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David Lee Roth

 
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David Lee Roth

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"You stick your head above the crowd and attract attention, and sometime, maybe somebody, will throw a rock at you. That's the territory. You buy the land, you get the Indians."

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David Lee Roth

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Singer, songwriter

Infamous as the lead vocalist and colorful frontman for Van Halen, one of America's most popular hard-rock bands, David Lee Roth turned solo artist in 1985. After the enormous success of his extended play album Crazy From the Heat, Roth, in a decision that stunned Van Halen fans, decided to leave the group permanently. Although many of Van Halen's followers feared that neither he nor Van Halen would survive the split, each has continued to dazzle rock and roll devotees. Roth, flamboyant as ever, has managed to keep his talents in the public eye with videos and albums such as Eat 'em and Smile and Skyscraper.

Born in Bloomington, Indiana, the rock star remembered being introduced to music fairly early in life. His father, an ophthalmologist, presented him, at age seven, with recordings by jazz artist Al Jolson—still one of Roth's heroes—and at age eight he began listening to Ray Charles sing on the radio. Summer visits to his Uncle Manny, who operated the famed Greenwich Village Cafe Wha, were also influential, enabling him to see a variety of performers. By the time he was a teenager, the aspiring musician, then living with his family in California, was singing solo as well as with a group called the Red Ball Jets.

Another Los Angeles area group, Mammoth—comprised of a bass player and the two Dutch immigrant Van Halen brothers, Alex on drums and Edward singing and playing lead guitar—occasionally rented the Red Ball Jets' PA system. They were impressed with Roth and soon invited him to join them as lead vocalist (later joking that all they really wanted was his amplification equipment), and the group was eventually completed with the permanent addition of Mike Anthony on bass. Around 1974, after discovering that another group already owned the copyright to the name Mammoth, the group renamed itself Van Halen and began its struggle for fame and fortune.

The fledgling band seized the opportunity to play wherever and whenever it could, with its members doing everything for themselves, from securing engagements to promotional work. Performing both original songs and established tunes, Van Halen eventually became a local success and began to open for such established acts as UFO and Santana; they also became a regular feature at the Starwood Club, the West Coast's portal to fame. It was during their four-month stint there that they were "discovered." First, Gene Simmons, bass player for the rock band Kiss, helped the group produce their first demo tape, then Warner Brothers' Ted Templeman came to the Starwood, heard the group, and signed them to a contract with his label.

Released in 1978, the band's first album, Van Halen, brought the group national attention. The album was a smashing success, with more than two million copies sold, and the original members of Van Halen went on to release five more successful albums over the next seven years. Unlike many up-and-coming groups, the increasingly popular Van Halen never lacked press coverage, which was generated by its members' wild lifestyles as often as by its music.

More than any other band member, Roth is credited with promoting Van Halen's image as the quintessential rock band, one devoted to a lifestyle described by David Fricke in Rolling Stone as "a nonstop booze-and-babes party train." An on-stage rowdy, Roth became an expert at sexist slapstick. In the opinion of Carl Arrington, writing for People, Roth "helped gild the group's head-banger image … with mock-macho stage posturing and costumes that looked like they were ripped off the backs of passing lions." But if, as Arrington suggested, Roth fostered the image of himself as a "renaissance rocker," the critic also found him "less a fraud than most good actors or successful politicians." According to Arrington, Roth has played the part so long that "his concert persona and offstage personality [are] closer than most of his peers."

Sometimes referred to as "the bad boy of rock and roll" and "Mr. Bigmouth," Roth was also famous for his off-stage antics. There were reports about the rocker's antipathy toward marriage, his refusal to permit other band members' wives to go on tour with the group, and of nude girls dancing on tabletops backstage. Interviewing the star for Rolling Stone, Nancy Collins asked if the Van Halen backstage scene was really "akin to a bacchanalian feast." Roth, a student of karate, responded: "It's excessive. In terms of the fringe benefits you're supposed to get from rock & roll, I'd say we're black belts."

Despite his propensity for debauchery, Roth earned applause for his abilities as a lyricist and singer. The generally simple lyrics worked in harmony with the musical scores composed by Edward Van Halen to create the band's trademark tunes, tunes that helped transform Van Halen, in Fricke's words, into "the monster rock action squad that ruled the charts and the airwaves for seven years."

