while in his car. The man was living proof that we all just want to have fun.
That touched my heart the most about him and Eddie rekindling their friendship again years later and he joined the band again b4 he died. Then he wrote the tribute song and made the article to him as a tribute and called him his brother. Just think if they would’ve kept their grudges and never made up. Life is too short to waste holding grudges. That touched my heart the most- good message there ❤❤❤
Having known DLR and VH/Mammoth, in the early years, mostly playing the same local venues and parties in my own little crappy band, DLR was always a wild guy and crazy AF. He and I were both big fans of Black Oak Arkansas, whose frontman DLR mimicked for his own stage personae, and we had a few interesting talks while stoned out of our minds. I don’t care what anyone thinks, DLR will always be the G.O.A.T frontman. Sammy Hagar may be a better singer in the grand scheme of vocals but DLR had the better vocal presence. It’s not about being a ‘good’ singer, it’s about attitude and delivery that is true to the singer. Maybe, I’m prejudiced because while I also met SH back whe he was first starting out with Montrose, DLR is a homie, so he’s got the edge here. Hagar wrote a few good pop songs but a lot of the albums he put out with VH were just a little bland, in my opinion. I own all of VH and Sammy Hagar and DLR albums, and tend to listen more often that not the Roth stuff. David Lee Roth for the win.
I’ve seen Dave twice in concert both with VH. This was when he was nearing 60 on VH’s reunion tours. I can’t really recall which notes he hit or even attempted. All I know is that I walked outta those shows feeling pumped feeling like I could do anything. Very few performers can make you feel that way anymore. It takes a special talent to capture an audience like that.
When David was at his peak, he was the best of them all. So good I think the others in the group were envious, people almost worshiped David and didn’t care so much about the others in the band. So they pushed him out of the band, which they were never supposed to do. Afterwards, they struggled to be a shadow of themselves.
I heard his Van Halen song ‘Jump’ as a kid and loved it. Though admittedly i didn’t really get into Van Halen till that ‘Dreams’ song appeared in the Power Rangers 1995 movie. But David Lee Roth wasn’t part of that era. Didn’t know much about him as a person though. Thanks for these ‘WTF Happened’ series. Informative and entertaining.
I can never figure out why people feel the need to compare David and Sammy. The two different versions of Van Halen were like comparing apples and beef jerky. They were two different bands and either you like them or you don’t. They both experienced success at levels most bands only dream of, and both of them left a lasting impression on music that will go on. RIP Eddie you changed rock forever… twice.
I really liked what both, Roth and Sammy, brought to VH during their time with the band. Every few years when it comes up I think about who I liked better….the answer has always been the same ….I liked them both. Imho, Roth was DEFINITELY the more animated and charismatic of the two. Heck, he’s got to be among one of the names on the list of charismatic frontmen of RnRoll. His voice, which I realize isn’t on everyone’s favorite vocals, technically. But, his voice IS just about ALWAYS recognizable when you hear just a few bars. Whether it’s a studio recording or Live, you know it is a David Lee Roth the moment he utters his first vocal delivery on the tune. Sammy is just a bad azz Rocker. Vocally and instrumentally. I was in Junior High/Intermediate school when I first saw Sammy in 1980. It was a music article for his original recording of “I’ve Done Everything for You”, recorded LIVE. I didn’t realize it at the time that it was a couple of years old. But liked the song, anyway. A couple years later, it became a big hit for Rick Springfield, which I’ve seen a few interviews of Sammy commending Springfield on Rick’s cover. While DLR’s time in the 70’s and 80’s had some great tunes and albums that I STILL get into whenever they pop up on my playlists….Sammy Hagar’s era, imho…had a much harder edge brought into the band
Nothing happened to him, he is as happy as he deserves to be, he is still with us considering all the tragedies and untimely deaths in the rock scene. He is just getting older and that is perfectly normal, He is enthusiastic and hapý today and that is a blessing! I wish I had an older brother like that!
DLR is an Entertainer, pretty much an act. Never bought a lot of the stories off stage. Smart guy and he used his abilities to their fullest. Never really heard anyone telling his wild tales off stage except him. Smart, and at his time a wonderful frontman and lyricist. Van Halen and Van Hagar are two completely different bands and both amazing for different reasons.
