David Lee Roth at a concert in Los Angeles in 1978.
School period
Gallery of David Roth
1969
United States
David Lee Roth in youth, riding on a horse.
Gallery of David Roth
1971
John Muir High School, Pasadena, California, United States
Prom night, John Muir High School, 1971. A teenage David Lee Roth on the right! Seven years before Van Halen’s debut.
College/University
Gallery of David Roth
1968
California, United States
David Lee Roth in his high school yearbook in 1968.
Career
Gallery of David Roth
1984
Hard Rock Cafe, Los Angeles, California, United States
Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Michael Hall, David Lee Roth and Sonia Braga.
Gallery of David Roth
1985
California, United States
American singer David Lee Roth in a posed portrait, with a car bearing a Confederate flag, circa 1985.
Gallery of David Roth
1985
Palladium, New York City, New York, United States
David Lee Roth at the Palladium circa 1985 in New York City.
Gallery of David Roth
1985
New York City, New York, United States
Singer David Lee Roth of Van Halen with comedian David Brenner, Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys and comedian Joe Piscopo on David Brenner's radio show in New York City on July 17, 1985.
Gallery of David Roth
1986
Hollywood, California, United States
Steve Vai and David Lee Roth attend the premiere of "Crossroads" on March 7, 1986 at Mann Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California.
Gallery of David Roth
1986
New York City, New York, United States
Brooke Shields and David Lee Roth circa 1986 in New York City.
Gallery of David Roth
1986
New York Hilton Hotel, New York City, New York, United States
David Lee Roth and Donny Osmond attend 11th Annual T.J. Martell Foundation Humanitarian Awards Honoring Quincy Jones on April 19, 1986, at the New York Hilton Hotel in New York City.
Gallery of David Roth
1988
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
David Lee Roth in Toronto in 1988.
Gallery of David Roth
1990
United States
David Lee Roth with a woman in 1990.
Gallery of David Roth
1990
United States
Steve Vai and David Lee Roth.
Gallery of David Roth
1990
United States
David Lee Roth in 1990.
Gallery of David Roth
1991
Vorst Nationaal, Brussels, Belgium
David Lee Roth, performing on stage, Vorst Nationaal, Brussels, Belgium, 21st March 1991.
Gallery of David Roth
1991
Vorst Nationaal, Brussels, Belgium
David Lee Roth, riding on a giant model of a microphone, performing on stage, Vorst Nationaal, Brussels, Belgium, 21st March 1991.
Gallery of David Roth
1992
Palladium, New York City, New York, United States
David Lee Roth of Van Halen and Grace Jones at Palladium, New York, June 27, 1992.
Gallery of David Roth
1994
Hammersmith Apollo, London, City of London, United Kingdom
David Lee Roth, formerly lead singer with Van Halen, performs live on stage at the Hammersmith Apollo in London on 21st May 1994.
Gallery of David Roth
1994
Hammersmith Apollo, London, City of London, United Kingdom
American rock singer David Lee Roth, formerly lead singer with Van Halen, performs live on stage at the Hammersmith Apollo in London on 21st May 1994.
Gallery of David Roth
1994
Los Angeles, California, United States
David Lee Roth in Los Angeles, California, United States.
Gallery of David Roth
1994
Tunnel Club, New York City, New York, United States
David Lee Roth of Van Halen at Tunnel Club, New York, March 25, 1994.
Gallery of David Roth
1995
Burbank, California, United States
Actor Robin Williams and musical guest David Lee Roth during an interview on November 13, 1995, at The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Gallery of David Roth
1998
China Club, New York City, New York, United States
David Lee Roth gets together with Penthouse Pets Paige Summers (left) and Nikie St. Uillen at Benefit for the Leslie Glass Cancer Fund at the China Club.
Gallery of David Roth
2001
United States
Unknown, Chris Kattan as David Lee Roth, Conan O'Brien as Right Said Fred during "Napster Testimony" skit.
Gallery of David Roth
2002
Music Midtown, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
David Lee Roth on stage during Music Midtown 2002 - Atlanta at Music Midtown in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.
Gallery of David Roth
2002
Radio City Music Hall, New York City, New York, United States
Singer David Lee Roth arrives at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall August 29, 2002, in New York City.
Gallery of David Roth
2004
Century Plaza Hotel, Century City, California, United States
David Lee Roth during 11th Annual Race to Erase MS - Show and Inside at Century Plaza Hotel in Century City, California, United States.