In 1985, after some much publicized squabbling, Roth decided to leave Van Halen and try his luck as an independent artist. With his first solo album, Crazy From the Heat, already a best-seller, and with a movie contract in the offing, Roth became the focus of even more rumors than usual, most speculating that he had simply become too egotistical to continue working with the group. But after the initial furor subsided, Van Halen and Roth set about proving that each could survive in the music world without the other. Although Roth's movie career never materialized, he continued his video work and recorded new albums. The star's 1986 Eat 'em and Smile sold more than two million copies, and in 1988 he released Skyscraper.

Roth followed in 1991 with A Little Ain't Enough, an album that reached Billboard's Top 200 chart and spawned three mainstream rock tracks, "Tell the Truth," "Sensible Shoes," and the album's title track. In 1994 Roth released Your Filthy Little Mouth, a stylistically diverse album featuring a duet with country singer Travis Tritt. The album, however, sold fewer copies than previous releases, and the artist toured in smaller venues. In 1995 Roth opened a lounge act in Las Vegas accompanied by a brass band and exotic dancers.

Roth reunited with Van Halen to much fanfare in 1996, recording two new songs that were included on Best Of, Vol. 1 and appearing with the group at the MTV Video Music Awards. Soon, however, Eddie Van Halen had fired Roth from the band, stating that the reunion was only temporary. In 1997 Roth quickly landed on his feet, publishing a memoir, Crazy From the Heat. Aidin Vaziri of the San Francisco Chronicle called the autobiography "a vastly entertaining postcard from rock 'n' roll's halcyon days." Speaking of the book, Roth told Vaziri: "What you have here is a very conversational tone, just as if we ran into each other at one of our finer local drinking establishments. Like any good story, it's the truth told well. It is the only way I know how to communicate."

Rumors of a Van Halen reunion continued to swirl in the rock press in 2001, but failed to materialize. In 2003 Roth issued Diamond Dave, a covers album that included versions of the Doors' "Soul Kitchen" and Jimi Hendrix's "If 6 Was 9." In 2004 Roth made a cameo appearance as a poker player in the hit HBO series The Sopranos. He also chopped off his trademark long hair and trained to become a paramedic, riding with ambulance crews in New York City. "I have been on over 200 individual rides now," Roth told Erika Martinez at Fox News. "Not once has anyone recognized me, which is perfect for me." In 2006 Roth began working as a talk show personality, replacing Howard Stern on CBS Radio, though his residency only lasted a few months. During the same year he also contributed to versions of "Jump" and "Jamie's Crying" for a blue-grass tribute album, Strummin' With the Devil: The Southern Side of Van Halen. "I'm the aberration," he told Rafer Guzman in Newsday. "A 50-year-old who still commits to dangerous and new pursuits."

Selected discography

With Van Halen
Van Halen, Warner Brothers, 1978.Van Halen II, Warner Brothers, 1979.Women and Children First, Warner Brothers, 1980.Fair Warning, Warner Brothers, 1981.Diver Down, Warner Brothers, 1982.1984, Warner Brothers, 1984.
Solo albums
Crazy From the Heat, (EP), Warner Brothers, 1985.Eat 'em and Smile, Warner Brothers, 1986.Skyscraper, Warner Brothers, 1988.A Little Ain't Enough, Warner Brothers, 1991.Your Filthy Little Mouth, Warner Brothers, 1994.Best of Volume 1, Warner Brothers, 1996.DLR Band, Wawazat, 1998.Diamond Dave, Magna Carta, 2003.(Contributor) Strummin' With the Devil: The Southern Side of Van Halen, CMH, 2006.
Sources
Books
Kaye, Annene, Van Halen, J. Messner, 1985.
Matthews, Gordon, Van Halen, Ballantine Books, 1984.

Periodicals
Musician, February 1986.
Newsday, June 25, 2006.
People, February 11, 1985; June 23, 1986; September 29, 1986.
Rolling Stone, June 21, 1984; April 11, 1985; August 15, 1985; July 3, 1986.
San Francisco Chronicle, November 2, 1997, p. 50.