I saw Van Halen in their prime. Between eddys lightning guitar, and Dave, whailing, jumping around and shadow boxing it was just insane. The crowd went NUTS and nobody walked out of that show, who wasn’t just drenched in sweat..Saw Dave later with Steve vai and the boys and it was really good too but NOTHING BLEW YOU AWAY like Van Halen in their prime.. Van Halen isn’t the same without Dave. Sammy is very, very talented and I love him with Ronnie montrose but Van Halen to me is ALL the original guys, too include Michael Anthony….
He’s an Entertainer. So much more than a singer. An actual Performer. Which is why he and the VanHalen’s had problems. They were Musicians. Not taking anything away from them. But he thirsted for applause and encores. And he knew he owed it to his fans 100%. A person who despite being infatuated with himself, really has a handle on life.
It should be noted that he predicted that date of his retirement at tail end of the article for “A Little Ain’t Enough”, and was only off by a few months. Frankly, I’m still stunned that album didn’t do better. I don’t recall a bad song on that entire record, and the title track is my favorite Dave song of ’em all.
the man has endless ideas. he didn’t just ‘name’ the band, he wrote all or most of the lyrics, which are brilliant. listen to him talk. A lot of people think he’s crazy, but his mind didn’t shut down. Sure, he partied hard, but not like most people think. He was also very physically fit. He had to be.. His voice. once you heard a line or an opening scream, it was Thee Van Halen. His solo stuff with Eat em and Smile band..Excellent. I’d say they all went downhill after he left. Imagine if they never broke up…Man, the possibilities. 👍 No need to compare him to van Hagar, so tired of that crap. It became a whole different band. 2013 A Different Kind of Truth, he rejoined, that album rocked. Yeah, I’m a huge Roth fan. ;0)
My brother met Eddie Van Halen when they played in Houston, Texas, about 1977. He knew somebody from the road crew, and they got him a backstage pass. He visited Eddie for awhile, and Eddie showed him his guitars. He tried to go backstage the following night with the same pass, but they wouldn’t let him in.
I had the pleasure of meeting Dave a couple times i First time, he came over to me and introduced himself to me. As he was walking over to where I was I was freaking out in my head. David Lee Roth is coming my direction, then he comes over and says, “Hi, I’m Dave.” My brain went, “Yeah, I freaking know” but I introduced myself and we had an interesting conversation. He was a bit odd, but he was very sweet. Oh and the real Van Halen is not with Hagar. My proof? Jamie’s Crying!!!!
The only thing I had against DLR was the size of his ego and the fact that he could only sometimes sing in tune when live, proving that his ego was more important to him than his ability to sing (why people went to see him). Egos mean nothing when you’re perusal a band and the singer is out of tune with the band, especially when the backing vocals are in tune.
Eddie, Alex and Michael were the talent, and so was Dave, but I think his most important contribution to Van Halen was to give them direction. Because most people think the best music they made was with him. As soon as he left the band, they changed a lot, and many people didn’t like them, which leads me to believe he was extremely important to that band’s sound and vibe.
I was fortunate to see VH in 2016 with exceptional seats. I am here to testify that these rockers are the real deal. No tricks – no fancy light show- just the band doing what they did best in 40 years..Rock! DLR was amazing and never slowed down in 2+ hours. Dave may not have the best vocal chops but his frontman persona is truly top of the list! Thank you, Mr. Roth, for many years of the entertainment.
It’s hard to knock a guy that just wants to have fun. I sure do miss that goodtime party rock vibe. Nirvana is great music to listen to if you want to “off” yourself, but VanHalen is what you crank up if you want to live at full throttle! These geniuses created the background track to so many of life’s most enjoyable moments.
Caught the “World Invasion Tour” for Women and Children First.. Awesome concert.. Dave picks up a splif thrown onto the stage and says “Wooh, Toronto.. what is this?” Yep, he sparked it up!! There is no Van Halen without Diamond Dave!!.. Well, i guess there’s a bunch of radio hits but NOTHING close to “Ain’t Talkin Bout Love”!!