Gallery of David Roth
2004
Miami, Florida, United States
David Lee Roth, Jason Binn, and Will Smith during Sean P. Diddy Comb's 50 Fabulous Dinner Party at Private Residence in Miami, Florida, United States.
Gallery of David Roth
2004
Four Seasons, New York City, New York, United States
Lauren Bush and David Lee Roth are greeted by Jason Binn at a party at the Four Seasons to celebrate the restaurant's 45th anniversary.
Gallery of David Roth
2004
Miami, Florida, United States
Owen Wilson and David Lee Roth at Residence of Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Star Island in Miami, Florida, United States.
Gallery of David Roth
2004
Hammersmith Apollo, London, City of London, United Kingdom
Dave Lee Roth formerly of Van Halen performs live on stage at the Hammersmith Apollo, February 28, 2004, in London.
Gallery of David Roth
2004
Century Plaza Hotel, Century City, California, United States
David Lee Roth during 11th Annual Race to Erase MS - Show and Inside at Century Plaza Hotel in Century City, California, United States.
Gallery of David Roth
2004
Southampton, New York, United States
Singer David Lee Roth and PR Exec Lizzie Grubman attend Jason Binn's Hamptons Magazine Memorial Day Weekend Party at his private home May 29, 2004, in Southampton, New York.
Gallery of David Roth
2004
Southampton, New York, United States
Adult TV hostess Robin Byrd, rocker David Lee Roth, Haley Lieberman Binn, publisher Jason Binn, actress Stephanie March and chef Bobby Flay attend Jason Binn's Hamptons Magazine Memorial Day Weekend Party at his private home May 29, 2004, in Southampton, New York.
Gallery of David Roth
2006
60 Brush Hollow Rd, Westbury, NY 11590, United States
Rock star David Lee Roth performs at Westbury Music Fair.
Gallery of David Roth
1978
Picture shows the four members of the band Van Halen posing together in a studio. They are standing next to each other in front of a blue background waving sparklers in the air.
Gallery of David Roth
1978
Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois, United States
American Rock musician David Lee Roth, of the group Van Halen, performs onstage at the Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois, March 4, 1978.
Gallery of David Roth
1978
London, City of London, United Kingdom
Van Halen (guitarist Eddie Van Halen, drummer Alex Van Halen, singer David Lee Roth and bassist Michael Anthony) wearing the uniforms of the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, and holding swords, as they pose on steps near the Houses of Parliament with Big Ben rising above them, London, England, Great Britain, 1978. Three of the band members are also wearing busby hats.
Gallery of David Roth
1978
Lewisham Odeon, London, City of London, United Kingdom
David Lee Roth posing backstage at Lewisham Odeon in the dressing room, opening shirt.
Gallery of David Roth
1978
Lewisham, London, City of London, United Kingdom
Michael Anthony, David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen posing for a group shot on tour bus in Lewisham, holding porn magazine and drinking cans of lager.
Gallery of David Roth
1978
Lewisham Odeon, London, City of London, United Kingdom
David Lee Roth from Van Halen poses in the driver's seat of their tour bus outside Lewisham Odeon in London on 27th May 1978.
Gallery of David Roth
1978
Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California, United States
Eddie Van Halen, Michael Anthony, and David Lee Roth perform with Van Halen on the band's first tour after the release of their first landmark album at the Oakland Coliseum on July 23, 1978.
Gallery of David Roth
1978
Tokyo, Japan
Van Halen posing on the decorated truck roof used for the movie 'Truck Yarou' in the Toei movie studio, Tokyo, June 1978.
Gallery of David Roth
1978
Kyoto, Japan
Van Halen having fun with a ceramic raccoon dog at the entrance of Japanese tavern, Kyoto, June 1978.
Gallery of David Roth
1978
Tokyo, Japan
David Lee Roth at a press conference on their arrival, Tokyo, June 1978.
Gallery of David Roth
1978
London, City of London, United Kingdom
Alex Van Halen, David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen, Michael Anthony posing for a group shot with a cannon.
Gallery of David Roth
1978
London, City of London, United Kingdom
Michael Anthony, David Lee Roth, Alex Van Halen, Eddie Van Halen posing in the studio for a group shot with model girls, dressed in military jackets, drinking champagne, spraying champagne bottles.
