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Shine On, You Crazy Diamond

October 19, 2010 46 Comments

In honor of David Lee Roth’s 56th birthday last week, The Toilet Paper – Daily News for the Thinking Man – created a tribute.

From TheToiletPaper.com:

Sure there have been stronger voices, deeper lyrics penned by wiser souls, and less ornate attire sported onstage, but when it comes to being the greatest rock n’ roll front man of all time no one can come close to David Lee Roth.

What’s that you say? What about Mick Jagger? No spinning high kick, dude. Axl Rose? He has zero sense of humor. Freddie Mercury? We must have missed his kung fu sword routine.

A wrecking ball of bombast deep fried in fearlessness and dusted with genius, Roth was never better served than with a side of Van Halen. This Sunday our old hero turns 56, and we want to say thanks, Diamond Dave, for providing the soundtrack to so many of our Saturday nights. “Bottoms Up!”

Van Halen, A Combo of Religion and Hockey

David Lee Roth, a rockstar comedian who doesn’t take himself too seriously.

Dance the Night Away

Perhaps the kinship we feel with Dave is because of our shared athleticism, bravado, gift of gab, and closet full of tight, colorful pants. Then again, maybe it’s because the cat truly embodied our idea of what it meant to be a rock star.

Check out their entire tribute here.

Filed Under: David Lee Roth
  • freddiegirl

    Great tribute! I already read this on The Toliet Paper and thought it was awesome, thanks for the link VHND… :)

  • MA=VH

    Happy (belated) Birthday to Diamond Dave.

    He is truly the most quotable musician ever.

    MA=VH

  • THE ATOMIC PUNK

    THE MIGHTIEST OF ALL THINGS!!!!

    VAN HALEN!!!!!!

  • Tater Salad

    Haha, I like that, Van Halen: a combo of religion and hockey! Good tribute!

  • Phil

    Awesome.

  • non-stop talker

    I agree. A well written tribute. :)

  • Strung Out

    Damn good!

  • shan777

    Amen Brotha!

  • sob

    reminds me of “damn good times”.

    Love those old interviews with him.

  • John

    Just an amazing live band!

  • John

    “Monkey hour into a career” love it wish I could have done that.

  • jano2412

    The one and only Van Halen!

  • Fear of a Sparkless Horizon

    “I’m a spark on the horizon!!” Yes you were Dave and God bless you for that. Now let’s see some more spark ignition!!!

  • http://gjungling.typepad.com/blog/ Gary in Gilroy

    Years ago I once heard David Lee Roth described as the Dean Martin of the 80′s. Damn, that was so true.

  • Dan

    I never forgot that clip from ET when I saw it in ’82. I wanted a guitar so bad, I almost had a heart attack when he simply threw one across the room.

  • http://www.jointfilms.com steve

    I think Dave needs to go back and watch some of these old clips to remind himself what made him so special in the 1st place. cause he’s lost his mojo. And that’s coming from someone who took Dave’s “side” in 1986.

  • Ted

    Happy birthday Dave! you always got a sense of humor :)

  • Peedah

    He is SIMPLY THE BEST period Thank-you VHND.

  • steve

    the entertainment tonight interview was actually done in february ’82

  • anythingleftinthatbottle

    A-MEN,(or is THAT too contraversial)!

  • Diamond Dean

    A LEGEND full stop

  • patrick

    nice! Steve Vai, cool you stopped by…

  • http://mgmgrand.com MGM Todd

    One of my favorite Diamond quote’s…” I’ve got more hits than Bugsy Seigel!”

  • Roth-A-Holic

    David Lee Roth = PASADENA BAD ASS

    David Lee Roth = SEX GOD FOR HOT WOMEN

    David Lee Roth = SHOWMAN EXTRAORDINAIRE

    David Lee Roth = MASTER OF THE FLYING KICKS

    David Lee Roth = JOKESTER GENIUS

    David Lee Roth = CLASSY SURGEON’S SON

    David Lee Roth = TOASTMASTER GENERAL OF THE IMMORAL MAJORITY

    David Lee Roth = COOLEST CAT IN ROCK ‘N ROLL

    David Lee Roth = GREATEST FRONTMAN OF ALL TIME

  • Stone

    Roth would forget his own name on concert nights….

    However, yes, I agree. The greatest ‘studio’ frontman ever. In concert though? It’s a bit rough to continually forgive him for forgetting the lyrics to every single song except ice cream man

  • Just some dude

    “I’ll have a glazed doughnut and a bottle of anything — to go!”

  • Dooley

    Roth has earned his reputation. All this stuff is great and much deserved. Hail to Diamond Dave, and thanks for what you’ve done, inside and outside of VH.

    But there is nothing like the present. Looking forward to April-May 2011 when Dave’s “you’ll be hearing from us in 7-8 months” comes due. That’s what’s got me stoked, with a dose of caution. Too soon to get too excited.