His back surgeries slowed him down a bit but he had the best possible surgeons. He still is active, rides his bike and is always learning new things. He was taking guitar lessons not to long ago and has read hundreds of books thus far. He was a paramedic and an orderly, and takes care of first responders in various settings and circumstances
Roth copied, mimicked and stole Jim Mangrum’s style (Jim Dandy) —– but he didnt do a great job copying someone else, Roth was never believable as a front man. Diamond Dave was also very very jealous of Eddie, who frankly not only had more talent in his pinky than DLR did in his entire body, but EVH was better looking than the front man. 🤣😂😁
Roth is like 68 years old now and still in fantastic shape! You forgot he is a true fine artist as he released many really cool ink color paintings, and a very cool animated series. They asked Roth if he regretted anything in his career. He replied the only thing I regret are the girls I never kissed. Dave’s goal is to get to the future not the pasture. So you see nothing happen to Dave. Dave happened to the world! And he is having a blast doing it!
Guys, I’m going to lay this right on the line: Despite all of his excesses, drug use, and too-much-ness of too much, David Lee is the only reason I ever liked Van Halen at all in their original form. After he left, I never listened to them again in any incarnation — and even now it’s hard to listen to their music even with David Lee. Much preferred Steve Vai’s sound to Eddie’s — and much preferred almost any other rock band to Van Halen, let alone that horriblation called Van Hagar.
Very well put together production. When grunge took over, not to be punny, but, it was a tragedy. I called it “complaint rock.” My husband would put it on while drinking some beers on a given Friday night and it never failed to put him in a shitty mood. Complete buzz kill. In many ways. Fortunately it wasn’t every weekend. Yes, there are seasons. Van Halen was definitely a Spring come Summer. With or without Dave they never went full throttle into the dark. Their romantic stuff ala “Love Comes Walking In” with Sammy was and is iconic. I am afraid, though I know more, nothing else sprigs to mind. If they did dark, it went completely unseen. All I know is Ed lost himself during those years. In many ways. They fell right into the abyss. And did not comeback unscathed. While Roth fell off the radar after his stint with Vai et at… his avoidance of the darkness was not only relatable but he never sold out. Not even a hint. He did some Jazzy stuff. That was as off kilter as it got. I love Dave for not selling out. Of course he’s not flawless, who among us is? But sticking with weed and coke vs. the meth, crack and likely heroin avenue that Ed took was less self destructive. Dave couldn’t go grunge. Not an opioid guy. Lucky for him. Seems a high number of those who were are no longer with us. Not only is he still with us, but still in hot pursuit of a positive when he can get it. There’s truly so little positive in the world anymore. Always, always strive for it though. Thank you for a great little bio.
Despite being a great band, I do not think Van Halen would have taken off without Roth. Perfect Front Man. A bit of Black Oak Arkansas front man, Jim Dandy helped Dave as well. Love the original band. Met Dave outside the Civic Center in Phoenix in 1979. he was surrounded by the ladies. Saw the rest of the band climbing into the limo and was bummed as I wanted to meet the band. I was lucky to see them at the Celebrity Theater. I have not seen anything that even comes close. Small venue, opening act was Borealis. Nothing can compare. The power and energy blew me away and Dave was a big part of it. The band just killed it, Nothing even comes close.
Aside from him always being a circus freak, he’s a highly intelligent showman. He has deep insight to the world around us that most younger people, (and a lot of older people), lack. He’s outspoken which scares people and can talk circles around most people. So he didn’t visually age gracefully. I know 30 somethings that are doing far worse. He’s a freak but he’s more evolved than most.
He’s gotta be a totally different person hiding behind that wild man persona. He was an EMT in New York for awhile and I just can’t imagine him being Diamond Dave while caring for someone in need of emergency medical care. That was after his solo gig I believe. I could be wrong. Wouldn’t be the first time and damn sure it won’t be the last if I am. He’s pretty versatile (or was) with his performance style. Goes from wild man to soft from the heart with “Damn Good” When that song came out those times were Damn Good Times 😊
God he was good looking! I had a 52 y.o. boyfriend who reminded me of him a few years ago. If he had been in MY high school, I’d’ov been nuts about him, screwed up and gorgeous?! That was my thing! He’s very Robert Plant eh? Good to hear about that reunion tour and all the cool stuff he does. SO that’s where he got his moves! And good to hear he’s doing well. I guess he must have kicked the drugs some time ago.
