Diamond Dave's Return to the Live Stage
Rock star David Lee Roth performs again amidst the tumult within Van Halen band.
Looks like old-school rocker Diamond Dave, aka David Lee Roth, is making a comeback to the live music scene after a five-year hiatus!
On a scorching Saturday night, Roth brought the house down at the M3 music festival in Columbia, Maryland, marking his first public performance since 2017. The riveting 75-minute set featured an array of timeless classics from his iconic band, Van Halen, accompanied by a band that boasted guitarist Al Estrada and four backing vocalists[1].
The concert kicked off with crowd-pleaser "Panama," followed by fan favorites like "You Really Got Me," "Dance the Night Away," "Runnin' with the Devil," "Jamie's Cryin'," "Hot for Teacher," and concluded with the inevitable "Jump." Roth, now 70 years young, captivated the audience with his exuberant energy and unmatched charisma[2].
Roth jokingly referred to the concert as "the end of my first retirement," hinting at his previous health issues announced late last year[3]. Just a few days following the M3 festival performance, Ticketmaster listed more than a dozen scheduled concerts starting on July 22 at the California Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles[4].
Meanwhile, his Van Halen counterpart, Sammy Hagar, has been in the limelight discussing the legendary band, whose founding guitarist, Eddie Van Halen, tragically passed away in 2020. Last month, Hagar revealed to The Times that he and Eddie had discussed a potential reunion before Eddie's demise, but Eddie asked him to keep the plans under wraps from his brother, Van Halen drummer Alex Van Halen[5].
Hagar went on to express his thoughts to Rolling Stone, stating that Alex might be harboring anger towards him since he's still performing while Alex can't[6]. After his performance at Stagecoach, Hagar launched a residency at the Park MGM in Las Vegas.
The band's final concert took place in October 2015 at the Hollywood Bowl, thus concluding a tour that featured Roth on vocals and Eddie Van Halen's son, Wolfgang, on bass[7].
Unresolved Questions
While Diamond Dave has announced a summer tour for 2025, there's been no word on the exact dates for his U.S. concerts. For more information, it's wise to check his official website or social media profiles.
Additional Insights
- Alex Van Halen released his memoir, "Brothers," in which he doesn't sugarcoat the complex relationship he had with Eddie, but there's no mention of Sammy Hagar[8]
- Rock legend Robert Plant, of Led Zeppelin fame, ended a 16-year hiatus on performing "Stairway to Heaven" at a benefit[9]
- Sammy Hagar shared that he was happy to have reconciled with Eddie Van Halen before his passing in 2020[10]
[1] Rolling Stone[2] Ultimate Classic Rock[3] Rolling Stone[4] Ticketmaster[5] The Times[6] Rolling Stone[7] Wikipedia[8] Ultimate Classic Rock[9] Rolling Stone[10] Rolling Stone
- Diamond Dave's summer tour in 2025 is unconfirmed, and the exact U.S. concert dates remain undisclosed, so fans should monitor his official website and social media profiles for updates.
- Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Sammy Hagar—Van Halen's former counterpart—has been performing a residency at the Park MGM in Las Vegas, following a reconciliation with Eddie Van Halen before his demise in 2020.
- In California, Alex Van Halen, the band's drummer, has published a memoir entitled "Brothers," candidly discussing his complex relationship with Eddie but not mentioning Sammy Hagar.
- The pantheon of music lost another icon in 2020 when Eddie Van Halen tragically passed away, marking the end of a tour that featured Diamond Dave on vocals, Eddie's son, Wolfgang, on bass, and a final concert at the Hollywood Bowl.
- California, with Los Angeles being a musical and entertainment hub, remains a significant location for the business of music and entertainment, even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the industry.
