Van Halen - David Lee Roth Says He Will Never Leave Van Halen

[@heyjarrod]

I have a personalized autographed headshot of Dave-same promotional shot there at the beginning of the article. It was hanging on my wall all through high school, with a bunch of other coasters and magazine clippings. Van Halen‘s stage manager, Patrick Whitley, lived next-door to us. In 1986 he got me the autographed headshot, and several tickets and backstage passes to Dave’s Eat ‘Em and Smile tour. So we were all like 15, took some buddies, and a girl for each, got a bunch of pictures with a lot of rockers. Turns out Van Halen, the whole band, Valerie, and others, were all next-door for a Halloween party, it must’ve been 1980. My mom even went to the party, ha ha. I found a list of every gig they played going back to like 1976. Every Whisky gig, every Gazzarri’s gig, and tour dates. And it looked look like the only time they were in town on Halloween was 1980. And before that, when I was really young, maybe late 70s, my grandpa said there’s a picture of David Lee Roth hanging in his ophthalmologists office. Turns out his ophthalmologist here in Pasadena was Dr. Roth. Small world. Ton of stories for a lot of us locals. I still go by Dave’s mansion periodically, do a livestream, and walk around the front yelling, “Dave!!!” He’s got a full sized big blue US mailbox (like the ones you’ll see around town) just behind one of his gates, and I usually drop a guitar pick in there.

[@jasonwilliams6005]

Just bought a sealed Eat em and Smile cassette the other day for $3. Still like that album.

[@ponzo1967]

I appreciate that album more now at 57 than I did at 18. I still have it on cassette tape too but it's far from brand new Lol

[@drewskkiiii]

so fascinating i’m learning about Diamond Dave in 2024. He is so interesting. Great video!!

[@PaulLoughrin]

Like button smashed! I'm 58. I had so many Circus and Hit Parader magazines. I remember this. I also saw DLR with Poison opening in Austin, TX when I was in the Air Force stationed at Bergstrom AFB. Thanks!

[@audiomover]

Thank you!

[@RonStewart-i2t]

Man you guys are True VH fans!!! Im probably bout the same age as u guys. I also seen the reunion tour. Loved Dave's Solo stuff. Love Dave!! I was 10 when VH sold out 3 shows in 20 min in Detroit at Cobo hall. My brothers waited all night at harmony house for ticket's. They got me a ticket but my mom said your too young but I'll let you go next time they come🤯. That was 83-84 last time with Dave. Im still pissed at Mom for that 😂. Seen them 3 times with Sam and like I said I went twice to the reunion tour. I love it All But The Mighty Van Halen is Dave, Edward Alex and Mike 🎸

[@totigerus]

Thank you for this!

[@audiomover]

I'm glad you like it!

[@NealVio]

Honestly, I love those old magazines.

[@ponzo1967]

The Fabulous Picaso Brothers. Daves videos are hilarious.

[@JJG5150]

Best group ever ! Love this channel! Keep up! So fascinating ! ❤

[@audiomover]

Thank you! I'm glad you like it.

[@sweetwilliam5150]

OK. I will geek out on Van Halen with you guys, Thanks btw.

[@Rick-mp8tm]

Eddie Van Halen was so big, that the rock and roll station in Nashville 103 KDF, They started playing beat It by Michael Jackson! They didn't play music like that but that was a rock song, That album was so big, thriller I think they might have played Billie Jean later on but not at fisrt, And I'm with you I was really excited to hear the guitar solo in beat it! I thought Eddie played the main riff or whatever also, I didn't know he just played the solo!

[@Rick-mp8tm]

When Van Halen 1984 tickets went on sale, for Nashville show ,it sold out in an hour or Two, It was much looked forward to, there's a lot of anticipation for that show! They did not disappoint, They really brought it at night, Dave did some kind of routine with swords, some kind of ninja thing I don't know what it was but it was cool, Eddie was perfect, far as I'm concerned, mind blowing, Yeah I remember someone throwing a bra on stage, and Dave replied " these sure in the hell ain't Valerie's!" I think he might have done that at every show! Then later on in the show Valerie bertinelli walked on stage and they introduced her It was pretty cool! Autograph open for them, They basically got boo'ed off the stage, before throwing pizza boxes at them and everything, this was before turn up the radio! Me and my three friends sat in the hatch of a Ford pinto, on the 45 minute drive to Nashville.It was an excellent concert All four members at their peaks as far as I'm concerned! Thanks for the great content , Love the show😂

[@ponzo1967]

I saw one of the two Indianapolis shows 07/05/84. It was a memorable experience. Roth says, " Don't stick that tongue out baby unless you're ready to use it." "She's ready to use it." Lol

[@ponzo1967]

Thats was a cool EP followed by a very good album. Dave had it rolling strong for a couple years.