DLR- Great vocalist! Great Showman! I HEARD his dad was a doctor of some type and wanted him to follow in his footprints. He said, “No, dad. I’m going to be a rock star.” I HEARD (from sources that attended) he had fun parties and was a nice guy. I am glad he was able to reconcile with Eddie. Now he is a medical emergency volunteer in his retirement. Very honorable. I think he did very well in life. Little Elvis! Lol! Love it! ❤
JoBio, I love your style. Come and tell my story of childhood trauma on an isolated farm in Bent, New Mexico which slowly turned me into a synesthetic musician who wrote out an entire color-shape musical language for the piano. I call this my Musicolor Matrix. I can be found here on my little website. But, anyways, your ROCK! – The Acoustic Rabbit Hole
I will always love the music both with VH and beyond – in the late 80s his stylist was off the mark with all that colorful spandex — Dave needed to reinvent himself. I saw him perform with VH in the 2012 reunion tour with A Different Kind of Truth album — it was really great and his voice was fine – we did not expect the same performer from the old days and he didn’t try to be that. I wish Dave well in his retirement – not all rockers are meant to stay in the limelight forever. Best to you Dave
What happened ?!! It’s called; getting old !!! Yes, this is a reminder that celebrities ARE human !!!🥺😱😮 It may come as a devastating reality to you but yes, they lose their hair, develope wrinkles and crow’s feet and gravity begins to take over in the belly and face . Just remember their talent and their beautiful music. The outside, should not make us forget, what they gave from the heart.❤
Like all great rock bands,they are a sum of their total. Together they make greatness, separate, not so much! David’s ego,like most famous celebrities, got the best of him. They try to stay relevant in a fast changing environment and it just doesn’t work. Most of us grow up and move on from our youth. Some of us can’t let go,it’s a shame. I will say that Diamond Dave was the epitome of what a front man for a rock band should be,a great showman!
Do you think anyone on this earth has had more fun than David Lee Roth? I doubt it. He insured his junk. Prince was jealous of Dave because Apollonia was dating Dave and would gush over Dave’s jumps and splits off the drum riser. So Prince decided to try it from a piano, with high heals. Dave lived the life.
I love DLR! My favorite lead singer of all time, and not just the theatrics, i love his voice. His voice isnt Robert Plant or Freddie Mercury, it comes and goes, but it feels right. You can always tell its Dave. DLR as a human was perfect for the way EVH played guitar. Perfect. The fact the didnt reunite sooner, or stay together longer is one of the saddest musical moments of mainstream music
Incredible musical and performance force. Seemed like all the excesses of booze, drugs, and fame came down hard on them with a surprising suddenness after the 1984 release. Almost as if they had made a deal with the devil for fame, power, and riches and by 1985 the devil returned for full payment. DLR up to then IMO was one of rock’s all-time most brilliant electrifying singer/frontman. The decline was sad to witness.
back in 1980 I listened to the local radio station “KISW-Seattle’s Best Rock 96.5FM they had a 1-hour interview with VanHalen, same day of their concert. I just remember thinking, OMG how can that band put up with David Lee Roth…he was SOOO FAR OVER THE TOP…how could someone TOUR with David so verbally aggressive, loud, obnoxious, I knew it was just a matter of time…a ticking timebomb. That being said, David Lee Roth made the band…Sammy was ok, but not close to the same entertainment that Roth delivered like NOBODY EVER BEFORE OR Since has done…PLUS: Eddie VanHalen was a dick. I’ll watch the Van with David, but the other singer is just not what I came to hear. When you listen to Sammy Hagar, he’s a dick too…RIP Eddie, but you were no angel either. To this day, the funniest show I ever saw was the reunion where David smacked himself in the mouth with the out of practise mic and gave himself a bloody nose…DURING THE PERFORMANCE…he didin’t skip a beat…David Lee Roth…best damn rock lead vocal singer EVER!!! NOBODY can do what he did.
David Roth is a circus clown, I’ve seen VanHalen live in 1979-1984-1992. Sammy Hagar is 100 times the singer. If you want a guy that jumps around on stage then you’ll like DLR, if you want a real singer, Hagar is the guy. David Roth reuined the concerts I saw in the 80s, outta key, timing was way off, forgot lyrics etc. I used to like Roth but after seeing the comparison & being a musician, I can make that call. I liked Roth’s studio work but good producers & sound engineers can make a hampster sound like Pavavotti.
Regardless of what any of you think/say,DLR IS a genius.Martial Arts moves and flips on stage,Great singing,High pitched screams,talking parts.Long career,much longer than most of YOUR favorites!And please don’t bring in any front man from the 90’s into this conversation,they all SUCK!None(90’s)can Sing,Dance or have any Moves.
