VAN HALEN NEWS DESK

David Lee Roth’s artwork

From DavidLeeRoth.com:

David Lee Roth has recently released dozens of his own drawings and artwork, which he calls “authentic originals and incompetent imitations.” He offers them up as, “An official answer to the question ‘what do you do in your spare time?’”

The Van Halen frontman always been into art. Throughout his whole life, while touring the world, you could find him doodling on just about anything  – setlists, tour riders, female body parts, etc.

He was always a major part of the visual side of Van Halen, and always tried to make the stage show “look like the music sounds.” He designed stage clothes, orchestrated photo shoots, came up with the stage choreography, etc. He also had a hand in designing Van Halen’s early tourbooks and a few of Van their t-shirts. So we’re not too surprised to now have some more confirmation that he’s a truly gifted artist.

Roth applies himself well to everything he does-martial arts, reading, drawing, exploring, and entertaining–both on stage, and during interviews. He truly is one a kind and his drive and varied interests is what separates his lyrics from other singer’s. Dave’s uniqueness was one of Van Halen’s most important ingredients-it got them on the map and kept them there for years to come.

The pictures can be seen and even printed in high quality, from his website, DavidLeeRoth.com. Here are just a few, below.

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Visit DavidLeeRoth.com to view the entire collection.

  • andym

    Time out boys…get your panties out of a wrinkle. I never said that the concerts sucked. DAVE sucked! He was nothing like I expected him to be for these shows. There were countless times he missed lyrics, sang the wrong lyrics or talked over where lyrics should be sung! I didn’t expect him to be the same way he was in the early 80s by leaping all over the stage but is it too much to ask for to have the lead singer sing the damn songs??? The band was GREAT – Ed played 2,000 times better than the 2004 drinking tour. I just wish Dave held up his end of the deal last time. I think some of you guys had the same DLR Coolaid that Rick was drinking if you think he was on top of his game.

    Adam, I don’t know where you live dude but in the major cities I saw on the tour list the minimum ticket price was $100. And Duck, I know tickets are expensive these days but VH knew they could name any price and people would show up. Their prices here were the same as the big current bands on tour. Pretty ballsy for a band that hadn’t put anything new out in a decade plus.

  • http://none Dirty Duck

    I’m not gonna argue with you over how dave sounded.
    You’re the one who fronted the cash to see the show.
    Maybe you just caught some bad nights for him?
    Look man, the only reason im saying that is because the reviews were pretty consistent as far as being positive.
    Have you ever heard of “Eddie Trunk”? He’s a music critic / rock DJ out here in NY. He’s pretty much a straight shooter and not an ass kisser. His “Madison Square Garden Review” was spot on and even went to great length’s to say how “suprised” is was with how good dave sounded. Even mentioned wondering if he was taking singing lessons.
    I’m just suprised that those 3 shows dave was a dissapointment. Believe me man….i’m not arguing with ya!
    You have every right to your opinion….and you paid for the show’s right? Exactly. Your dough…your call.

  • RickieVanWhalen

    Dudes – for the record:

    – nobody took apart ed’s original frankenstrat and reconstructed it. It was all done by Fender from pictures. It is an amazing and highly overpriced collectors item. I’ll buy one when the price is lower than $15K
    - Ed said the Fair Warning was his own solo project and that Diver Down was Dave’s. That sounds about right to me, pun intended!

  • Jim

    The original frankenstein guitar was taken apart, analyzed, and copied to a T. The $25k replicas are about as closest to the real thing than any other type of replica to any other object I can think of.
    For $25k, I believe they sold out in less than 30 minutes. This guitar is not meant to be played. It’s for sitting in a display case to be looked at and admired the rest of your life. While most poeple including me cannot afford this, a lot of poeple can. The big time fans there were around in the early years are around the age range of 45-60 right now. They would be more likely to afford this than a 25 year old.

    Someone mentioned Steve Lukather & Friends Santa Mental holiday CD. Totally worth it. Ed plays on the first track “joy to the world” and is amazing. It’s basically of Ed playing a several minute blazing solo that starts about 20 seconds in and ends about 10-15 seconds before the end of the song. All instrumental. Best christmas song ever.

    Ed did this for free way back after beating cancer. Must have been back around 2003 ish.

