Roth says a Van Halen tribute tour is in the works
David Lee Roth may not be retiring after all. A Fox News photojournalist caught Diamond Dave leaving Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday (May 31st) and questioned the singer’s return to music following the cancelation of his Las Vegas residency earlier this year.
“There’s always a tomorrow for a singer. Not so much for a trombone player these days, okay?” he says. “How many times did Rocky retire? Seven. I think number three was my favorite? How many times did Rambo have to come out of retirement in order to make the sequel?”
Roth was also asked to confirm the rumors of an all-star Van Halen tribute tour that could feature Alex Van Halen, Pink, Joe Satriani and others paying homage to the late Eddie Van Halen, who died in October 2020 at the age of 65.
“Yeah, I wrote the songs. I was the one who named the band. Are you talking about a tribute to me? I like this side of you,” he jokes. “Yes, absolutely. I’m only in the middle of my first retirement. I’m at the point now where making sure the entire world knows I’m not talking.”
Former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted unveiled the potential Van Halen trek during a recent interview with the Palm Beach Post. He says drummer Alex Van Halen approached him last year about playing bass for the outing. Newsted agreed to jam with Alex and Satriani in California but declined to take part in fear of it being a “money grab.”
“How could you?” he asks. “There’s nobody that can top it, so how do you show it honor? I didn’t want it to be viewed as a money grab. And then it kind of just all fizzled.”
Last month, Satriani confirmed to Rock of Nations with Dave Kinchen that he, Newsted and Van Halen have been in contact over the past year about doing a “true tribute to Eddie and the Van Halen legacy.”
Roth’s initial career-ending residency was set to kick off December 31st and January 1st, but were scrapped, “due to unforeseen circumstances related to COVID and out of an abundance of caution for those working and attending the shows.”
In October, Roth told the Las Vegas Review Journal that he would call it quits at the end of the initial five show run.
“I am throwing in the shoes. I’m retiring,” Roth shares. “This is the first, and only, official announcement. You’ve got the news. Share it with the world. I’m not going to explain the statement. The explanation is in a safe. These are my last five shows.”
However, in early December, Roth added four additional shows due to demand.
The larger than life residency at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino was dubbed to “delight fans with an explosive two-guitar sound and mega list of familiar hits featuring a changing set of 26 instantly recognizable songs from his Van Halen era through his own solo career.”