Online
"David Lee Roth a NYC Paramedic," Fox News, http://www.foxnews.com/ (June 10, 2006).
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Artists:

David Lee Roth

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  • Genres: Rock

Biography

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 (not to mention his acrobatic leaps, long mane of blond hair, and skintight spandex outfits), Roth was an integral part of Van Halen's meteoric rise to global dominance from 1978 through 1984. Born on October 10, 1954 in Bloomington, Indiana, Roth was introduced to music at an early age, via his father's affinity for Al Jolson, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, and Louis Prima. By the dawn of his teenage years, his family had relocated to California, and by the early '70s, Roth had become a major rock fan (Led Zeppelin, Black Oak Arkansas, Grand Funk, ZZ Top, Alice Cooper, etc.). Roth was soon singing in local bands, including the Red Ball Jets, who would play shows along with another up-and-coming rock band from Pasadena, California -- Mammoth.

The members of Mammoth, including brothers Eddie and Alex Van Halen on guitar and drums, respectively, would often borrow Roth's PA system for their gigs, and a friendship was struck up. Soon after, Roth was asked to join forces with the Van Halen brothers, who had enlisted a new bassist as well, Michael Anthony. The new quartet decided on a name change by the mid-'70s as they played the Sunset Strip -- Van Halen (reportedly Roth's idea). By 1977, the quartet was signed to Warner Bros., and 1978 saw the release of their landmark self-titled debut, one of rock's all-time great recordings. Mixing heavy metal riffs with punk's fury, Van Halen were onto a whole new sound, which resulted in the band taking the world by storm. The band issued a string of classic mega-selling albums (1979's Van Halen II, 1980's Women and Children First, 1981's Fair Warning, 1982's Diver Down, and two years later, 1984), while becoming a major arena-headlining concert draw in the process.

Just as Van Halen had hit their peak and appeared they could do no wrong, Roth issued a four-track solo EP in 1985, Crazy from the Heat, with rumors swirling that the bandmembers were bickering behind the scenes and that the singer was going to make a major motion picture. Still, it was a shock to rock fans everywhere when Roth left Van Halen later that year (Van Halen would soldier on with Sammy Hagar filling Roth's spot) -- leading to a war of words in the press. When his plans for the movie proved to be a bust, Roth immediately formed a top-notch solo band, consisting of ex-Talas bassist Billy Sheehan (often called "the Eddie Van Halen of bass"), ex-Frank Zappa guitarist Steve Vai, and ex-Maynard Ferguson drummer Gregg Bissonette. In 1986, Roth issued his first full-length solo effort, Eat 'Em and Smile, which was another hit and gave way to another sold-out tour.

Roth had also become a master of creating hilarious and highly original music videos (featuring a wide assortment of wacky characters), especially Van Halen's "Hot for Teacher" and Roth's solo clips "California Girls," "Just a Gigolo," "Yankee Rose," and "Goin' Crazy." But while Roth's new solo band seemed to be on the way to a very promising future, the lineup began to splinter with each subsequent release (1988's Skyscraper, 1991's A Little Ain't Enough), until Roth was the only remaining member. With interest waning, Roth attempted to branch out musically on his experimental 1994 release, Your Filthy Little Mouth (produced by Nile Rodgers), but it was met with a cool reception, as was his attempt to break into the Vegas circuit around the same time.

By 1996, Van Halen had parted ways with Hagar, leading to an onslaught of rumors that a Roth/Van Halen reunion was in the works. The rumor appeared to become reality on September 4, 1996, when Van Halen and Roth appeared together at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York to present an award. Despite the fact that they had recorded several new songs the previous summer (two of which would appear on their forthcoming Best Of: Vol. 1 collection), the reunion was short-lived -- Eddie and Roth got into a near fistfight backstage on the night of the awards show, as relations soured once again when it became known that Van Halen tricked Roth into thinking that he was back in the band (meanwhile, they had secretly hired ex-Extreme singer Gary Cherone a few months prior).

Undeterred, Roth penned a tell-all biography, 1997's Crazy from the Heat, and issued his best solo album in years, 1998's back-to-basics DLR Band. When Cherone was dismissed from Van Halen in 1999 after only a single album (the horrific Van Halen III), rumors began swirling once again about a possible Roth/Van Halen reunion. With both camps keeping things very hush-hush, Roth finally broke the silence in April of 2001, issuing a statement on his website that he and his former Van Halen bandmates had indeed regrouped the previous year in the recording studio, but that he hadn't heard back from them in months. Barely a week later, Eddie Van Halen went public with the fact that he was diagnosed with cancer; in May of 2002 he reported on his website that his cancer treatments had been successful and he had "just gotten a 100 percent clean bill of health -- from head to toe."

