David Lee Roth: The Rock Icon Who Shaped Guitar Legends
By 1984, David Lee Roth was ready to break free from the shadow of Eddie Van Halen, the guitar virtuoso of Van Halen. with aspirations to carve out his own identity as a solo artist, Roth aimed to surpass the very band that had launched his career.
According to Alex Van Halen, the tipping point for Roth came when Eddie secretly recorded the iconic solo for Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.” This betrayal ignited Roth’s fury, prompting him to exit the band.
To ascend to the throne of rock stardom, roth knew he needed a powerhouse lineup. Following the release of his debut EP, Crazy From the Heat, in January 1985—marking its 40th anniversary this month—he set out to form a supergroup that could rival Van Halen. Over the next 15 years, Roth would collaborate with three extraordinary guitarists, each contributing to his quest to eclipse Eddie Van Halen’s legacy.
Steve Vai: The First Guitar virtuoso
Roth’s first major recruit was the exceptionally talented Steve Vai, who had recently departed from frank Zappa’s band. Joined by bassist Billy Sheehan and drummer Gregg Bissonette, Roth showcased his keen eye for talent.
(Image credit: Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music via Getty Images)
After releasing his debut solo album, Flex-Able, in 1984 and joining Alcatrazz, Vai found himself at the forefront of Roth’s solo career. “My contributions were essential, as I was the guitarist, which was an exhilarating experience,” Vai recalls. “Growing up, I was heavily influenced by bands like Led Zeppelin and Queen, so the rock spirit was ingrained in me.”
“When Dave approached me, it was a chance to flex my creative muscles, and our shared sense of humor made it a perfect match. Tracks like ‘Yankee Rose’ with its playful guitar dialogues? That’s not somthing complex rock stars typically do!”
Jason Becker: The Rising Star
Roth’s debut album, eat ‘Em and Smile, released in 1986, featured the hit single “Yankee Rose,” which solidified his status as a serious solo artist. While many compared vai to Eddie Van Halen, vai himself dismissed the notion of competition. “Feeling the pressure of Edward’s shadow would imply I was in a race with him, which is impossible,” he stated.
After the release of 1988’s Skyscraper, Vai departed, and Roth once again demonstrated his knack for spotting talent by bringing in Jason Becker, who had made waves with Marty friedman in Cacophony. “Joining DLR’s band was thrilling,” Becker recalls. “I felt confident in my abilities, and the band welcomed my youthful energy. At a lavish dinner, dave toasted to ‘the new gunslinger in town.’”
However, Becker’s journey took a tragic turn when he was diagnosed with ALS shortly after joining Roth. Despite the diagnosis, he managed to complete his contributions to Roth’s third album, A Little Ain’t Enough, but his playing style had to adapt as his physical condition deteriorated.
“Eric Clapton’s style was a significant influence on my playing,” becker reflected in a 2012 interview. “You might not hear it in my earlier works, but as my strength waned, his influence became more apparent in my notes.”
John 5: The Next Generation
As becker’s health declined, Ozzy Osbourne’s guitarist Joe Holmes stepped in for live performances. Simultaneously occurring, roth’s glam metal style began to wane in popularity with the rise of grunge. In 1994, Steve Hunter played on Roth’s Nile Rodgers-produced album, Your Filthy Little Mouth, before Roth discovered another rising star: John Lowery, known today as John 5.
In a 2021 podcast with Machine Head’s Robb Flynn, John 5 shared the unusual circumstances that led to his joining Roth’s band. “I was lounging on my couch, thinking about how much I loved Van Halen and David Lee Roth, and I wondered what Dave was up to,” he recounted.After finding a contact number in a promotional booklet for Crazy From the Heat, he called and submitted three demo tracks, including “Slam Dunk!,” which he described as “my best Van Halen impression.”
Before long,John 5 was recording an album with Roth in a whirlwind 11-day session. “We aimed to capture the essence of the old Van Halen days,recording everything live,” he recalled. “Dave created an remarkable atmosphere in the studio, complete with palm trees and sand, making it feel like a party.”
John 5 played both electric guitar and bass on the self-titled album, DLR Band, released in 1998, which also featured drummer Ray Luzier, who would later join Korn. Although John 5 eventually left to work with Marilyn Manson and rob Zombie, his career trajectory, much like vai’s, continued to soar after his time with Roth.
The Legacy of David Lee Roth
While David Lee Roth’s solo career may not have reached the monumental heights of Van Halen,he undeniably played a pivotal role in promoting emerging talents. It can be argued that without their time alongside Roth, neither vai nor John 5 would have achieved the same level of success they enjoy today.