[@Rick-mp8tm]

In 1987 Dave came back to Nashville with Steve Via, Billy Sheehan, And it was okay but it wasn't Van Halen. I thought it was a little cheesy some of it Dave wore oversized boxing gloves in a ring above the stage that he was in, I thought that was corny, It was okay concert, poison open for them and I thought they were pretty good and I'm not a poison fan, Just a gigolo and California Girls were played non-stop on the rock station in Nashville 103 KDF, Those songs are engraved in my head, but those are pop songs not rock and roll songs! I'm just glad I got to see Dave with Van Halen at their peak In 1984!!!!

[@Rick-mp8tm]

Well I pulled up crazy from the heat EP, I listen to California Girls for the first time in a long time, Saw the lyrics, It's another song that I got there lyrics wrong in my head, I thought it said I wish they'd offer me California Girls, The real lyrics of course are I wish they could be California Girls!!!!! , And I listen to coconut Grove for the very first time and it's a cool , kind of trippy song, actually really like it. Thanks a lot for posting these, And I like your friend he's cool I like his insights, I really appreciate your content thank you

[@thefonzkiss]

You sound like you’ve been permanently stoned since 1985.

[@Rick-mp8tm]

@thefonzkiss nope, since 1982

[@robertcook792]

This was very interesting. Really makes ya think that maybe he was thrown out of the band. I've always thought that he quit but idk I guess it gives another twist to the story. I was 12 years old in 1984. I remember seeing the world premier video for Jump. Van Halen became my favorite band hands down at this time. And I was donpissed off to learn that Dave wasn't in the band anymore. I mean I was just hearing them. So I went back to the debut album and bought an album a year till I had them all. So I did what I had to do. My allegiance has always been with VanHalen. However I went to see the Skyscraper tour in 88 which was my first rock concert. It was fantastic. I really got an education there. A few months later I went and saw OU812 concert. It was even better. Just because it's Eddie. And Alex's drums were crazy. But after this Dave fell off the planet. I went and saw him in a bar in Charlotte NC where he had auditions for a band . It was great,but never have I saw someone go from top to gone like Dave did. He just didn't have enough to keep up with VanHalen. They were still at the top until Sammy left the band. I really love the old stuff, but it was time to stretch out and do different. Dave couldn't do what Sammy did. He wouldn't have sang those songs. I often wonder what would've happened if Dave would've stayed in Van Halen. I really don't think they would've had the success that they had. Sammy came in and pulled them outta the hole.

[@TheOBViOUSChannel]

haha... some serious Paul Shaffer vibes. Fun topic... interesting article discussed. Dave is always a fascinating individual and topic. #mrchristophertv

[@LuisRodriguez-cf4tf]

Why Dave did those covers?? Because that’s who he is 😉 Vaudevillian 💯 The reason neither fractions did not sounded like they intended (the true VH) is because the chemistry Dave and Ed had. Dave was just a victim of himself. Nevertheless, he was the undefeated king of all the 80’s frontmen. Nowadays? He just let himself free instead of still trying to instill he loves the 80’s metal. I do believe doesn’t even own at least one album of the 80’s hard/metal rock era.

[@mirko1382]

DLR also rerecorded Eat 'em Smile in Spanish.

[@MichaelBeauchesne]

Dave is a very unique person and very smart but a lot of people see him as a goof ball which is so far from the genius that he is

[@mirko1382]

@@MichaelBeauchesne That is true. It was actually Bily Sheenan's idea to record the album in Spanish. The album got criticized for its "gringo Spanish". Though I think Dave is a lot smarter than people think he really is. The Diamond Dave is just a front to who he really is.

[@MichaelBeauchesne]

@@mirko1382 He had a larger than life personality in those days.He rubbed some people the wrong way but I for one loved it

[@TenMinutesLyne]

@@MichaelBeauchesne It must have been difficult for him keeping up the bravado against two brothers. Bands are like that, you have to fight your ground. They were bound to implode with the ego's involved but the early days, albums and playing were definitely a trip for fans.