Meanwhile, the good news from Eddie Van Halen did not apparently coincide with a return of Roth to the Van Halen fold, as the singer's Diamond Dave, a 14-track collection of mostly covers that echoed the 1982 Van Halen classic Diver Down, was released in 2003. In 2005, Roth took over FM "Shock Jock" duties for the satellite radio-bound Howard Stern, and the following year he gathered friends for the tongue-in-cheek Strummin with the Devil: The Southern Side of Van Halen. ~ Greg Prato, Rovi
Wikipedia on Answers.com:

David Lee Roth

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"Diamond Dave" redirects here. For the album, see Diamond Dave (album). For the song by The Bird and the Bee, see Diamond Dave (song).
David Lee Roth

David Lee Roth, 2007
Background information
Also known as Diamond Dave
Born October 10, 1955 (1955-10-10) (age 56)
Bloomington, Indiana,
United States
Genres Hard rock, heavy metal
Occupations Musician, songwriter, paramedic, producer, author
Instruments Vocals, guitar, harmonica, synthesizer
Years active 1969–present
Labels Warner Bros., Magna Carta, CMH
Associated acts The David Lee Roth Band, Van Halen
Website www.davidleeroth.com

David Lee Roth (born October 10, 1955)[1] is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality. Roth was ranked 19th by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Singers of All Time.[2] He is one of few vocalists with a larger than 4 octave range in full voice (from G1 to G♯5).[3]

Roth is best known as the original and current lead singer of the southern California-based hard rock outfit Van Halen. After departing Van Halen in 1985 Roth first enjoyed a successful career as a solo artist, which originated while still a member of that band and yielded several RIAA-certified Gold and Platinum records.[4] After more than two decades apart, Roth rejoined Van Halen in 2007 for a North American tour that became the most successful in the band's history[5] and one of the highest grossing of that year.[6] Roth has remained the lead singer of Van Halen since his 2006 return and has recently completed recording new material with the band for their first album together since 1984.[7]

Contents

Early life

Roth was born October 10, 1955 in Bloomington, Indiana. He is the son of Nathan Roth, an ophthalmologist, and Sibyl Roth. He is the brother of Allison and Lisa Roth. David's paternal and maternal grandparents emigrated from Azores Islands, Portugal and Russia to Indiana. David is half-Jewish on his father's side. [8] He was raised in the Jewish religion. Many members of his family were surgeons: Roth has an uncle, Dave, who is a neurosurgeon; an uncle, Marty, who is an orthopedic surgeon; and a grandfather who was a surgeon.[9] Roth's uncle, Manny Roth, is an influential New York City nightclub owner and entertainment entrepreneur who built and owned the New York establishment Cafe Wha? in the early 1960s, where the likes of Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix were performing and hanging out. Seven-year-old David Lee got his first taste of, and desire for, show business from the inside by hanging out at Cafe Wha?, as mentioned in his book "Crazy from the Heat" numerous times. His uncle would be one of David's first guests on his short-lived radio show on New York's 92.3 Free-FM.

After living in Bloomington and in Swampscott, Massachusetts, Roth moved to Pasadena, California in his teens. Roth stated he bounced around a number of schools and spent three years going to a psychiatrist. He eventually attended a ranch for troubled teens where he cared for a horse to build a sense of responsibility.[10] He was educated at The Webb Schools in Claremont, California and John Muir High School in Pasadena. He later attended Pasadena City College where he met the Van Halen brothers, Eddie and Alex, although he did not graduate. During this period, Roth worked as a hospital orderly.[9]

With Van Halen

By the time Roth was in his late teens, he was singing solo as well as with a group called the Red Ball Jets. Another Los Angeles area group, Mammoth (featuring Alex Van Halen on drums and Edward Van Halen singing and playing lead guitar), occasionally rented the Red Ball Jets' PA system. Roth would eventually be invited to join Mammoth as lead singer, an invitation he quickly accepted. In 1974, the band was informed that another act was already using the name Mammoth, and, at Roth's urging, they opted to rename themselves Van Halen.[11]

Performing both original songs and established tunes, Van Halen eventually gained local success, becoming a regular feature at the Starwood Club, the West Coast's portal to fame. It was during their four-month stint there that they were first discovered. In 1976, Gene Simmons took note of the band (in particular Eddie Van Halen, who Simmons secretly hoped to recruit for his own band, KISS) and assisted them in producing their first demo tape.[12] Although featuring many of the songs that would be included on their future debut album, the tape did little to garner them any major label attention at the time. In early 1977, Warner Brothers' Ted Templeman came to the Starwood, heard the group, and immediately signed them to a contract with his label.[11] During this period Roth's stage persona was heavily influenced by that of Black Oak Arkansas vocalist Jim "Dandy" Mangrum.

