David Lee Roth

**David Lee Roth** is American musician, artist and entrepreneur, renowned as the original and final frontman of Van Halen. In 1985 he embarked on a successful solo career.

## Biography

### Early life

Roth was raised in Indiana, his father was an eye surgeon. Daves's uncle, Manny Roth owned the Café Wha? in New York and upon visiting he was exposed eclectic music and retro Americana at a young age.

### Career

#### Red Ball Jet

The first band DLR sang for was Red Ball Jet, before joining Van Halen brothers when they were called Mammoth.

#### Van Halen (1974-1985)

It was Roth's idea to rename the band simply Van Halen.

Roth recorded the *Crazy from the Heat* EP in secret and left Van Halen in 1985.

#### Solo Career

He left Van Halen in 1985 and put together a band featuring former Alcatrazz guitarist Steve Vai, former Talas bassist Billy Sheehan, and drummer Gregg Bissonette. This line-up recorded the album *Eat 'Em and Smile*.

Keyboardist Brett Tuggle joined for the tour.

This line-up played on the album *Skyscraper*.

Billy Sheehan quit and was replaced by Matt Bissonette.

Steve Vai quit and was replaced by former Talas guitarist Mitch Perry, who quit after two weeks.

Jason Becker and Steve Hunter joined.

This line-up played on the album *A Little Ain't Enough.*

#### Van Halen (2007-2020)

Roth rejoined Van Halen full time in 2007, but expressed frustration with Eddie Van Halen's unwillingness to write new material with him and lack of touring. Due to the heath problems of EVH, Roth was the first to publicly suggest that the band was "finished" in 2019. His son Wolfgang conceded after the death of his father that would be no further Van Halen touring lineups or recoding of new material. DLR is now making plans to release the solo album he recorded in 2012 with John 5.

## Discography

### With Van Halen

#### Studio Albums

* *Van Halen* (1978)
* *Van Halen II* (1979)
* *Women and Children First* (1980)
* *Fair Warning* (1981)
* *Diver Down* (1982)
* *1984* (1984)
* *A Different Kind of Truth* (2012)

### Solo

#### Studio Albums

* *Eat 'Em and Smile* (1986)
* *Skyscraper* (1988)
* *A Little Ain't Enough* (1991)
* *Your Filthy Little Mouth* (1994)
* *DLR Band* (1998)
* *Diamond Dave* (2003)
* *Somewhere Over the Rainbow Bar & Grill* (upcoming)

#### Compilation Albums

* *The Best* (1997)
* *Greatest Hits/The Deluxe Edition* (2013)

#### Singles

* California Girls (1985)
* Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody (1985)
* Easy Street (1985)
* Yankee Rose (1986)
* Goin' Crazy! (1986)
* That's Life (1986)
* Tobacco Road (1986)
* I'm Easy (1986)
* Knucklebones (1988)
* Just Like Paradise (1988)
* Stand Up (1988)
* Damn Good (1988)
* Skyscraper (1988)
* A Lil' Ain't Enough (1991)
* Sensible Shoes (1991)
* Tell the Truth (1991)
* She's My Machine (1994)
* Night Life (1994)
* Experience (1994)
* Don't Piss Me Off (1997)
* Slam Dunk (1998)
* Relentless (1998)
* Shoo Bop (2003)

## Tourography

### Solo

#### Full-Scale Colosseum/Arena Rock Tours

* Eat 'Em and Smile Tour (1986-1987)
* Skyscraper Tour (1988)
* A Little Ain't Enough Tour (1991)

#### Smaller Venue Tours

* 1994 Tour
* 1998 DLR Band Tour
* 2003/4 Diamond Dave Tour