I never really cared who was singing because Eddie was my allure to Van Halen. I liked Dave, Sammy AND Gary which whom you failed to mention. Blistering guitar work that will melt your face off if you know what you are hearing when you hear it. Doesn’t really matter who the vocals are. The same can be said about AC/DC with Bon and Brian…then briefly Axl. It’s Angus and Malcolm who should’ve been your main focus…… Interesting enough Wolfgang fairly recently revealed that his dad Eddie and his favorite band was AC/DC. They listened often at home and admired from afar. I guess it wasn’t really widely known until near Eddie’s death. I’ve read it from multiple different reputable sources and know it to be truth now.
What most fans don’t know is where DLR got his stage persona. Watch any article of the band Black Oak Arkansas from the EARLY 70’s. BOA’s lead vocalist Jim Dandy Mangrum had a similar physique to DLR, wore spandex, no shirt, had long blonde hair and pranced around like a peacock on the stage. DLR took that persona to an entirely different level of flamboyance.
WTF Happened to DLR? Nothing happened to DLR. He’s still Dave. Yeah, he’s what? How old is he now? He’s still got that ‘Energizer Bunny’ energy burning strong inside of him. To me and I’m pretty sure to everyone else who truly appreciates the man’s talent and ‘larger-than-life’ persona will always cherish the fact that Dave is a constant reminder that it’s “Great to be alive!”.
The two front men are just different. When DLR was in VH, it had a harder rock sound. When Sammy joined, the music got a little more pop and way more melodic. I’m a huge Sammy fan but I wished they would would had more guitar duels. Sammy’s early stuff is better than VH, IMO. DLR is just a cartoon character and a knock off of Jim Dandy from Black Oak Arkansas.
I owe him,the Brothers & that Bad Ass Bass player Mr.Anthony a much deserved Thank You. Every time I went to one of their shows I hooked up with chick. I bet just about everyone that went to one of their shows got some action that night/morning. It was their Vibe. And it didn’t end when Dave split. Sammy took the wheel & drove the wheels off which helped me with my hitting streak. 7 for 7 in my career as a fan. I should have called it quits after Sammy left. Instead I went with Sammy & let me tell you this. If you are inside the Wabo when he jams on his B-day then you are going to be getting some lovin’ later on that A.M. Maybe back at your hotel,her hotel,upstairs in the dining area(Sorry about the chair),on the beach(Pacific side) or your rental car or if you are crazy enough(Lucky is a better word) in the far back seat of taxi van. Be sure to tip generously or shit can go South fast.
I saw Van Halen play in one of the last concerts that Eddie did, in Charlottesville, Virginia around 2008. Their bass player was Wolfgang. David Lee was kind of dressed like he was going to play golf. I think he was wearing a hat. Eddie had just been (I think) in rehab. Eddie played every single song. note-for-note, like he did on their records. Fortunately, I was to the side of the stage: I can’t even imagine how bad the Tinnitus of the older members of Van Halen must have been by then. LOL.
From the look of the thumb nail to this article, David morphed into Flea of The Red Hot Chili Peppers! And not in a good way…! I never forget DEVO used a poster of David (As a lead singer named “Numbero Uno”) in one of there article skits. Thank goodness both DEVO and Van Halen recorded for Warner Brothers so it was easier to write off!
What happened to David Lee Roth? He realized that he isn’t 25 years old anymore and changed his look accordingly. He didn’t hang on to the little hair he had left and do a combover etc.he accepted his baldness and cut it shorter. He’s also still in great shape and has a wicked cool entire colourful back piece of authentic Japanese tattoo art. And most importantly, he’s alive and we still have him. You would probably ask yourself ‘wtf happened you YOURSELF’ if you spend your time disrespecting legends. Get a life….though it’ll never be the incredible life Diamond Dave has lived. Downvote.
Nothing “happened” to David Lee Roth. If you watch early interviews he’s the exact same guy. He’s very bright, and he has a very unique outlook on life. That outlook includes fairly positive ideas, and a very voluble way of expressing himself with very little worry about being judged by others, etc. He “looks” somewhat different (age has a way of doing that), and that’s what the misperception may be about. Nothing has changed inherently with his personality.