Released in 1978, the band's first album, Van Halen, earned the band significant national attention. The album was a smashing success, with more than two million copies sold, and the original Van Halen went on to release five more successful albums over the next seven years. Roth is often credited with promoting Van Halen's image as the quintessential rock band, one devoted to a lifestyle described by David Fricke in Rolling Stone as "a nonstop booze-and-babes party train." Despite this wild image, Roth earned applause for his abilities as a lyricist and singer. The generally simple lyrics worked in harmony with the music composed by Edward Van Halen to create the band's trademark tunes, tunes that helped transform Van Halen, in Fricke's words, into "the monster rock action squad that ruled the charts and the airwaves for seven years."[11]

In early 1985, while still a member of Van Halen, Roth released "Crazy From the Heat", a popular solo EP of off-beat standards. Singles for "California Girls" and "Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody" succeeded largely due to their innovative music videos (produced by Jerry Kramer and co-produced by Glenn Goodwin), which featured ridiculous characters created by Roth and his Creative Chief Director, Pete Angelus (who directed Van Halen's Roth-era videos, before directing the videos from Roth's early solo career.)

On April 1, 1985, Roth and Van Halen parted ways. In his 1998 autobiography, Crazy From the Heat, Roth characterized Van Halen's music just before his 1985 departure as "morose". Roth wished to record an album quickly, tour, and then shoot a movie (the latter never coming to fruition).[11]

Rumors of a reunion became a topic of speculation in late 2006. On February 2nd, 2007, Roth was confirmed to have rejoined Van Halen. They went on tour for most of 2007 and 2008 before returning to the studio in to record the album A Different Kind of Truth, which was released in February 2012. This marks the first album with Roth in almost 30 years, and the first original recording in 16 years.

Solo career

In late 1985, Roth assembled a backing band, consisting of guitarist Steve Vai, bassist Billy Sheehan, and drummer Gregg Bissonette. With veteran Van Halen producer Ted Templeman handling the production, Roth released his debut full-length solo album, Eat 'Em and Smile in July 1986. The album saw Roth return to hard rock music, and met with huge commercial and critical success, charting at #4 on the Billboard Top 200.[13]

In January 1988, Roth released Skyscraper, a more commercial recording featuring the hit single "Just Like Paradise." Skyscraper was co-produced by Roth and Steve Vai and was certified Platinum (1 million in sales). At the time of its release, Skyscraper peaked at #6 on the Billboard album chart. Soon after Skyscraper's release, Billy Sheehan left Roth's band due to musical differences.[14] He was replaced in time for the album's support tour with bassist Matt Bissonette.[15] The tour was a major production featuring, at various points, Roth surfing above the audience on a surfboard suspended on wires, and in a boxing ring. Both parts of the stage show were featured in the "Just Like Paradise" music video.[16] The show also featured the band in a calypso segment playing Caribbean steel drums and in an unplugged segment where the band performed acoustic covers of some rock and roll classics.[17]

Following the tour for Skyscraper, Steve Vai left the band to pursue a solo career and record and tour with Whitesnake. Roth replaced him with guitar virtuoso Jason Becker to record his third solo LP, A Little Ain't Enough. A more mainstream hard rock album produced by Bob Rock, A Little Ain't Enough achieved RIAA gold status. Shortly before the support tour for the album, Becker was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, which rendered him unable to perform. Roth replaced Becker with guitarist Joe Holmes for the tour. The emergence of grunge had altered musical tastes at the time and the tour did not do as well financially as its predecessors, marking the last solo arena tour for Roth.

In April 1993, Roth was arrested in New York City's Washington Square Park for buying what he described as "$10 worth of Jamaican bunk reefer" from an undercover police officer. The arrest made headlines[18] and became a late-night television punch-line. When asked by Howard Stern whether the bust was a publicity stunt, Roth said, "Howard, in New York City this small of a bust is a $35 traffic citation. It literally says 'Buick, Chevy, Other'. Your dog poops on the sidewalk, it's $50. If I was looking for publicity, I would have pooped on the sidewalk."