Gallery of David Roth
1979
United States
The rock group Van Halen is shown posed on top of a military tank. They are, left to right: Alex Van Halen (drums), Eddie Van Halen (guitar), Michael Anthony (bass) and David Lee Roth (vocals).
Gallery of David Roth
1979
Palladium, New York City, New York, United States
David Lee Roth and Michael Anthony from Van Halen perform live on stage at the Palladium in New York on May 12, 1979.
Gallery of David Roth
1979
Osaka Castle Park, Osaka, Japan
Van Halen in Osaka Castle Park, Osaka, September 1979.
Gallery of David Roth
1979
Tokyo, Japan
Van Halen having a crazy party eating hamburgers and potatoes, Tokyo, September 1979.
Gallery of David Roth
1979
Tokyo, Japan
David Lee Roth at Studio shooting, Tokyo, September 1979.
Gallery of David Roth
1979
United States
Photograph of the rock band, Van Halen. They are at the beach (ocean can be seen in the background) standing on algae covered seawall, Band members are left to right: David Lee Roth, Michael Anthony, Alex Van Halen, and Eddie Van Halen.
Gallery of David Roth
1979
Masonic Temple Theatre, Detroit, Michigan, United States
David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen and Michael Anthony of the rock and roll band "Van Halen" pose for a portrait session in a field with scantily clad groupies before their show at the Masonic Temple Theatre on May 2, 1979, in Detroit, Michigan.
Gallery of David Roth
1979
United States
David Lee Roth in aviator sunglasses.
Gallery of David Roth
1980
United States
David Lee Roth performing live onstage.
Gallery of David Roth
1980
Sportpark, Geleen, Limburg, Netherlands
David Lee Roth of Van Halen posed backstage with a broken nose at Pinkpop Festival, Sportpark, Geleen, 26th May 1980.
Gallery of David Roth
1980
Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan, United States
David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen of the rock and roll band "Van Halen" good around backstage at the Cobo Hall on July 4, 1980, in Detroit, Michigan.
Gallery of David Roth
1980
Chasen's Restaurant, Beverly Hills, California, United States
David Lee Roth of Van Halen attends the 22nd Annual Grammy Awards After Party Hosted by Warner Bros. Records on February 27, 1980, at Chasen's Restaurant in Beverly Hills, California.
Gallery of David Roth
1980
Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan, United States
David Lee Roth of the rock and roll band "Van Halen" trains boxing with a trainer at the Cobo Hall on July 4, 1980, in Detroit, Michigan.
Gallery of David Roth
1980
Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan, United States
David Lee Roth of the rock and roll band "Van Halen" eats a cake shaped like a vagina complete with a cherry on top at the Cobo Hall on July 4, 1980 in Detroit, Michigan.
Gallery of David Roth
1980
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Actress Raquel Welch and David Lee Roth.
Gallery of David Roth
1981
New York City, New York, United States
David Lee Roth, a lead singer with Van Halen posing in New York in 1981.
Gallery of David Roth
1981
St. Paul's Catholic Church, Westwood, California, United States
David Lee Roth and guest during Wedding of Eddie Van Halen and Valerie Bertinelli at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Westwood, California, United States.
Gallery of David Roth
1981
Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan, United States
David Lee Roth of the rock and roll band "Van Halen" poses for a portrait session backstage wearing a giant cowboy hat at Cobo Hall on July 3, 1981, in Detroit, Michigan.
Gallery of David Roth
1981
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Van Halen on 10/11/81 in Chicago.
Gallery of David Roth
1981
New York City, New York, United States
David Lee Roth, lead singer with Van Halen posed in New York in 1981.
Gallery of David Roth
1982
United States
David Lee Roth in 1982.
Gallery of David Roth
1982
Detroit, Michigan, United States
David Lee Roth of the rock and roll band "Van Halen" pose for a portrait session in August 1982 in Detroit, Michigan.
Gallery of David Roth
1982
Detroit, Michigan, United States
David Lee Roth of the rock and roll band "Van Halen" poses for a portrait session in August 1982 in Detroit, Michigan.
Gallery of David Roth
1984
United States
Steve Wozniak giving David Lee Roth bunny ears.
Gallery of David Roth
2007
Los Angeles, California, United States
Drummer Alex Van Halen, singer David Lee Roth, guitarist Eddie Van Halen, and bassist Wolfgang Van Halen at the Van Halen and David Lee Roth press conference announcing their North American tour at the Four Seasons Hotel on August 13, 2007, in Los Angeles, California.
