[Update 1/4/22]: David Lee Roth has canceled his sold-out, nine-show residency at Las Vegas, NV’s House of Blues at Mandalay Bay. The run of shows was originally set to include a performance on December 31st, 2021, followed by appearances on January 1st, 5th, 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 21st, and 22nd.
On Thursday, the original Van Halen vocalist postponed the December 31st and January 1st shows to February 11th–12th due to the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases. Then on Monday, January 3rd, the frontman scrapped the entire run, a representative of the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Though the shows are no longer listed on the venue’s website, there has been no formal announcement from Roth or his camp. Roth did, however, send out this cryptic tweet late Monday evening:
— David Lee Roth (@DavidLeeRoth) January 4, 2022
According to the House of Blues, all tickets purchased with a credit card will be automatically refunded within 30 days. Head here for more information. Those who did not purchase tickets directly through the venue should contact their point of purchase.
Roth’s Las Vegas residency was supposed to serve as his retirement party after he announced back in October that his final show at the House of Blues would be the last of his career. He cited health concerns as the reason for hanging up the towel and calling it quits. It is still unclear if Roth will schedule additional shows in the future. Head to his website for the latest updates and more information.
[H/T Las Vegas Review-Journal]
[12/7/21]: David Lee Roth has pushed back his retirement date, adding additional shows to his 2021–2022 residency at the House of Blues Las Vegas.
Back in October, DLR told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he would be “throwing in the shoes” after his final residency show on January 8th. While he seemingly cast doubt on that proposition just a few days later by sharing a poster that read “The Last Tour, Unless It Isn’t”, the narrative that it would be his last show persevered.
On Monday, however, the original Van Halen vocalist confirmed that January 9th would not be his retirement date. Instead, Roth added four shows to his sold-out residency, set to take place on January 14th, 15th, 21st, and 22nd. This announcement effectively pushes the rock legend’s retirement date back at least two weeks, until the 23rd.
In a statement via Blabbermouth, DLR noted, “I had no idea how many of you wanted to pay to see me go. So I’m putting more tickets on sale, instead of doing the wrong thing and pissing more people off. I have industry professionals now ringing in, telling me, ‘Dave, at your age, you should be in the middle of your third retirement. Did you watch Rocky movies? He’s on his seventh. Same guy, Rambo—fifth. He’s about 14 retirements ahead of you.’ Just when I get out, they drag me back in.
“Look, I’m vulnerable. I feel sensitive. If I sound that way to you, I’m in the middle of my first retirement,” he continued. “And I’m gonna extend my world goodbye tour of Las Vegas at the House Of Blues for two more weekends—like any good f*cking barbecue. Just like you would, if you could.”
A pre-sale for the newly-announced dates will begin today, December 7th, at 1 p.m. ET. Head here for tickets and more information.
— David Lee Roth (@DavidLeeRoth) December 6, 2021
[10/12/21]: Van Halen co-founder David Lee Roth might not be retiring after all.
In an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal on October 5th, David Lee Roth announced his retirement would commence immediately following a five-show residency at the House of Blues Las Vegas on December 31st, January 1st, 5th, 7th, and 8th.
Just ten days later, however, Roth casted doubt on that proposition with a single photo posted to Twitter. On Monday, October 11th, Roth posted a picture of the tour poster commemorating his upcoming Las Vegas residency.
Posted without a caption, the poster reads: “The Last Tour, Unless It Isn’t.”
— David Lee Roth (@DavidLeeRoth) October 11, 2021
While this certainly isn’t definitive proof that Roth has shelved his retirement plans, it does pique curiosity about what’s to come should Roth feel like the five-night Vegas residency doesn’t satiate his desire for performing. Be sure to keep an eye out for additional information as this story is developing.
[10/5/21] David Lee Roth will retire effective January 9th, 2022, the former Van Halen singer announced on Friday. Roth is “throwing in the shoes,” as he told the Las Vegas Review-Journal, following a five-show residency at the House of Blues Las Vegas December 31st, January 1st, 5th, 7th, and 8th.
“I am encouraged and compelled to really come to grips with how short time is,” Roth said in an audio interview, “and my time is probably even shorter.” He indicated that the death of Eddie Van Halen last October played a factor in his decision, referring to the guitarist’s death of throat cancer at age 65 as, “the departure of my beloved classmate recently.”
Whatever his reasons for retiring, Diamond Dave made clear that this will be a grand finale to a musical career spanning nearly 50 years.
“I’ve got a band that is doing what Al [Alex Van Halen] and I used to call a ‘block,’ that means 75 rehearsals for one show,” he told the Review-Journal. “We are bringing it in classic VH [Van Halen] style. Alex and I are the only version, that was his message. There is no other variation. There is no torch being passed. There is no other side to this coin. This is classic, in-your-face Van Halen.”
In the eight-minute interview—which plays more like a public statement than an artist interview—Roth did not state whether or not he would be joined by Alex Van Halen during the coming Vegas residency.
Related: Guns N’ Roses Welcome Wolfgang Van Halen To “Paradise City” [Watch]
Roth co-founded what would ultimately be known as Van Halen in 1972 in Pasadena, CA with brothers Eddie Van Halen (guitar) and Alex Van Halen (drums). In 1974, the band was joined by bassist Michael Anthony to form the classic Van Halen lineup that remained until 1985. Following the 1984 Tour, Roth left the band to focus on solo endeavors at which point Sammy Hagar became the lead singer for Van Halen.
Following an ill-fated push for a reunion in 1996—with a memorable publicity stunt at the MTV Video Music Awards to plug a Best Of compilation—the bandmates remained estranged until 2006 when they reformed with Roth on vocals and Eddie’s son Wolfgang Van Halen on bass, the lineup that would remain through the rest of Van Halen’s career which effectively ended on October 6th, 2020 with the death of Eddie Van Halen.
Many conspiracy-minded VH fans have taken to the internet to point out the curious timing of Roth’s retirement, suggesting it’s been planned for 30 years. Per Loudwire, Diamond Dave may have dropped clues to his retirement in the music video for the title track to his 1991 solo album “A Lil’ Ain’t Enough”. In the video, Roth visits a fortune teller who predicts his future, showing a haggard, double-chinned version of the singer arriving at the Anaheim Stadium with a sign out front that reads “Diamond Dave, THE ABSOLUTE FINAL TOUR: SOLD OUT.” The date of the concert is shown as October 10th, 2021, Roth’s 67th birthday.
Watch the eerily prescient music video for “A Lil’ Ain’t Enough” by David Lee Roth below and head over to the Las Vegas Review-Journal to hear his complete retirement announcement. Tickets for the singer’s final run of shows are on sale via his website.
David Lee Roth — “A Lil’ Ain’t Enough” (Official Video)
[Video: TheManFromCabo]
David Lee Roth announced his retirement today… just 9 days before his 1991 music video for A Lil’ Ain’t Enough predicted he would. pic.twitter.com/UFmMzajY40
— Evan McClosky (@The_Ev_Mac) October 2, 2021
[H/T Loudwire]
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