In March 1994, Roth released Your Filthy Little Mouth, a more musically-eclectic album produced by Nile Rodgers.[19] The album failed to achieve positive critical or commercial success, proving to be Roth's first solo effort not to reach Gold or Platinum status. The support tour found Roth playing considerably smaller venues than where he had played previously. Although out of print for over ten years prior, Your Filthy Little Mouth saw a remastered re-release in 2007.

In 1995, Roth returned with an adult lounge act, performing largely in Las Vegas casinos, with a brass band that featured Nile Rodgers, Edgar Winter, and members of the Miami Sound Machine. It also featured several exotic dancers, who in Roth's words were "so sweet, I bet they shit sugar!"[20]

By the late 1990s, Roth trained as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and worked as one for some time.[21] He occasionally told stories about his experiences as an EMT on his radio show.

Career explorations

In June 1996, Roth reunited with Van Halen for a brief time and to great public fanfare. He recorded two new songs for Van Halen's Best of Vol. 1 album, "Can't Get This Stuff No More" and "Me Wise Magic." After an infamous appearance on September 5, 1996, at the MTV Video Music Awards during which Roth and Eddie Van Halen reportedly threatened each other,[22] Roth was passed over for Van Halen's new lead vocalist job in favor of Gary Cherone. (Cherone's previous band, Extreme, had opened for Roth in 1991).

In 1997, Roth wrote a well-received memoir, entitled Crazy From the Heat. The 359-page book was whittled down from over 1,200 pages of monologues, which were recorded and transcribed by a Princeton University graduate who followed Roth around for almost a year. The book received mostly positive critical reaction and spent time on the New York Times Bestseller list.

In 2001, rumors swirled that Roth and the members of Van Halen had recorded several new songs together and were in the process of attempting yet another reunion. Roth later confirmed this, but nothing became of the music. A box set was also rumored, but never materialized. Instead, Warner Bros. issued remastered versions of all six early Van Halen studio albums.

In 2002, Roth's Heavyweights of Rock and Roll Tour with Sammy Hagar revived his career somewhat. Despite this, Roth's future with Van Halen seemed uncertain.

"Yankee Rose" appeared in the 2002 videogame Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, playing on rock station V-Rock.

In 2003, Roth released Diamond Dave, an album of (mostly) classic rock cover songs ("If 6 Was 9", "Soul Kitchen," and a solo/big band version of "Ice Cream Man").

On December 31, 2003, Roth played a one night sold out New Year's Eve show at the House of Blues in Hollywood, CA consisting of Van Halen era songs as well as Roth era songs, and some drunken midgets roaming about the stage.

In 2004, he appeared on The Sopranos as a poker-playing guest of Tony Soprano, to which Roth was quoted on his website as saying, "Mom says I'm going to look like Lee Marvin in 10 years whether I'm in movies or not, so I might as well get after it!"

On July 4 2004, Roth performed with the Boston Pops at Boston's annual Pops Goes the Fourth celebration.

Roth's website has stated that he is also working on the book The Tao of Dave: Rock 'n' Roll Philosophy with David Lee Roth, a follow-up to his autobiography.

On May 25, 2006 in an interview with Billboard magazine,[23] Roth predicted a classic Van Halen reunion. "There's contact between the two camps..." says Roth, and "To me, it's not rocket surgery. It's very simple to put together. And as far as hurt feelings and water under the dam, like what's-her-name says to what's-her-name at the end of the movie". Strummin' With The Devil: The Southern Side of Van Halen - A Tribute was released on CMH Records. This album consists of tributes to Van Halen performed by David Lee Roth, The John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band, Blue Highway, Mountain Heart, The John Cowan Band, Iron Horse, David Grisman and Sons.[24]

Relationship with the Howard 100 News

During the course of Roth's radio show, he maintained a relationship with Howard Stern News Department reporter Steve Langford. Roth and Langford met frequently after shows, with Langford bringing tape back to Howard of Roth's complaints towards WXRK's management. Issues included Roth's firing, the missing podcast, and his show being cut off early. Langford and Roth met last on Roth's final day, April 21, 2006, Roth performed the Rolling Stones song "You Can't Always Get What You Want" for Howard and discussed an impending lawsuit against CBS.

Return to Van Halen

On January 24, 2007, after much anticipation, Billboard.com reported that David Lee Roth would rejoin Van Halen for a 40-date amphitheater tour in Summer 2007.[25] This report, among many others, was confirmed with an official press release posted on the official Van Halen website on Feb. 2, 2007.