Gallery of David Roth
2007
Four Season Hotel, Los Angeles, California, United States
David Lee Roth receives a kiss from guitar player Eddie Van Halen at the Van Halen Press Conference announcing their new tour at the Four Season Hotel on August 13, 2007, in Los Angeles, California.
Gallery of David Roth
2007
Charlotte Bobcats Arena, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
Musician David Lee Roth of Van Halen performs at Charlotte Bobcats Arena at the Van Halen Tour Opener on September 27, 2007, in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Gallery of David Roth
2007
Verizon Center, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Remote Van Halen, 80's rock band performing at the Verizon Center on Thursday night. Van Halen, 80's rock band performing Thursday night at the Verizon Center. Shown are band members Alex Van Halen, left, on drums, David Lee Roth on vocals and Eddie Van Halen on guitar.
Gallery of David Roth
2012
Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California, United States
Musician Dave Lee Roth performs at the Van Halen Album Release Celebration at Henson Recording Studios on February 1, 2012, in Los Angeles, California.
Gallery of David Roth
2012
Forum, Inglewood, California, United States
Musician Wolfgang Van Halen and singer David Lee Roth of Van Halen perform at their dress rehearsal for family and friends at the Forum on February 8, 2012, in Inglewood, California.
Gallery of David Roth
2012
Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, United States
Vocalist David Lee Roth of Van Halen performs at Staples Center on June 9, 2012, in Los Angeles, California.
Gallery of David Roth
2013
SiriusXM, New York City, New York, United States
Vocalist David Lee Roth of Van Halen visits 'The Opie & Anthony Show' at SiriusXM Studios on March 11, 2013, in New York City.
Gallery of David Roth
2015
Hollywood, California, United States
David Lee Roth of Van Halen performs on March 30, 2015, in Hollywood, California.
Gallery of David Roth
2015
Hollywood, California, United States
David Lee Roth of Van Halen performs on March 30, 2015, in Hollywood, California.
Gallery of David Roth
2015
MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Singer David Lee Roth of Van Halen performs onstage during the 2015 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2015, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Gallery of David Roth
2015
White River Amphitheater, Auburn, Washington, United States
Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth of Van Halen perform on stage at White River Amphitheater on July 5, 2015, in Auburn, Washington.
Gallery of David Roth
2015
Jones Beach Theater, Wantagh, New York, United States
David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen perform onstage at Nikon at Jones Beach Theater on August 13, 2015, in Wantagh, New York.
Gallery of David Roth
2015
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, The Woodlands, Texas, United States
David Lee Roth of Van Halen performs in concert at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on September 25, 2015, in The Woodlands, Texas.
Gallery of David Roth
2015
Sleep Train Amphitheatre, Chula Vista, California, United States
Vocalist David Lee Roth of Van Halen performs on stage at Sleep Train Amphitheatre on September 30, 2015, in Chula Vista, California.
Gallery of David Roth
2015
Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, United States
In celebration of a 2015 Summer/Fall North American Tour, Van Halen performed a special concert for Walt Disney Television, March 30 on Hollywood Boulevard. Featuring some of the band's essential rock and roll classics, the concert will broadcast over two nights, March 30 and March 31, on the late night talk show and marks Van Halen's first U.S. television performance with original lead singer David Lee Roth.
Gallery of David Roth
2017
Los Angeles, California, United States
David Lee Roth was seen at 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' on September 07, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Gallery of David Roth
2018
The Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, California, United States
David Lee Roth performs onstage at The Brent Shapiro Foundation Summer Spectacular at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on September 7, 2018, in Beverly Hills, California.
Gallery of David Roth
2018
The Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, California, United States
David Lee Roth backstage at The Brent Shapiro Foundation Summer Spectacular at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on September 7, 2018, in Beverly Hills, California.
Gallery of David Roth
2019
United States
David Lee Roth in his style.
Gallery of David Roth
2019
Jim Henson Studios, Los Angeles, California, United States
Van Halen vocalist David Lee Roth and DJ Armin Van Buuren.
Achievements
1985
David Lee Roth Photograph - Rolling Stone Cover - Volume #445
Picture shows the four members of the band Van Halen posing together in a studio. They are standing next to each other in front of a blue background waving sparklers in the air.
