History:
One of the greatest showmen and performers in the history of hard rock, David Lee Roth has influenced an entire genre. Upon his departure from metal legends Van Halen in 1985, Diamond Dave set out to upstage his former band. At first he succeeded, but his popularity has been on a steady decline despite his outrageous personality and quotability.
  Roth was still a member of Van Halen when he released his debut solo EP Crazy From The Heat, a collection of tongue-in-cheek cover songs. The album was a surprise hit with the MTV generation and spawned two top 20 singles in "California Girls" and "Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody". Disappointed with the slow progression of the new Van Halen record and realizing that his solo career could be a smash hit, Roth left the band. His first full-length album featured members that could almost rival his old band mates, Steve Vai (guitar, formerly of Frank Zappa and Alcatrazz), ex-Talas bassist Billy Sheehan and Gregg Bissonette (drums). Eat 'Em And Smile was another huge success, reaching the Top 5 on the Billboard charts.
  Skyscraper also faired well commercially, but the songs were more keyboard oriented and Roth's band was starting to break apart, eventually leading to Vai and Sheehan's departures. For A Little Ain't Enough, Roth had got an almost entirely new band of Jason Becker (guitar), Steve Hunter (one time Alice Cooper guitarist), Matt Bissonette (bass) and Brett Tuggle (keyboards). The album hit the top twenty, but spawned no hit singles and it was apparent that few cared anymore. Roth fired the entire band shortly after and moved to New York where in '93 he would be arrested for buying $10 worth of marijuana.
  1994's comeback album Your Filthy Little Mouth (co-written with childhood friend and guitarist Terry Kilgore) was an absolute flop and Roth was dropped from his major label contract. A short-lived Las Vegas lounge act also failed to attract any new fans. Surprisingly he was asked to rejoin Van Halen to record new tracks for their Greatest Hits album. Two new tunes were recorded, and despite his belief he was once again back in the group, was hastily let Roth go after a disastrous MTV Video Awards presentation. In 1997 he wrote an autobiography chronicling his rocky affair with the Van Halen boys called Crazy From The Heat.
  On an independent label, Roth unleashed his greatest album since 1986. A tour for the record never came off when guitarist John Lowery suddenly left to become Marilyn Manson's Johnny 5. It wouldn't be until mid 1999 that Roth hit the road, playing mostly Van Halen tunes for an eager audience. In a surprising twist, Roth and his Van Halen replacement Sammy Hagar performed a co-headlining tour in 2002. But things were doomed from the start when Dave proclaimed, "Sam throws a party. I am the party!" Diamond Dave's days in the spotlight may be numbered, but few will ever forget his humor, swagger or music...he truly is a rock legend.

Links:
The Official David Lee Roth Page
David Lee Roth Army

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