David Lee Roth spoke with Phoenix radio station KSLX on September 12th, to promote his upcoming Las Vegas residency. Highlights from interview appear below (via blabbermouth.net.).
Discussing Van Halen, the singer said, “”I’m the face of Van Halen from this point on, most likely. I’m not sure what’s happening with Ed [Van Halen guitarist Eddie Van Halen], but he’s probably not gonna answer the bell this time. And it’s not my place to guess. But we’ve been in touch. The fellows who I’m working with in terms of my road crew and the amps come from Van Halen.”
Asked if he is implying that Eddie Van Halen has been dealing with some health issues as of late, Roth replied, “I hear all the same rumors that you do and it’s not my place to guess.”
Earlier this year, rumors were rampant that the classic-era lineup of Van Halen would reunite for the first time since 1984. It’s unclear why the tour didn’t happen, though there has been online chatter that a health setback involving Eddie Van Halen might have been responsible.
Roth reunited with Van Halen in 2007 after 23 years apart and released a comeback album, A Different Kind Of Truth, in 2012.
The band’s last live performance was on October 2015 in Los Angeles, California. It was Van Halen’s first tour since an aborted North American run three years earlier in support of A Different Kind Of Truth.
29 Responses
And what a face it is…..
They way he has been singing…..glad he did not say “his voice”
I would love to see the original 4 sit down with Ted Templeman and Eddie Trunk and discuss the making of the first 4 albums while they’re all still here. I’m sure they would have different recollections, but it would still be a great discussion. (I’m listening to “Somebody get me a doctor” right now).
I disagree, there are many faces of Van Halen. Anyway, here’s my DLR top 20:
20) Coconut Grove
19) Hina
18) Easy Street
17) Lady Luck
16) Hot Dog And A Shake
15) Sensible Shoes
14) California Girls
13) Tobacco Road
12) She’s My Machine
11) Just Like Paradise
10) Just A Gigolo
9) Big Train
8) A Lil’ Ain’t Enough
7) Goin’ Crazy
6) Big Trouble
5) Damn Good
4) Ladies’ Night In Buffalo
3) Shyboy
2) It’s Showtime!
1) Yankee Rose
Yankee Rose is my favorite DLR song, too.
9-2 🙂
Well at least we did you guys a favor and swept the Diamondbacks 4 games! Dodgers are good, but it ain’t over till the fat lady sings!
Ryu’s pitching Doug, you’re about to drop another one… 🙂
..freaking Dodger bullpen…you Mets played like their lives depended on it…oh, that’s right it did. 🙂
3-0! 🙂 Let’s go Mets!! All we need is the Phillies, Cubs, and the Brewers to collapse, and the 2nd wild card is ours! I’m sure the Dodgers don’t want to see the Mets again in the playoffs, remember 2015? Tonight will be Walker “Ferris” Buehler’s day off! 😉 LOL!!!
Buehler’s pretty good…but what happened to Joe Kelly? My goodness the guy seems like he can’t take the pressure sometimes, which is just odd……….Sunday Night Baseball, the Mets want this game so freaking bad…lol….should be good… talk to ya later Doug. 🙂
Well, we need it a lot more than you guys do! Dodgers are already in the playoffs, of course, but the Mets are fighting for the last wild card! They still have a shot, it will take a miracle, but the Amazin’s are known for miracles! 😉
In the infamous words of Tug McGraw – “You Gotta Believe” (pounds glove on thigh, walking to the clubhouse).
Oh well, doesn’t look like there will be a miracle this year! Tell the fat lady she can start singing now! 😉 LOL! More bad news, first Eddie Money, and now Ric Ocasek, I love The Cars. RIP Ric.
Doug R.,
Given your well-known dislike of anything even remotely rap, I was actually VERY (pleasantly) surprised to see that “Big Trouble” rated so high on your Top 20. The verses to that song are entirely rapped. Personally, I’m glad you rated it so highly because I love that song too! Also, Ladies Night In Buffalo might be one of Dave’s best songs – ever!
Ugh, am I the only one around here that hears and knows the difference between “rapping” and “TALKING?” Roth does NOT rap! Not even close! He talks, a lot! 😉 No gibberish, no yo yo yo, no babbling bullsh-t, just talking! People have talked in songs since the beginning of music, but now all of a sudden because of the “popularity” of rap, talking is called rapping. Anyway, thanks for the compliment, “Ladies’ Night In Buffalo” really is a great song!
Doug, it was a great game; the Mets wanted it more than the Dodgers, heck…Roberts is over there experimenting with his pitching rotation as a warm up for the playoffs….and they still won! Doug, the Mets are almost a good team though… 🙂
They already are a good team, just not good enough for the playoffs, this year. My biggest concern is Syndergaard, he’s not the same pitcher he used to be, not even close! If we’re going to make the playoffs next year, we need Noah to be “Thor” again!
“Well, Mousy Joe got the master plan.
He got a hat full of sugar; folks said, “You a lucky man.”
One night he just disappeared
And all we found was his hat in a clearing
Down by the Seven Eleven.
Folks cried, someone had died.
But I know Joe didn’t go to heaven, no.”
Dave’s talking in rhymes. He’s talking to and on the beat. The man himself has said he used to love old-school rap. But, hey, he didn’t say “yo yo yo,” so clearly he’s not rapping. He’s talking. (laughs!)
the Cars were such a great band – Ben Orr had such a great voice.
RIP Ric – thanks for the music
Thanks RT, but I already knew the words that Diamond Dave spoke! You hear one thing, I hear another. If, IF Roth ever said something about liking old-school rap, I’m sure it was meant as tongue and cheek, just like alot of sentences that came out of Roth’s mouth! Eat ‘Em And Smile! In 1986, I don’t think rap had been around long enough yet to be considered old-school anyway.
Absolutely, Wig, totally agree! Nobody combined rock with new wave the way The Cars did. Ric was a genius.
The reported causes of death:
Ric Ocasek: Died naturally of heart disease. Pulmonary emphysema, a type of lung disease, contributed to his death. His ex wife, Paulina Porizkova, who found him, also said, “Ric was at home recuperating well after surgery” and calling the rock legend’s death “untimely and unexpected…“I found him still asleep when bringing him his Sunday morning coffee. I touched his cheek to rouse him. It was then I realized that during the night he had peacefully passed on.”
Eddie Money: Lost his battle with Stage 4 esophageal cancer.
Thank you for the update, Dana. Ric Ocasek and Eddie Money were 2 of my favorite non hard rock/metal artists. They left us a world of great music. If I had more time I would love to do a Cars/Money top 20, maybe later.
Dave took Van Halen’s road crew and amps…plus “a bottle of anything and a glazed doughnut…to go”
I’d like to see DRL eat em and smile line up play
And as for being the face of Van Halen, this one is long in the tooth (listening to Eddie Money now in remembrance as part of my life’s soundtrack, as much as Van Halen, RIP Eddie)
Absolutely agree, Charles, I loved Eddie Money’s music as well. So many faves, but I think “Two Tickets To Paradise,” “Think I’m In Love,” “Walk On Water,” “Shakin’,” and probably “Wanna Be A Rock ‘N’ Roll Star” would be my top 5. Maybe later, a top 20 Money songs?
Saw Eddie Money (with Pat Benetar) during the WPLJ Concerts in the Park in the 80S
Got free tickets and beer by handing out WNEW-FM swag around the park with a friend who was one of the DJs
Good times and the show was on the money! RIP Eddie