Van Halen (guitarist Eddie Van Halen, drummer Alex Van Halen, singer David Lee Roth and bassist Michael Anthony) wearing the uniforms of the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, and holding swords, as they pose on steps near the Houses of Parliament with Big Ben rising above them, London, England, Great Britain, 1978. Three of the band members are also wearing busby hats.
Michael Anthony, David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen posing for a group shot on tour bus in Lewisham, holding porn magazine and drinking cans of lager.
Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California, United States
Eddie Van Halen, Michael Anthony, and David Lee Roth perform with Van Halen on the band's first tour after the release of their first landmark album at the Oakland Coliseum on July 23, 1978.
Michael Anthony, David Lee Roth, Alex Van Halen, Eddie Van Halen posing in the studio for a group shot with model girls, dressed in military jackets, drinking champagne, spraying champagne bottles.
The rock group Van Halen is shown posed on top of a military tank. They are, left to right: Alex Van Halen (drums), Eddie Van Halen (guitar), Michael Anthony (bass) and David Lee Roth (vocals).
Photograph of the rock band, Van Halen. They are at the beach (ocean can be seen in the background) standing on algae covered seawall, Band members are left to right: David Lee Roth, Michael Anthony, Alex Van Halen, and Eddie Van Halen.
Masonic Temple Theatre, Detroit, Michigan, United States
David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen and Michael Anthony of the rock and roll band "Van Halen" pose for a portrait session in a field with scantily clad groupies before their show at the Masonic Temple Theatre on May 2, 1979, in Detroit, Michigan.
Chasen's Restaurant, Beverly Hills, California, United States
David Lee Roth of Van Halen attends the 22nd Annual Grammy Awards After Party Hosted by Warner Bros. Records on February 27, 1980, at Chasen's Restaurant in Beverly Hills, California.
David Lee Roth of the rock and roll band "Van Halen" eats a cake shaped like a vagina complete with a cherry on top at the Cobo Hall on July 4, 1980 in Detroit, Michigan.
St. Paul's Catholic Church, Westwood, California, United States
David Lee Roth and guest during Wedding of Eddie Van Halen and Valerie Bertinelli at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Westwood, California, United States.
David Lee Roth of the rock and roll band "Van Halen" poses for a portrait session backstage wearing a giant cowboy hat at Cobo Hall on July 3, 1981, in Detroit, Michigan.
Singer David Lee Roth of Van Halen with comedian David Brenner, Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys and comedian Joe Piscopo on David Brenner's radio show in New York City on July 17, 1985.
New York Hilton Hotel, New York City, New York, United States
David Lee Roth and Donny Osmond attend 11th Annual T.J. Martell Foundation Humanitarian Awards Honoring Quincy Jones on April 19, 1986, at the New York Hilton Hotel in New York City.
China Club, New York City, New York, United States
David Lee Roth gets together with Penthouse Pets Paige Summers (left) and Nikie St. Uillen at Benefit for the Leslie Glass Cancer Fund at the China Club.
Singer David Lee Roth and PR Exec Lizzie Grubman attend Jason Binn's Hamptons Magazine Memorial Day Weekend Party at his private home May 29, 2004, in Southampton, New York.
Adult TV hostess Robin Byrd, rocker David Lee Roth, Haley Lieberman Binn, publisher Jason Binn, actress Stephanie March and chef Bobby Flay attend Jason Binn's Hamptons Magazine Memorial Day Weekend Party at his private home May 29, 2004, in Southampton, New York.
Drummer Alex Van Halen, singer David Lee Roth, guitarist Eddie Van Halen, and bassist Wolfgang Van Halen at the Van Halen and David Lee Roth press conference announcing their North American tour at the Four Seasons Hotel on August 13, 2007, in Los Angeles, California.
Four Season Hotel, Los Angeles, California, United States
David Lee Roth receives a kiss from guitar player Eddie Van Halen at the Van Halen Press Conference announcing their new tour at the Four Season Hotel on August 13, 2007, in Los Angeles, California.
Charlotte Bobcats Arena, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
Musician David Lee Roth of Van Halen performs at Charlotte Bobcats Arena at the Van Halen Tour Opener on September 27, 2007, in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Verizon Center, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Remote Van Halen, 80's rock band performing at the Verizon Center on Thursday night. Van Halen, 80's rock band performing Thursday night at the Verizon Center. Shown are band members Alex Van Halen, left, on drums, David Lee Roth on vocals and Eddie Van Halen on guitar.
Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California, United States
Musician Dave Lee Roth performs at the Van Halen Album Release Celebration at Henson Recording Studios on February 1, 2012, in Los Angeles, California.
Musician Wolfgang Van Halen and singer David Lee Roth of Van Halen perform at their dress rehearsal for family and friends at the Forum on February 8, 2012, in Inglewood, California.
MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Singer David Lee Roth of Van Halen performs onstage during the 2015 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2015, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, United States
In celebration of a 2015 Summer/Fall North American Tour, Van Halen performed a special concert for Walt Disney Television, March 30 on Hollywood Boulevard. Featuring some of the band's essential rock and roll classics, the concert will broadcast over two nights, March 30 and March 31, on the late night talk show and marks Van Halen's first U.S. television performance with original lead singer David Lee Roth.
The Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, California, United States
David Lee Roth performs onstage at The Brent Shapiro Foundation Summer Spectacular at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on September 7, 2018, in Beverly Hills, California.
The Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, California, United States
David Lee Roth backstage at The Brent Shapiro Foundation Summer Spectacular at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on September 7, 2018, in Beverly Hills, California.
David Lee Roth is an Ameican vocalist, musician, songwriter, actor, and author. He is best known as a lead singer of hard rock band Van Halen. Roth is also known as a successful solo artist releasing numerous Gold and Platinum albums with his The David Lee Roth Band.
Background
David Lee Roth was born on October 10, 1954, in Bloomington, Indiana, United States to the family of an ophthalmologist Nathan Roth and art teacher Sibyl Roth. His parents were both from Jewish immigrants families (from Ukraine and Russia).
Roth moved to Pasadena in his teens. There, he befriended Eddie and Alex Van Halen, two brothers from the Netherlands. He "bounced around" a number of schools and saw a psychiatrist for three years, eventually attending a ranch for troubled teens where he cared for a horse to build a sense of responsibility. His parents had him going to a psychiatrist for about three years.
During the summers, Roth would often visit his uncle Manny in New York City. The latter ran the club Cafe Wha? in the Greenwich Village neighborhood, a popular hot spot for such famous talents as Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix. At age seven, Roth got his first taste of show business from the inside by hanging out there.
Education
David Lee Roth attended The Webb Schools in Claremont, California, and John Muir High School in Pasadena. He began performing in high school by joining a band. As a student at Pasadena City College, Roth studied music theory for a time. He eventually dropped out before his graduation in order to focus on his music career. There, he befriended Eddie and Alex Van Halen, two brothers from the Netherlands who played together in a band called Mammoth.
In his late teens, David Lee Roth was singing solo, as well as with a group called the Red Ball Jets. Roth says this name was a reference to the red dye used in food at that time, including red candy balls, which would exacerbate his hyperactivity and lead to "Monkey Hour" at the family home. Los Angeles group Mammoth (featuring Alex Van Halen on drums and Eddie Van Halen singing and playing lead guitar), occasionally rented the Red Ball Jets' public-address system. After dropping out of college Roth joined Mammoth, which soon changed its name to Van Halen after learning another group already had rights to "Mammoth." Michael Anthony came onboard as the group's bassist.
Van Halen became a popular fixture on the club scene. According to several reports, KISS's frontman Gene Simmons attended one of the band's concerts and paid for them to make a demo recording. Van Halen landed a contract with Warner Bros. in 1977 and released their first self-titled album the following year. Van Halen quickly became a hit, featuring Roth's expressive, sometimes primal vocals and Eddie Van Halen's revolutionary guitar work. The album contained numerous now classic hard rock songs, such as "Runnin' with the Devil" and "Jamie's Cryin'." Roth wrote much of the lyrics for the group, which has been credited for changing the face of hard rock with their pop- and punk-influenced sound.
In 1979, Van Halen had their first hit single with "Dance the Night Away." The band toured to support the record, and Roth proved to be quite the showman. With his long blond hair and crazy spandex outfits, he won over audiences with his fast-talking patter, jumps, and stunts. His routine has commonly been described as vaudeville meets the Sunset Strip. Offstage, Roth and his bandmates developed quite the reputation as one of rock's most hedonistic acts. One rock journalist called the group's lifestyle as "a nonstop booze-and-babes party train." Roth himself has said that Van Halen made Led Zeppelin look like Boy Scouts.