  • VH Dude

    Fair Warning is my favorite Van Halen album. And I know I’m a little late with this post, but I’d like to defend Diver Down. I don’t see it as a lack of creativity or fault the band at all for its rushed release. Warner Brothers is mostly to blame. The guys had been touring since Van Halen 1 and were finally just getting a break after Fair Warning (4 albums and tours in barely over 3 years: Feb. 1978 – April 1981). VH recorded (Oh) Pretty Woman and it was released as a single in early ’81. It was an immediate hit so Warner pressured VH to get back in the studio and record. No time to plan and write – they recorded five covers. They also recorded Cathedrals which can be heard on live concert tapes prior to Diver Down, and Hang ‘Em High which can be heard on their ’77 demo. The original song was called “Last Night” (…where were you last night? – fun to listen to with different lyrics and virtually the same guitar solo). The album was rushed, obviously, but still a great album. Not on par with their other recordings, but still a big part of Dave era Van Halen. Personally, I think the criticism at the time inspired Eddie to write some of his best work: 1984. Nearly a full album of new material with the exception of House of Pain. And House of Pain is quite different than the demo version prior to Van Halen 1. All of this is not to say I don’t like Diver Down. I love it and every true Van Halen fan should own it.

  • mitel

    True on that VH Dude. You are exactly correct.

  • http://none Dirty Duck

    Right on VH DUDE!!

  • swingin’ sinner

    Rickie, you should read guitar world march 2007 Chip Ellis(The guy who was in charge of the making of the Frankenstrat replica)talks about everything that went into making the replica! lay off the kool-aid bro!

  • RickieVanWhalen

    What cool aid dickhead? It is Chip Ellis at the 3:30 second mark of the link I gave you. HE SAID (do you understand? HE SAID IT) that he did it all from pictures. Wake up and get literate you jack wade.

  • RickieVanWhalen

    Oh wait a minute…I see my comment with the link is “awaiting moderation” Once the VHND Gods approve it. You will see a youtube link with the interview with Chip Ellis. It is a fact – the replicas were made from pictures only.

  • swingin’ sinner

    wow are you a real asshole, RickieVanWalen. Here is the first question and answer from the magazine

    Guitar world: After you got the initial work order, how did you begin work on the replica guitar?

    Chip Ellis: We brought the original guitar into the custom shop, took it apart and made patterns from the body. And then he goes on about how Ed let him hold onto the guitar for a little while.

  • swingin’ sinner

    Just saw the video and he does say it was built from photos but in the article he says he had the original guitar for a while! weird I smell bullshit somewhere along the lines. You’re still an ass though!

  • RickieVanWhalen

    I don’t know where you get your facts from cool aid boy but listen to what Chip says with EVH sitting right next to him.

    Go to youtube and search “Eddie Van Halen’s Frankenstein guitar replica (part 3)” then go to the 3:20 second mark and eat shit.

    You have seen this video right? Do you believe what Chip says right in front of EVH or what you think somebody said he said in some dumb magazine your moma bought for you.

    Here is some quotes from the clip:

    Interviewer: You did this without that guitar?
    Chip: Yes
    EVH: Yes
    Interviewer: You did the entire thing from photographs
    Chip: Yes
    Interview: You never had the real guitar?
    Chip: that is right
    EVH: How did you do it with only photgraphs
    Chip: It wasn’t easy

  • RickieVanWhalen

    You too sinner. I am a EVH guitar fanatic. I own quite a few of them. I still love you though dude and I am an asswipe from time to time.

    Guitar World has been full of crap for over a decade now.

  • Jim

    The guitar was taken apart. Pictures of each part were taken throughout the process. Exact measurements were included and noted in each picture.

  • rickievanwhalen

    Jim

    I think it is best that I ignore you. I can feel my IQ droping even as I type this.

  • phillster

    VHDuDE: Right on!
    Rickievan Walen:That was entertaining as hell!!LMAO!
    Bottoms Up!!

  • Lesley

    Kabuki meets Aubrey Beardsley; very nice ink work, controlled, beautiful. Especially the cat.
    A brave, talented, extraordinary man; it takes a lot of courage to post art; the inner workings of ones mind and feelings.
    You are courageous enough to try anything and talented enough to succeed at everything.
    A modern treasure.

  • Deionte

    Late: I wonder if he drew up the 2984 Baby??