[@WalkingDead2024]

Woah, my recruiter is on here.

[@mrcurtis73]

Somewhat off topic, but I heard that Vinnie Vincent was in Dan Hartman’s band at some point.

[@audiomover]

I love those crazy connections!

[@Batlizard74]

@@audiomover Yep look up the video called “Instant Replay” by Dan Hartman. Vinnie and GE Smith are in the video dancing and miming guitar. It’s mandatory viewing if a Kiss fan and I know you are!

[@SLiMCHiCKeN5150]

No, Vinnie played the female role in the video tho 😂

[@MichaelBeauchesne]

@@SLiMCHiCKeN5150 Before or after his sex change

[@mirko1382]

The magazine came out in June of '85. The date is always 2 months in advance for the publisher. All news stand magazines are sold on consignment, and it takes about 2 months for the publisher to get their money and unsold copies back from the distributor. I.E. If a magazine has an August date on the cover, it's actually on the stands in June. When the unsold copies come back to the publisher with their check from the distributor, they can see how much money they are making for the month of August.

[@audiomover]

Interesting!

[@ShawnTeece]

Lol I actually had that copy of Hit Parader. Damn Bob I would love to be a guest on your show too bad I live so freaking far away. I live in Aurora Ohio. A suburb of Cleveland not far from Kent State and former home of SeaWorld of Ohio.

[@stevemclean5787]

Dan Hartman write a bunch of songs for other artists and sang on a ton of albums with other groups. Professor of Rock did an episode on his career.

[@rik_rule]

Love this and love the cult too 💥

[@stevenslane3074]

He should have covered The Captain & Tinell

[@NealVio]

Changing song writers - EVH to Vai - is VERY risky. Most bands fail because writing a hit song isn't easy. The first DLR album with Vai is a mix of great and (eh ok). It definitely wasn't the old VH.

[@joeyd3324]

Vai comes out of the Satriani camp... Eddie produced Dweezils teenage album... Dweezil has tabs Vai drew up for him as a kid...

[@MichaelBeauchesne]

@@joeyd3324 Vai's first gig when he was 16 was playing for Frank Zappa 😁

[@SLiMCHiCKeN5150]

The ironic thing is Dave was the one who imposed the "no outside projects" rule

[@Narpets2112]

Someone should tell Dave that Van Halen no longer exists.

[@ShawnTeece]

Van Halen was fighting in the studio as they were recording pretty woman. That's why the whole second verse is missing. If you listen to Intruder you can hear how pissed off Eddie is in his playing. Incidentally the Van Halen reunion back in 2012 what was the last show I've been to. Tell dude I'm digging his Cult t-shirt."🙂

[@tomjames8268]

Music was invented so that the original VAN HALEN could exist.

[@garymaney9701]

Why doesn't Paul Shaffer have his keyboards in front of him? Good show!

[@johntaylor5652]

Eddie started the riff with doing "Beat It" for M Jackson.....Roth didn't appreciate that behind the back thingy. My Teenager take in the 80's

[@theragingdolphinsmaniac4696]

This is laugh out loud funny….

[@sixstringhans-tone5574]

Hey, ya need to read Ted Templemans book, cuz he asked Eddie to play on a Nicolette Larsons album, I believe her name was and I think she was a back up singer for Linda Ronstadt and this Nicolette had just broke up with Neil Young but anywho, Nicolette wanted to make her own record, she did and Ted suggested Eddie play on the album which I think was around the time of VH II album. But Dave was pissed but then suggested to not put Ed’s name on the album.

[@audiomover]

Ironically, I am listening to it right now! Super interesting!

[@mirko1382]

The magazine came out in June of '85. an

[@bradhardisty1652]

Alex said Beat It was the beginning of the break up. It wasn't the first song that Ed played on. He did Nicolette Larson and I think something else. Dave always was the one looking at the big picture. 1984 was huge, how do you top that? Dave came up with a Diamond Dave movie and he approached Ed about doing the soundtrack and Ed said no. Dave , I believe, was looking at how do you top 1984? The Dave record with Vai was supposed to be the soundtrack to the movie but the movie deal dried up so Dave released the band and put the band on the road but that was all supposed to be the soundtrack and not a new band. Ted Templeman did not work on 1984, he didn't like it when he tried to work at 5150.

