Review by BENJ (SPORTATORIUM)

THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFERENT SHOWS I'VE EVER WITNESSED. IT OPENED WITH 30 SECONDS of Hot For Teacher. Dave got hit with an unknown "foreign object" in the face, stoppped the show and shouted numerous expletives.

Dave proceeded to leave the stage. Dave then returned to go to the next song, "Panama", only 2 minutes worth. Dave returned, only to leave again. The manager came on stage and offered $500 for the "needle dick prick" who threw the object on stage. The manager asked the crowd to please point him out. The house lights came on after a fifteen intermission. Finally the show came on.

The show started for a second time. It's hard to type, I've still got Dave's Jack Daniels in my eyes. My girlfriend is a strpper at Mons Venus, Tampa's ultimate strip club. We got on the bus earlier so Dave knew her face. We had eye contact face-to-face all night. We were dead center front row. I got the only pictures.

The set was excellent and we got to hear the full intro to Mean Streets. The band was extremely tight. The show was a must see. I was grateful to have the only club Dave passes at the venue.

Earlier in the day a DJ for a local radio station, 98 Rock, couldn't get an interview. They gave Dave's hotel and room number out to the listening public. He proceeded to cancel his appearance at the Toys for Tits charity function.

With all the negativity that Dave put up with in Tampa, it still was one of the best shows I've seen. DAVE YOU GOT ALL MY NUMBERS ON THE BACK OF THE ICE CREAM PHOTO---SEE YA NEXT TIME!!!!!

The show had a rather rough and bizarre beginning. It was a rainy night in the Tampa Bay area. When Dave took the stage, late of course, BEFORE the first song started he said that someone just threw something and hit him in the eye, and did the same rap about fucking his girlfriend. then they started Hot for Teacher, but Dave stopped it part way through saying, "sorry I have to check my eye." So then he comes back and they start up Panama, then Dave cuts it and says "sorry", there is like a 10 minute wait, and I was worried he might cancel or something, and people will get REAL pissed.

But he came back and started the show over from the start, and then on out it was pretty good, very loud. same exact setlist. Dave sounded good as usual. It was pretty fun actually watching it in the rain. Was a good night show overall despite the awkward beginning.

A very surreal beginning to be sure, to the Diamond Dave show down here in St. Pete FLA. It was a pretty shitty night with off and on rain. Jannus Landing is an outdoor venue with no seats that can hold about 1,000 or so.. The band starts in with Hot For Teacher.. Dave comes out, next thing you know, he gets hit square in the face with some foreign object. He shrugs it off, then stops the band, cusses out the individual..starts up again, sings a few verses... and stops again...this time for a good period of time.

It's obvious he is severely pissed..and perhaps a little hurt. The promoter comes out and tries to put a bounty on the dude who threw the object. At this point, I'm thinking Diamond Dave is ready to bail on the whole thing. People next to me, (drunk, big white guys) are planning some serious abuse to Dave's Bus... expecting the worse.

The atmosphere was already a little sour with the antics of a local D.J., so no one knows what will happen. Amazingly, Diamond Dave comes back out, starts up again and puts on a KICK ASS SHOW!! The songs were the same as all the previous set lists. Kudos to Dave for perseverance and putting up with the fact that club shows often entail this type of garbage.

Highlights: You Really Got Me - The song was done somewhat ironically, true to the original Kinks version.

Ice Cream Man - Dave playing some credible acoustic guitar..who knew?!!

It could probably be argued based on the set list, that the Diamond one wants back in with Mr. VH. However, he showed without a doubt, that he is a man with the credentials and ability to prove he can survive and prosper based on his own merits. That being said, it's about time to see the real VH back in action.

Well, let me tell you, driving 20 hours in a 1970 VW Bug from NJ to see the David Lee Roth band was well worth the trip. Thanx to Benj, known as Sportotorium on the VHL discussion forum, for getting me to meet Dave and all of the Mons Venus strppers, Tampa's ultimate strip club. Again, thanx for bringing all my buddies up front from NJ to see Dave up close and personal. Can't wait to see the pics of the show, especially with Dave and bottle of Jack Daniels. It was very memorable! See ya next time!

Words can't describe the show. It was great except for the brief intermission. The band was a lot better than I thought it would be! Can't wait to see ya at the TradeWinds again in New Jersey----ROTH RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW! What an AMAZING show! All of the crap in the beginning sucked, but when that was over, Diamond Dave SERIOUSLY rocked the bay area last night! You guys have heard all of the stuff onstage...so I'll spare you of that part, just know is was an amazing, incredible show.

When I was about to leave the venue last night, I saw the DLR Band bus right outside, and decided to see if I could possibly meet DLR. When I was out there I was talking to some guys that work for Dave and they said the show that night was the most awesome show he'd done all of tour. Then I met Ray and he was very cool. But no Dave, I guess that's about it. I still can't hear anything!

Anyone saying that Dave has lost his voice, or lost anything for that matter, is mistaken, and must have never liked him or have seen him in the past. He's got it all: the voice, the look and the moves that he always had.

After having read some bad reviews from previous shows, I went to the show in St. Pete prepared to see Dave in bad shape (vocally, physically and mentally) and backed by a sloppy cover band. I was happy to see that not only was Dave perfect, but the band was tight, and very worthy of backing Dave. Bart Walsh's guitar playing was not the "hack" job some have described. He played both VH and Vai with ease, and had fun doing it. The whole band seemed to be having a blast and sounded amazing.

The whole "I got hit in the eye" episode seems to be blown out of proportion by some. It was a minor delay, and nobody was anywhere near rioting. I kind of wonder if it really even happened, considering Dave's flair for the dramatic, and incidents at past shows.

I feel honored to have been in the presence of such greatness at such an intimate venue, but Dave in no way deserves to be stuck playing to small crowds. It's time to bring him back to the masses!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls...The Man is back! Yes sir!

It was an unbelievable concert nonetheless. However the crowd was too rowdy and childish. Bunch of drunken a--holes. Even one of them hit David Lee with some thing that bruised his right eye real quick at the beginning of "Hot for Teacher". Dave proceeded to get really pissed off and walked out. The promoter even offered $500 dollars to whomever would grab the perpetrator and bring it back stage, to get her/his ass kicked, courtesy of the Diamond One. I even kicked a guy that was pushing and showing my wife. That guy will remember that for a couple of weeks!

Show and music wise, it was awesome. Dave does not need Van Halen at all. These young musicians that he has this time around are so much better than Alex, Edward, and Mike combined into one. I can`t wait for the live album so you all can hear this man. Too much! Muchas Gracias David Lee!!!!!!!!!

I had never seen Van Halen when DLR was with the band so I looked forward to this night. I was not disappointed.

But first...

As far as what Dave does on stage, it's embarrasing. He's a freak. He obviously has some deep rooted sexual problems. I felt sorry for him. The crowd was 90% male and Dave still touched himself constantly. Why? He doesn't need to do that stuff anymore. But, most of the crowd liked it so what do I know. Also, the Jack Daniels bit is old. The martial arts bit at the end was great. I was waiting to be decapitated at any moment!

The volume was too loud and the sound was not clear enough. I am just now recovering from the ringing in my ears. I feel like I got drunk last night but I didn't have one drink. I guess I was too close.

The manager offered $500 if somebody would bring up the ass who threw something that hit Dave in the eye. That has to be the most irresponsible thing I have ever seen. What was he going to do? Kill the guy? Talk about trying to incite a riot. Thankfully, the crowd ignored him.

Now to the music. The most important part.

I had always heard Dave sings like shit live. Well, I can't vouch for the old VH days but last night he kicked ass. He wasn't off key at all. Yeah, he took some notes to a lower octave but all singers do that when they get on in age. My friend was disappointed that Dave looked old. Well, unfortunately, Dave is a human and time will do that to you.

I loved the show and would recommend it to all the Van Halen fans who are pissed when VH leaves out all those old songs. Dave came through and did most of the classics. That's what the crowd came to see and Dave knew that and delivered. I do wonder why Unchained was cut from the song list. He did that on earlier dates.

Although Dave acted like an x-rated cartoon, (as others have written) I had a lot of fun. I wouldn't hesitate to see him again. Now if only the VH boys and Dave would put their egos away for awhile, the original magic would be back.

After being a big Van Halen and David Lee Roth fan for many years now, it was my first chance to see the Diamond one in concert, and it was definitely worth the wait. I didn't know if he would seem a shadow of his former self, but he was all there. I was very impressed by the voice, showmanship, and band.

As mentioned in other reviews, the worst thing about the concert was the fans. The tickets said that the doors opened at 7, but gave no starting time for the band. It was close to 10 before the action started. By then, drunken tempers were flaring. I was real close to the stage and witnessed several fans being escorted out for fighting during the show. It kind of distracts from the performance when you have to worry about keeping your wife from getting punched.