On Feb. 2, 2007 The Official Van Halen Web Site released information that David Lee Roth had rejoined the band along with current members Alex, Eddie, along with Eddie and Valerie Bertinelli's teenage son, Wolfgang Van Halen. Michael Anthony, Van Halen's original bass player, played the summer 2004 tour with Sammy Hagar under a 'hired gun' contract. On March 8 the official Van Halen website posted a letter from Eddie Van Halen stating that Ed was entering rehab and that the tour with Roth had been indefinitely postponed.

In March 2007 five members of Van Halen, the four original members and Sammy Hagar were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Van Halen brothers did not attend due to Eddie's condition. Roth was to perform with the band Velvet Revolver; however, conflict with the band caused his part to be canceled. Roth subsequently did not attend the induction, leaving only Michael Anthony and Sammy Hagar to represent Van Halen. Both Anthony and Hagar thanked Roth publicly for his contribution to the band during the awards acceptance.

The conflict was rumored to be based on song selection. Roth wanted to perform "Jump", the band's highest charting song, but Velvet Revolver would only agree to play "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" or "You Really Got Me". When it was finally agreed upon that Paul Shaffer would perform "Jump", Roth claimed that there was no longer enough time to rehearse and opted not to attend the ceremony.

On G4's show Code Monkeys, Dave is shown giving an inspirational speech to keep the others from taking up jobs at Bellecovision and asks "Would David Lee Roth leave Van Halen?" The show takes place in the 1980s.

On August 13, 2007, 6 months after the initial reunion tour was postponed, it was finally confirmed by Van Halen with Roth at a press conference in Los Angeles that they would start the tour back up again and schedule it starting in September 2007. At that conference, Eddie Van Halen stated that he and Roth were "like brothers" now. Calling Van Halen a "real band", both Edward and Roth spoke of the possibility of further worldwide touring and a new album in mind for the future.

On June 5, 2008, Van Halen announced the 2007-2008 tour with Roth grossed more than $93 million, a record for the rock band. Van Halen played to nearly one million people during 74 arena shows throughout the United States and Canada, beginning September 27, 2007 in Charlotte, N.C. and wrapping June 3, 2008 in Quebec City, QC for the 400th anniversary of the city.

In December 2011, Van Halen announced a 2012 tour with David Lee Roth. [26]

The new Roth-fronted Van Halen album A Different Kind of Truth was released on February 7, 2012. Critical reception has been positive (see article).

Solo band members

Guitars

  • Brian Young and Toshi Hiketa (2006)
  • Toshi Hiketa (2003–2005)
  • Brian Young (2002–2003)
  • Bart Walsh (1999, 2001)
  • Mike Hartman and John Lowery (1998)
  • Steve Hunter (1997)
  • Terry Kilgore (1994)
  • Terry Kilgore and Rocket Ritchotte (1993–1994)
  • Joe Holmes and Steve Hunter (1991–1992)
  • Jason Becker and Steve Hunter (1990–1991)
  • Steve Vai (1985–1989)
  • Peter Lewis (1990–1991)
  • Electric Moccasin

Bass

Drums

Keyboards

  • Marcus Margand II (2000–2001)
  • Patrick Howard I (1998–1999)
  • Richard Hilton (1994–1995)
  • Brett Tuggle (1988–1994, 1997)
  • Jesse Harms (1986)

Discography

Main article: David Lee Roth discography
Albums with Van Halen
Studio albums/EPs
Other appearances