  • Van Foot

    Bottoms Up…

    All the more reason to support Mike as a great bass player and vocalist. Van Halen, in its current lineup, is like taking Whole Milk to 2%, or even Skim. Michael provided such a great dynamic to the band in the early, and later, years. Too bad the Van Halens tried to wipe his memory and importance to the band.

    When I saw VH in 2004, I thought Ed’s playing was not up to par, but watching Sam and Mike do Cabo shots and having a good time kept the show rolling. I’m not sure what the guys are up to, but the memories of the golden years are fantastic. What a great band and great time to be alive.

  • halfway to the label

    my own mokey hour lyrics(where o where has van halen gone)??? answer: sheepherding..

  • Ted

    It’s so funny when Dave throws away the guitar :)

  • 51504vh

    Diamond David Lee Roth defined what being a rock star SHOULD be. don’t understand when people complain about how he mixed up lyrics to songs in concert. My first time seeing them was at the U.S Festival ’83 and he was wasted along with 270,000 other people which I thought was too cool…he walked his talk and talked his walk…It was the greatest show on earth and I’ll never forget it, I was only 10 years old.

  • Lecutus

    Does anyone know what ever became of the “Crazy from the Heat” project?

    And what was the premise?

  • http://none Dirty Duck

    Simply the best….

  • jeff adams

    In the 70′s and early 80′s VH was bigger than life. Nobody put out music or performed like Dave, Ed, Al, and Mike. They were untouchable, just ask Black Sabbath, they witnessed it first hand and so did I. I kinda felt sorry for Ozzy and the boy’s, but the last thing you want to do is have VH open for you. To me all four of those guys complimented ea. other, no one was better than the other, they all kicked ass.

  • Dooley

    The live version of “Dance the Night Away” posted here is sooo much better than their hit studio version.

  • phillster

    Lecutus:I haven`t read DAVE`S book in a while(also called crazy from the heat)-but it`s in there.From what i remember,
    the story was about a mad scientist who tries to steal&isolate DAVE`S “brain serum” so he can sell rythm to “white people”,and get rid of the body by strapping DAVE to the “New years Eve Times Square Ball”.
    All of it,of course,taken from real life.lol
    CBS gave $10mill, and then shelved it.
    One morning an executive came in and said “We`re worried about drug use-somebody found “white powder” on the table you were all working at”.
    Dave`s response,”We love “powdered donuts”.
    Happy B-day Mr.ROTH!!!

  • freddiegirl

    phillster…seriously? That sounds hilarious! I always wondered what Dave’s movie project was supposed to be about; I guess that doesn’t really surprise me!

  • Darren from Staten Island

    Dave is one funny dude. It’s what make Van Halen special. Always had it always will.

  • Randy

    I love a lot of bands from the era, but none of them come close to original Van Halen in terms of the memories or longing to relive the past, and these clips sum that up. Could this be magic? It absolutely was. Happy Birthday Dave, and thanks for your major part in those memories. Looking forward to you making more.

  • Rich

    Great stuff. I particularly enjoyed Dave’s take on style vs. class. What a classy guy!!!

  • http://Www.jointfilms.com Steve

    Lecutus. I actually have a copy if the film script. Dave write it with Pete angelus and this writer named Jerry perzigan. It’s ok. Some funny bits here and there it follows Dave and Ed (his assistant not Eddie v) on their adventures on a tropical island. I found it in one if those stores that sell movie stuff etc in Hollywood maybe 15 years ago. Honestly I think dave’s better off it didn’t get made.

  • phillster

    Buy The Book freddiegirl…
    You Will Not be disappointed.
    Don`tcha trust me?
    MeWiseMagic;)

  • ringostore

    Breath of fresh air again after listening to that Santana thing.

  • Lecutus

    Thank ya Phillster
    I’ve got the book when it first came out. Time for a reveiw.

    To Steve: Is there any way to veiw the script. Best situation would be to see the whole. Or to compare and contrast the above stated points, aka. the good, the bad, the ugly. Ya know the highlights vs. lowlights.

    Arato
    L.

  • jeff adams

    Attention all new bands, this is how it’s done. From the music, to the live show, to the interveiws.

  • Dooley

    ringostore:

    You’re right on Santana’s cover of “Dance the Night Away”…
    He shouldn’t have done that one. But some of the other covers ain’t bad, such as “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” with India.Aire (never heard of her, but her vocals do it justice); Bang a Gong with Gavin Rossdale (Gwen Stephani’s boyfriend from the band Bush); and a really good “Little Wing” with Joe Cocker. I know it’s a major risk to cover Jimi Hendrix, but the arrangement in this case works.

    But you’re right, much of that album is awful. Santana even included “Back in Black” done by a rap guy. Ewwwww.