Roth made several more hit albums with Van Halen, including 1984, which proved to be Roth's most successful recording with the group, scoring their first number-one single "Jump." He also co-directed several of the band's videos, including the one for "Hot for Teacher." The suggestive yet comical video became popular on MTV. Around this time, however, Roth began to branch out on his own, and Van Halen quickly replaced him with Sammy Hagar. The choice of Hagar was especially odious to Roth as the two had been musical rivals for years.
Roth released a four-song recording, Crazy From the Heat, in 1985. On the EP, he did his own take on several famous tunes, ranging from California surf rock to old pop standard. Roth scored a number three hit with "California Girls," written by the Beach Boys. His homage to Louis Prima, "I'm Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody," also did well. But these songs were a marked departure from Van Halen's hard rock sound.
With 1986's Eat 'Em and Smile, Roth returned to more familiar territory with this full-length release. The hard-driving song "Yankee Rose" proved to be the album's most successful single. "Goin' Crazy" also enjoyed some popularity. Roth began to really experiment with his sound with 1988's Skyscraper, sounding more mainstream pop and less hard rock. While the album had strong sales, Roth's musical shift was not a welcomed change by some.
Roth further alienated some of his fans with the Niles Rodgers-produced Your Filthy Little Mouth (1994), which proved to be a commercial dud. This was the first real flop for him, and he soon tried another new direction. Roth debuted a lounge act in Las Vegas the following year, which failed to draw much of an audience.
In 1996, Roth had a brief reunion with Van Halen. He worked with them on some new tracks for their greatest hits album and appeared with them at the MTV Music Video Awards. That same year, Sammy Hagar left the band. Van Halen's reunion with Roth was rocky and, subsequently, brief; after producing a few tracks with his old bandmates, Roth went back to working solo.
Trying a different medium, Roth gave readers an inside look at his wild and crazy life in his autobiography Crazy from the Heat (1997). He tried to recapture some of his past glory by teaming up with his former nemesis, Sammy Hagar, for a successful tour in 2002. Around this time, however, Roth began exploring a career beyond music. He became a licensed EMT in New York.
In 2005, Roth had a brief career as a radio DJ. He was hired to fill the shoes of Howard Stern, as the popular shock jock had moved to satellite. But Roth's days in radio broadcasting were short-lived. He only lasted a few months, before he was let go for low ratings. He made musical headlines in 2007, as Van Halen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Roth refused to attend the ceremony after learning that he wasn't going to be able to perform.
Later that year, Roth buried the hatchet with Van Halen. He rejoined the group, which now included Eddie Van Halen's son, Wolfgang, on bass, for a hugely successful tour. He and the rest of the band also went back into the studio, recording 2012's A Different Kind of Truth. The album hit the top of the rock charts, with critics offering mixed assessments of the work. Some noted that Roth's voice is less dynamic than it once was. Still, others heralded the return of Roth, calling him "the true hero" of the recording. Roth and the rest of Van Halen went on tour in 2012, but they ended up postponing some of the dates scheduled for the summer and fall. Sources close to the band, according to Billboard, said that the band members were tired, not bickering.
Roth has been a resident of Tokyo since May 2012 but maintains homes in New York City and Pasadena, California. On January 2, 2015, Roth posted a Happy New Year video featuring the full version of his cover of the song "Mustang Sally". In 2018, Roth, together with business partner and tattoo artist Ami James, created INK the Original, a full line of skincare products that protect tattooed skin. Roth spent over 300 hours getting tattooed in Japan between 2013 and 2014 and saw the body art market exploding.
David Lee Roth is a successful solo artist and has released numerous Recording Industry Association of America certified Gold and Platinum albums. Roth's legacy as one of rock's top lead singers remains secure. His style, stage persona, and attitude changed the face of hard rock and paved the way for other pop-metal bands, including Poison and Mötley Crüe, that followed in Van Halen's wake. He is Ranked #100 on VH1's 100 Sexiest Artists. He made musical headlines in 2007, as Van Halen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
David Lee Roth was born and raised in Judaism and celebrates Jewish holidays.
Politics
David Lee Roth avoids expressing political views and but sometimes makes political comments, for example, he mentioned that Donald Trump can't be convinced of anything.