Notes

  1. ^ Roth, David Lee (1998). Crazy From the Heat. Hyperion. ISBN 0786889470. 
  2. ^ oz (2006-12-04). "''Hit Parader's'' 100 Metal Vocalists of All Time". Hearya.com. http://www.hearya.com/2006/12/04/hit-paraders-top-100-metal-vocalists-of-all-time/. Retrieved 2011-08-09. 
  3. ^ "4 Octave Wonders". The Range Place. http://therangeplace.forummotion.com/t112-4-octave-wonders. Retrieved 7 January 2012. 
  4. ^ "Gold & Platinum - November 12, 2010". RIAA. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS. Retrieved 2011-08-09. 
  5. ^ "Van Halen 2007-2008 Tour Highest Grossing in Band’s History | Van Halen News Desk". Vhnd.com. 2008-06-06. http://www.vhnd.com/2008/06/06/van-halen-2007-2008-tour-highest-grossing-in-bands-history/. Retrieved 2011-08-09. 
  6. ^ "News Headlines". Cnbc.com. 2009-02-03. http://www.cnbc.com/id/28998947/Highest_Grossing_Concert_Tours_of_2008?slide=6. Retrieved 2011-08-09. 
  7. ^ By Dumbass (2010-07-06). "New Van Halen Album Just "Rumors" Band Says | Rolling Stone Music". Rollingstone.com. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/new-van-halen-album-just-rumors-band-says-20100706. Retrieved 2011-08-09. 
  8. ^ http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jan/29/entertainment/la-ca-vanhalen-20120129/2
  9. ^ a b "Diamond David Lee Roth Biography". Davidleeroth.com. http://www.davidleeroth.com/bio/david-lee-roth.php. Retrieved 2011-08-10. 
  10. ^ Interview, Rolling Stone, 1985.
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  12. ^ "Gene Simmons & Van Halen (08/2002)". The Kissfaq. http://www.kissfaq.com/articles/vanhalen.html. Retrieved 2011-08-09. 
  13. ^ Review of Eat 'Em and Smile[dead link] at Rolling Stone.
  14. ^ "Billy Sheehan, Interview, David Lee Roth, Talas, Mr. Big, Van Halen". Fullinbloommusic.com. http://www.fullinbloommusic.com/billysheehan.html. Retrieved 2011-08-09. 
  15. ^ "David Lee Roth - Albums and Tours". Waddywachtelinfo.com. http://waddywachtelinfo.com/bretttuggledavidleeroth.html. Retrieved 2011-08-09. 
  16. ^ om een reactie te plaatsen! (2010-02-17). "David Lee Roth - Just Like Paradise HD". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_617227&v=I4qh_9vH1Ww&feature=iv. Retrieved 2011-08-09. 
  17. ^ om een reactie te plaatsen!. "David Lee Roth - I've Just Seen A Face". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOzOpsghhs0&feature=player_embedded. Retrieved 2011-08-09. 
  18. ^ "David Lee Roth Is Arrested - NYTimes.com". New York Times. 1993-04-17. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE1DB1438F934A25757C0A965958260. Retrieved 2011-08-09. 
  19. ^ "David Lee Roth - Your Filthy Little Mouth (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. http://www.discogs.com/David-Lee-Roth-Your-Filthy-Little-Mouth/release/372488. Retrieved 2011-08-09. 
  20. ^ "Unchained : David Lee Roth and the Mambo Slammers : VegasTripping News Desk". VegasTripping.com. http://www.vegastripping.com/news/news.php?news_id=2392. Retrieved 2011-08-09. 
  21. ^ Martinez, Erika. "David Lee Roth a NYC Paramedic", New York Post on FoxNews.com, 16 November 2004.
  22. ^ YouTube - VAN HALEN VS. DAVID LEE ROTH 1996[dead link]
  23. ^ Up for Discussion Jump to Forums. "Roth Predicts Van Halen Comeback". Billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002576067. Retrieved 2011-08-09. 
  24. ^ June 13, 2006; Written by Calvin Gilbert (2006-06-13). "News : David Lee Roth Jumps for Bluegrass Album". CMT. http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1534233/david-lee-roth-jumps-for-bluegrass-album.jhtml. Retrieved 2011-08-09. 
  25. ^ Up for Discussion Jump to Forums. "Exclusive: Van Halen Reuniting With Roth For Tour". Billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003537232. Retrieved 2011-08-10. 
  26. ^ "Van Halen Announces 2012 tour with David Lee Roth". CBS News. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31749_162-57348635-10391698/van-halen-announces-2012-tour-with-david-lee-roth/. 

Bibliography

External links

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Preceded by
Eddie Van Halen		 Lead singer of Van Halen
1974–1985		 Succeeded by
Sammy Hagar
Preceded by
Mitch Malloy		 Lead singer of Van Halen
1996		 Succeeded by
Gary Cherone
Preceded by
Sammy Hagar		 Lead singer of Van Halen
2006 – to date		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
David Lee Roth
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Former drummers
Former keyboardists
  • Brett Tuggle
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Union: Do Your Own Thing Live (Film)
Talas (Rock Band, '80s, '90s)
Hard 'N' Heavy, Vol. 12 (1991 Music Film)

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