David Lee Roth, the frontman of rock band Van Halen announces retirement
David Lee Roth, the original singer of Van Halen has announced his retirement. He is going to perform his final shows in Las Vegas. Not going to “endanger” his future, Halen has taken this decision.
David Lee Roth is hanging his boots.
In an exclusive conversation with the Las Vegas Review-Journal over the phone, the 66-year-old rocker said, “I am throwing in the shoes. I’m retiring.” Roth, the original lead singer of Van Halen announced his upcoming retirement after a slew of shows in Las Vegas in December and January.
Eddie Van Halen, the band’s lead guitarist and one of its namesakes, had died of cancer last year. Roth spoke about and said it is one of the possible reasons for his retirement.
“I am encouraged and compelled to really come to grips with how short time is, and my time is probably even shorter,” Roth said. He added that he imagined he “might have been the first” to die of the band members, rather than Halen. The band formed after Van Halen and his brother, Alex, met Roth. It went on to release more than a dozen albums over four decades.
He also said didn’t want to “endanger” his own future by continuing to perform, citing guidance from his “doctors” and “handlers.”
Roth said he’ll be performing at his final shows at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay for five concerts between Dec. 31 and Jan. 8. “I’m not going to explain the statement. The explanation is in a safe. These are my last five shows,” he told the Review-Journal.
Tickets for the performances go on sale Saturday.
Roth, often considered to be one of the greatest front men in rock, performed with Van Halen between 1974 and 1985. He also embarked on a solo career starting in the mid-‘80s.