Views
After one of Van Halen's concerts, David Lee Roth paid tribute to the United States women's soccer team. This cascaded into a speech on gender equity issues, Title IX and the fact that a woman is running for president. Some in the crowd groaned, but Roth didn't miss a beat and wildly celebrated this new normal in America. Cheers arose. Roth's ambition is to further create a signature sound, a signature spirit, that makes some kind of contribution to music in general.
Quotations:
"Van Halen music is whisky in a paper cup! Short doses and not every night."
"I've been rich. I've been poor. Rich is better."
"I used to jog but the ice cubes kept falling out of my glass."
"The problem with self-improvement is knowing when to quit."
"The best time is during the struggle. The top of the mountain is usually small, freezing and lonesome. To this day I'm continually reinvesting myself in something new. I'm not afraid to start as a beginner in anything."
"The perfect woman has an IQ of 150, wants to make love until 4 in the morning, then turns into a pizza!"
"You're not a rock star until you can spell subpoena."
"He who knows how will always work for he who knows why."
"We've all got out self-destructive bad habits, the trick is to find four or five you personally like the best and just do those all the time."
"Well a good writer writes, a good musician listens to a lot more than he actually composes, and if you're going to do lyrics - well, there's a Freudian slip. That's not even a slip, that's a Freudian move: I said going to do lyrics. If you really want it to ring true, you'll live it first. Go really get your heart broken!"
"You gotta learn the alphabet, backwards and forwards. And then the choice is yours, 'cause last I looked, the Bible is written in the same words, the exact same alphabet, as my favorite pornography. Choice is yours."
"I don't get all the women that I want. I get all the women that want me."
"Music is like girlfriends to me; I'm continually astonished by the choices other people make."
"I used to have a drug problem, but now I have enough money."
"I can teach you to jump up in five seconds-it takes years to learn how to land properly."
"The light you see at the end of the tunnel is the front of an oncoming train."
"I know that people think I'm a party king; but, face it, if I finished the bottle every time I took a drink, I wouldn't be able to do the aerials I do onstage."
"Being a rock star is being a rock star, I don't need to go into the details. What would you do if you were a rock star?"
"Many of the critics have kids of their own. It scares the hell out of them to think that their kids could be anything remotely like David Lee Roth."
"Rap is poetry to music, like beatniks without beards and bongos."
"Somebody asked me the question not too long ago: 'Dave, do you think the music business has turned corrupt.' I said: 'Absolutely not - it has always been corrupt.'"
Personality
David Lee Roth has a rich personality. He is an avid mountain climber. He is fluent in Spanish. Obtained a Private Pilot license for rotorcraft-helicopter 12/12/2006. Roth has an irrepressibly bombastic interview style, where he will use a variety of cultural, literary, and worldly references, in a very stream-of-consciousness manner. His trademark is charismatic dancing and performing bare-chested.
Physical Characteristics:
David Lee Roth has a high raspy voice with a vocal range of five octaves and three notes. He owns blonde hair and blue eyes.
Interests
Music & Bands
James Brown
Connections
David Lee Roth is one of the few all-time famous rock stars who has never married. He has been involved in numerous relationships. Roth has dated over seventeen women including models, musicians, and actresses and he doesn’t have any children. Some of his popular hookups include Brooke Shields, Caron Bernstein, Connie Hamzy, Sabrina Guinness, Sonia Braga, Kathy Simmons, and Apollonia Kotero. Others are Elle Macpherson, Stacy Yarbrough, Valeri Kendall, Ann Boleyn, Alyce Rowse, and Wendy O. Williams, and others. Roth is currently dating a Japanese woman.
Father:
Nathan Roth
Nathan Roth was a celebrated eye surgeon with a lucrative medical practice and a portfolio of astute real-estate investments. The senior Roth was featured on the TV show Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous in 1984, on which he claimed that he was Van Halen's first manager helping the group obtain gigs in the early days. Nathan owned a 14,000-square-foot home in Pasadena, California named "Rothwood" as well as a chateau named "Bradbury."
Van Halen: A Visual History: 1978-1984
Van Halen collects more than 250 backstage, candid, and full rock-out photos of the all-powerful, spandexed, high-kicking, guitar blazing, stadium-shaking, original Van Halen lineup.
2007
Contemporary Authors, Vol. 166
This volume of Contemporary Authors contains biographical information on approximately 300 modern writers.