[@kiezersosay49]

Roth made the better music with VH, but Hagar was definitely the better person of the two. BY FAR.

[@scottnorris8071]

I thought Dave hated Keyboards? 😳

[@joeyd3324]

Thats when Ed and Donn were holed up at 5150...Whatever happened to Donn Landee..?

[@sweetwilliam5150]

Actually I believe Landee was involved in remastering the Hagar era stuff for the box set.

[@stevemclean5787]

Luke has played on over 2000 albums!

[@SLiMCHiCKeN5150]

Thriller should have been credited to Michael Jackson and Toto 🤟

[@andysilvestri4093]

Great episode, really enjoy going through the magazine episodes really takes me back to junior high school ( not middle school ) Here’s a really hilarious Van Halen clip with David Lee Roth lip syncing, Eddie faking the guitar parts. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXm7k5xnl6hsipY

[@audiomover]

I have seen that before! it's like they aren't even trying, it's super entertaining. Thank you!

[@richdrums6886]

I like watching you guys talking back and forth - just 2 guys talking music. I LOVE that first era of VH (78-84). To this day - I ask anyone to write better guitar riffs (not to mention the solos) and just OWN that Rock and Roll attitude!! I was probably young enough when DLR split from VH to understand, but when 5150 came out, I thought it was cool. Great? Maybe, but not 1984 great. And then DLR put out Eat'em & Smile and I thought he (and the band) just took what VH had and gave it more gas. WHat a phenomenal album (to me). And the musicianship was incredible. I saw both parties on those tours (VH Live without a Net video at my town). I loved having two Van Halens, I still do.

[@audiomover]

"Gave it more gas" is a great way to put it. Thanks for your feedback!

[@ts31966]

Crazy from the Heat is a better offering than Eat em and Smile. Van Hagar is gay. Look at the album sales, that says everything. Sammy Hagar is constantly saying that Van Halen sold more albums when he was in the band, it is true!!! He fails to tell you that those albums are by David Lee Roth. I originally supported Hagar being in Van Halen. Then the music came out and it was horrible. I saw Van Hagar live, it sucked. I saw Van Halen in 2007. David Lee Roth is simply better than Hagar.

[@einchroma]

Eat 'em and Smile has aged poorly, Eat 'em and Smile is an album for Redditors. Eddy is the KING, as a songwriter and as a bona fide guitar slinger. Vai is a great technician with a very limited songwriting capacity, tell me the last song of his which ear-wormed......

[@lgmnowkondo938]

Steve Vai couldn't hold Eddie's pic case....let alone have anyone think he is in any way above the king!

[@MichaelBeauchesne]

Vai is a great guitarest and could play note for note anything Eddie did and he could read music something EVH couldn't

[@lgmnowkondo938]

@@MichaelBeauchesne yah, but he can't hold a candle to Eddies songwriting and overal musicality with the instrument...it's not even close. Nobody knows a vai song...Eddie's songs will live on as long as we are on earth.

[@MichaelBeauchesne]

@lgmnowkondo938 Vai,is a instrumentlist he doesn't have a singer in his bands.We probably would have never heard of Eddie if it wasn't for DLR

[@lgmnowkondo938]

@@MichaelBeauchesne you may have never heard of DLR if it weren't for Eddie. As Ted Templeman will tell you...he wanted to sign Eddie for his out of this world musicianship, and he was not sold on the singer. And we all know several instrumental tracks by Eddie..nobody knows one by Vai even though that's his specialty. It's because he doesn't make music anywhere near the quality of mr EVH. Eruption, Spanish Fly, Little Guitars...all beaufiul musical and amazing pieces of musicianship...that changed the world.

[@MichaelBeauchesne]

@@lgmnowkondo938 Don't get me wrong, I love Eddie but to say Vai couldn't hold his pic case I think is absurd.Eddie even gone on record saying he thought Vai was better than him

[@scott7521]

Your bald side-kick is dragging you down man....

[@johnwebb167]

I agree and his attempts to sing, SUCKS ASS!!!

[@marvinmartin3438]

Sammy is Van Halen. Roth is a joke. Just sayin

[@FrankieLovesElvis]

And if it wasn’t for 💎 Diamond, They wouldn’t have the name and would have never been discovered. 😊