David Lee Roth has announced his retirement following his upcoming Las Vegas shows at the House of Blues. The legendary voice and frontman of Van Halen revealed the news to The Las Vegas Review-Journal, explaining, “I ask that you bear with me here. Please try not to interrupt. I’m going to close my eyes and take you on a ride. . . Al (Van Halen) and I have been talking, and I can’t speak for him just yet, but he knows what I am about to say. We speak to each other constantly, two or three times a day. We laugh like pirates.”
He referenced guitarist Eddie Van Halen‘s 2020 death, by saying, The departure of my beloved classmate recently. . . I thought I might have been the first, frankly. I might have thought the Marlboro Man would’ve got me. ‘Hey Ed, objects in the rear-view mirror are probably me.’ And my doctors, my handlers, compelled me to really address that every time I go onstage, I endanger that future.”
Roth declared, “I am throwing in the shoes. I’m retiring. This is the first, and only, official announcement. . . You’ve got the news. Share it with the world. I know that when I am in the audience, whether you come out with a ukulele or a marching band, all I ask you give me everything you’ve got to give. That’s what I did for the last 50 years. I’m not going to explain the statement. The explanation is in a safe. These are my last five shows.”
He went on to say, “I’ve got a band that is doing what Al and I used to call a ‘block,’ that means 75 rehearsals for one show. We are bringing it in classic VH style. Alex and I are the only version, that was his message. There is no other variation. There is no torch being passed. There is no other side to this coin. This is classic, in-your-face Van Halen.”
Roth ended by saying, “I’ve given you all I’ve got to give. It’s been an amazing, great run, no regrets, nothing to say about anybody. I’ll miss you all. Stay frosty.”
David Lee Roth is set to perform at Las Vegas’ House of Blues on New Year’s Eve (December 31st), followed by four 2022 performances on January 1st, 5th, 7th, and 8th.
FAST FACTS
- David Lee Roth rejoined Van Halen — featuring co-founders Eddie and Alex Van Halen, along with Eddie’s son Wolfgang Van Halen — in 2007 for a reunion tour.
- The band released a new album in 2012 — A Different Kind Of Truth — which peaked at Number Two on Billboard’s 200 album list, and topped the chart on the magazine’s Rock Albums and Hard Rock Albums lists.
- Van Halen’s 2015 release, Tokyo Dome Live in Concert, topped out at Number Five and marked Van Halen’s first-ever live album with Roth fronting the band.
- Van Halen last performed on October 4th, 2015 at L.A.’s Hollywood Bowl.
INTERNET COMMENTS – via EW.com – agree or disagree???
Will wrote: “Diamond Dave will always be the best version of Van Halen! Dave was the energy and an absolute wild man on stage! So Dave, you gonna be just a gigolo from now on?!”pmperry wrote: “I saw Dave in the skyscraper tour. Man they were great! He’s a true showman and I can honestly say he probably had the best theatrics of any concert I’ve ever been to.”
night wrote: “VH was at its best and musically creative peak with him.”
Erick Kountz wrote: “Some people you just can’t thank enough for all the good they brought into your life. David Lee Roth is one of those for me. I’m forever grateful. I wish him ‘nothing but yeah’ for the rest of his glorious life.”
Misty Plum wrote: “He should have retired years ago. Much prefer VH with Sammy Hagar.”
Sc00by wrote: “Great singer but never impressed with his ability to write lyrics for amazing Van Halen music. The words always sounded grade school.”
CHECK IT OUT: David Lee Roth on January 8th, 2020 performing “Dance The Night Away” live in Las Vegas: