David Lee Roth on Howard Stern
September 9, 1996
This was all typed in by Pat from the Van Halen List.
Thanks Pat!
Here is a synopsis of the interview with Roth...paraphrasing..I
apologize for any typos - no time to prrofread...Enjoy!
H => Howard or his co hosts
D => Dave
H: You look happier than ever
D: Wonders never cease...I may have badmouthed Sam but VH has always maintained their
endocrine system
H: Money-making propsition
D: Makes spititual sense....in terms of lead singer, band went from
decaf to speedballs....not alot of singers have the caliber to hook up with VH
H: went into studio
D: DLR/VH music is timeless/classic....contained genuine attitude...powerful magic in
VH music
H: Came as a shock - how did it happen?
D: was watching CNN and heard about GH...called Ed and said I'd like to make peace....
don't like to hear words from his former battles with VH
H: rumor is that Ed has no money
D: Absolutely not true
H: I thought this because I approached VH about doing a song for my
movie as long as DLR was with them...they said they'd do it for $1m and
all of a sudden, a few weeks later, DLR is back
D: There's a different kind of lrical balance now...Sam was doing
Valentines, I'm do airbag
H: Did you talk to Val?
D: No...Ed has quite a little family going
H: Were you nervous...was it 3 against 1?
D: No...not adversarial...I know what this music is all about...First
meeting was in the studio and noone knew I was there except Ed
H: Is the new song called "Sammy blows"
D: Don't sit with your back to the wall and don't pack your suitcase if
you're a VH lead singer...Sam is pissed off and in a few months will
look around and say 'everything will be allright but what do I know
about losing a high profile gig?'
H: What is Sam's story
D: When Sam was in the band, it was nostalgic - now it's of the
moment...Sam was not enjoying the ship and was always complaining
H: So you walk in and the rest of the band sees you
D: I was allready there with Ed...Alex looked like he had seen a
ghost...We hugged, talked about mutual frames of reference and it was
not wierd at all
H: You're so talkative and Ed is so quiet, to the point of wierding
someone out...Ed's dull
D: No!...he's best at what he specializes in
D: took 10 days to record
H: How long before the first argument in the studio?
D: (tongue-in-cheek)Four hours!...arguments are from differences in
lifestyle - goal is the music...Ex: Ed said hi to his wife and son on
MTV (then, DLR proceeded to say what he would have said)
H: SO the rest of the guys walk in...
D: Have to disregard the past
H: Were problems with everyone or just Ed?
D: Ten years ago we were different people and forgot now why we were
feuding...it was "instant"...times heals a whole lot and we still have
alot in common...after Alex came in, we talked for 7 hours straight
H: Was Sammy mentioned?
D: Constantly...I believe Sam will be on the GH but it changes so
much...we're talking about nuclear power here - not me, the band....all
of a sudden, everyone wants videos
H: What happened on MTV?
D: Everyone rode in together...he wasn't kept hidden...backstage, people
were going nuts...a few nights later, a policeman stopped me and said
"Mr. Roth, you the man"
H: On MTV, you became their frontman and they sunk into the background
D: (Dave was very low key here)We all play different instruments - I
play my body
H: When will we see a tour?
D: One little thing at a time
H: They're telling you what to do - you should be telling them!
D: Their is a quasi democracy in a rock band...everyone has a say
H: You'll be on board a year and will have them in hand
D: That kind of thinking may affect this...lots of people feel that
way...there is super enthusiam in this band...there is magic in putting
it all together
H: How will you split the money?
D: same as always
H: But it's not a "band" - he's not a member?
D: They're still carrying on active auditions...not clear to me if I'm
the singer...I'm ready to go if they want me....there are no direct
committments
(At this point, Howard et all kept trying to egg Dave on about how he
should be telling VH what to do, not vice cersa and VH was leading him
on, etc)
D: Can't think about that...2 months ago I never would've thought it
would happen...everyone right now has a different time frame//I have no
part to play in the production of the videos until I'm in the band
H: What is your communication with Ed?
D: It's call by call...
H: How happy is Val?
D: (made a Yoko Ono reference)...I don't see her much..she has a sense
of humor...I WAS THERE ONE DAY AND SHE WAS POSTING ON THE INTERNET ABOUT
ME BEING IN WOLFIE'S TIME0OUT CHAIR
H: Does Val still have a nice body?
D: (ignored this)
D: I'd be delighted if this were to happen
H: Do you miss Vegas?
D: "show good...timing bad"
H: Ed is clearly holding you back by the shorts
D: (no answer if I remember right)
H: Will you sing Sammy songs?
D: Sam committed "lyrical felonies" for the past 10 years...there will
be an arm wrestle once the song list is proposed
D: But, noone knows more than me what Sam is going thru right now
(played YRGM excerpt from the Atomic Punks)
D: This is the first interview since this started and there was some
dissension but I told them it had to be done
The End