DLR Biography

[Panamark]

http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:David%20Lee%20Roth:1927004579:page=biography

[Panamark]

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, 1955, in Bloomington, IN, 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, CA -- Mammoth. The members of Mammoth, which included brothers Eddie (guitar) and Alex (drums) Van Halen, would often borrow Roth's PA system for their gigs, and a friendship was struck up. Soonafter, 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 was 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 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 the group 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 group was 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 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 their 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 fist fight 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. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide

[Panamark]

This is the part that interested me:

"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), "

[Panamark]

Could there have been more than "CGTSNM and MWM" from 96 ??

[lms2]

Panamark... there is nothing in the vaults... :D

[Panamark]

Sounds like theres at least half a fookin album floating around
that we havent heard !!!

[lms2]

Yet. Never say Never! (until at least age 85, just say not yet)

[lms2]

I just hope that when we do hear it, its in Dave's voice, and not some crap put out with that cheap imitation they have been known to use.

[Panamark]

Ed and Al's backup insurance ???

[Igosplut]

I think they "backed up through the pot hole" one two many times......

[Seshmeister]

You have to realise that many of the people at this website know far more about DLR/VH than some journalist guy.

[Terry]

Originally posted by Panamark
Could there have been more than "CGTSNM and MWM" from 96 ??

Wouldn't astound me. Could be some intersting demos from 2000 for all we know. Can't rely on the Van Halens to tell us the truth, obviously. But unless we're gonna get a chance to hear it, it's a moot point.

[Roth & Roll]

Fear not, when the Lying Dutchmen are broke and destitute, and unable to pull off another bogus Van Hagar tour because Sammy has to go for quadruple bypass surgery, Eddie has to have his teeth, gums and throat removed due to a relapse of oral cancer, then and ONLY then will the Lying Dutchmen miraculously "rediscover" all the unreleased Classic VH in the vaults - and cash in on it while probably trying to scam Dave out of royalties.

[rustoffa]

Hope they aren't stashed away in the bowels of 5150....Ed mighta filed 'em under "Jackyl" out takes.
:D

[moose]

Just like IMS2 stated "never say never". All I know is that I'm enjoying what Classic Van Halen has released and of course what the Army has provided for our enjoyment(unreleased, bootlegs)
Just think about this. If those guys can have a tune like "We Die Bold" in the vaults(great fuckin SONG) imagine the other stuff they have?
Fuckin bastards!