Then there was the eye thing. I thought Dave was being a baby at first. They played some of "Hot for Teacher", stopped, and then skipped to the next song "Panama". Dave stopped again, apologized and walked off stage. When he came back Dave had a big gash under his eye, but kept a sense of humor holding out his arms in a boxing stance, but wearing a big smile on his face. The band then started the whole show over. I thought it was pretty cool the way he handled it. It's gotta be pretty frustrating to try and put on a show for someone and have someone throw something at you.

I was surprised to see all the male stripper type stuff, but it didn't really bother me. That's just Dave being Dave. It was an amazing show. It was great to be so close to the action, and I can't wait to see him again. My wife, who isn't a huge fan even had a good time. She even admitted to having a DLR dream that night. Maybe I do know why Dave does the stripper stuff!

I thought the actual performance was great. I just didn't think starting 2.5 hours later then it was supposed to was so great. As a matter of fact, I was pretty pissed off by the time the show started. I also thought Dave was acting waaaaaayyy too gay on stage. The show focused around his dick. 2 hours of 'Hey everybody, watch me shove the mic down my pants, and rub my crotch...' Not to mention the ass grabbing....Funny how I read a lot of reviews about Gary in VH acting too 'gay' but Dave wasn't?!? At times I even felt embarrassed for Dave.

Like I said the performance was awesome. Dave sounded great, looked great...but I think the rock star act just doesn't cut it anymore. It's not the 80's...hell...it's almost not even the 90's anymore...I wanted to see a great rock show, which I did, but having to put up with a lot of Daves old 80's moves was just a little hard to deal with.

I'd see him again though.

After seeing Dave with Bad Company earlier in the year in an arena in Northern Cal, I was sure the club show was going to be the greatest "Van Halen" show I'd ever seen (and I've seen my share of DLR-era Halen shows).

Unfortunately, I was let down. Somehow, his act doesn't translate from an arena stage to a small venue. It didn't help that this was the second to last show, and everyone seemed a little bit tired. I can't beleive I'm saying this, but I remember being a little embarassed for him. All the crotch-grabbing, the hip grinding, the jokes (forgot the words again?...c'mon Dave) that worked for him earlier in the year at the arena show misfired badly at Jannus Landing.

There were more than a few unimpressed concert goers who grew more and more vocal as the night went on. I can't remember EVER hearing someone boo Dave at a show. EVER.

On the bright side, there moments of brilliance. The best when Dave was just being himself. No primping and posing. Just singin' his ass off with that shit-eatin' grin of his. It was Magic and Tragic at the same time. Would I pay to see it again? Bet your ass. Long live the King.

Again, There is not much more to contribute. This is the third show I've seen in four days, and I would say that it was the best one so far. During Little Dreamer, Dave's voice was right on the money. One comment I found interesting was when Dave said "I've stopped doing this for money a long time ago". Well, if that's the case, why is he such an asshole to his fans? Why is he doing this? If not for the money or the fans, what? Who knows.

This was the best concert I've seen in a long time.. Dave was great. His singing and stage presense was unbelievable. He has not lost a step. The band was great. It showed that Dave was the best part of Van Halen.

They played all the classic Van Halen tunes and now I can say that I've been to a Van Halen concert.

Bert plays just as well as Eddie, in fact the whole band played as well as the original fab four. It would be nice to see Dave back with Van Halen but if it doesn't happen I'll be satisfied with what I witnessed 12/17/99. If Eddie thinks Dave/perform can't sing, then he is dead wrong. Again he's been wrong before..remember Gary Cherome? What a disaster.

I have been a Dave fan for many years, I even have an autographed picture of Dave in my office. I got to the show on a rainy miserable night but I could care less, I was going to see Diamond David Lee, and man oh man he did not let me down.

His voice actually sounded great and his band was much better than I expected. I was standing near the front of the stage when some idiot threw something at Dave (IF THE THROWER READS THIS YOU SUCK!) being the professional artist that Dave is he finally got on with the show. There was a hot lady up front who flashed Dave a couple of times, I think she was the Hot Teacher.

This by far was the best show I have ever seen. This comes from Clearwater FL. Dave, please come back and give us another INSTANT REPLAY!

Hot For Teacher
Panama
Little Guitars
Dance The Night Away Mean Street
Runnin' With The Devil
Eruption
You Really Got Me
So This Is Love?
(Oh) Pretty Woman
Little Dreamer
Atomic Punk
Ice Cream Man
Everybody Wants Some
Yankee Rose
Tobacco Road
Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
Jump

DLR Solo: 02
Van Halen: 16

Total: 18

St. Petersburg Times
Ink 19