Pure “front man”….. Roth. Better singer…..Hagar, also a better song writer. Roth cant sing many Hagar tunes……Hagar can sing all David’s songs. That being said, Roth is an all time awesome mother fu&#@$. If he could have stayed mature enough to continue with VH it very well could have been best of all time. I love both versions, just Hagar’s a little better.
David Lee Roth QUIT Van Halen in 1985. He wasn’t fired. Get your facts straight. This is well documented and you can find the Van Hagar camp talking about it in the making of 5150, Valerie Bertinteli’s book “Losing it”, and back in the day “David Lee Roth quits Van Halen” was the headline everywhere. After the success of Crazy from the heat and all those MTV articles he felt he didn’t need the band anymore and wanted to go solo as well as make movies.
It’s a very difficult thing to quanitfy, Sammy Hagar is SOOOO much better a vocalist than David Lee Roth and he was also not a bad front man. I saw them in concert twice in those years…but David Lee Roth was the convergence of the perfect elements at the perfect time. AND the solo stuff until about 1998 was awesome.
I thought he was their best frontman, but probably a difficult person. Artists probably are. Eddie broke the mold, himself, bringing electronic music to rock. Sammy could rock and do so for a movie, but really, aesthetically, was another raspy voice to me. There were many like him; not nearly as many as Roth.
Dave’s only real ‘quirk” is a hyper activity thing. It plays better for a young man than it does for an older guy. I still like him yet I will acknowledge that he went for Mr Cool to the crazy Uncle everyone is little embarrassed by. Of course he and Sam don’t get along. Sammy Hagar is just “cool”. Young rock star turned carzy successful older guy who sold a tequila company for more money that he made in Rock and Roll. Now he’s the older guy with that big grin on his face all the time and a beautiful family. Sam is somewhat more normal than Dave so it’s no big surprise that he’s got the life more of us would aspire to as he aged.
Boo! Seen both singers on multiple occasions. Sammy was by far the best live performer. I doubt the claims of this clip but Dave was always bad.period. He could not replicate record performances. Always giving the audience the opportunity. Sam was the ultimate performer. I am a VH weirdo so all you Dave people can go to hades as far as I’m concerned. Watch any article from as far back as you can. Dave is bad. Sam is awesome.
He became the Greatest Frontman Ever. The only guy who could replace Eddie Van Halen with 2 Eddie Van Halens! I remember an after party on the Eat em n Smile tour, he had naked girls walking on the their hands upside down!! Man!! And platters of Mari Jane cigs piled on it for all the guests. Party party party!
Technically, Hagar was the much better singer, with better pitch and range, but as far as a front man, Roth in the pre Hagar days, was the much better front man. What muddy’s up the water though is VH’s music was different with Roth compared to Hagar – Roth: edgier and heavier, Hagar: predictable pop. Unfortunately, Roth in his final incarnation with VH was more of a pale parody of his former self – his pitching and range were shot, he regularly forgot lyrics and just mumbled nonsense, but at least VH were playing the classics again, unlike the Hagar years where all but a couple of those classic songs were never played. Roth in his prime, was probably one of the greatest rock frontmen around and we’ll always remember that.
All of VH early stuff is very swingy and loose feeling, which matches perfectly with DLR’s style of singing and energy at the time. The synergy of the band and the singer are a little bit of magic that happened to exist for a brief time, and we’re all better for it. Listen to DLR solo stuff….it’s all big-band and swing influence, which is why the VH years worked so well. Paths are sure to go separate ways.
There’s no way in hell hagar could do van Halen albums what Dave and the brothers did.van Halen is and always will be Roth the brothers, and mike.period!…. hagar replaced dave.sorry but true.eddie and Dave have a love,hate relationship. That’s why he came back.and they got tierd of hagar calling van Halen his band.bullshit.its not his band.and they got rid of hagar..
He has to have some underlying health issue(s) . In spite of Eddie’s cancer and alcoholism struggles, he still looked healthier ( at least until the very end of his life )than Dave . Dave looks and acts like he had a lung removed . He just doesn’t seem healthy to me . Then again maybe it is just old age .
He was a super talent and mind. Probably still is the latter. Nothing wrong with that. People always want to criticize instead of taking the risk to go for what they want, it’s much easier to bash someone who stands out. Why do they stand out? because they have no fear of what others think. He wasn’t a murderer or child abuser ? Doesn’t seem like an evil man. I think a lot of people are envious that his fun looks like success and his success looked like fun.