Just Like Paradise

Background:


“Van Halen can keep providing the rain and I’ll keep providing the parade.” David Lee Roth

Ex-frontman of rock band Van Halen, David Lee Roth reached the pinnacle of his music career with the platinum album Skyscraper (1988), which was famous for its track “Just Like Paradise.” As a member of Van Halen, Roth especially enjoyed international eminence for the band’s song “Jump” (1984).

Roth, who also issued such albums as Crazy from the Heat (1985) and Eat’em and Smile (1986), saw his music career decline in the 1990s. He later attempted acting by guest starring in “The Sopranos” (2004) and briefly went to CBS Radio stations to replace Howard Stern.

In 1998, Roth published the autobiography “Crazy From the Heat,” which reportedly will be followed up with a book titled “The Tao of Dave: Rock ‘n’ Roll Philosophy with David Lee Roth.” In 1993, the rocker made headlines with his arrest in New York City’s Washington Square Park for buying cannabis from an undercover police officer. When asked whether it was a publicity stunt, Roth said, “… In New York City this small of a bust is a $35 traffic citation. It literally says ‘Buick, Chevy, Other.’ Your dog poops on the sidewalk, its $50. If I was looking for publicity, I would have pooped on the sidewalk.”


Mammoth

Childhood and Family:

David Lee Roth was born on October 10, 1954, in Bloomington, Indiana, to Ukraine immigrants Sybil and Nathan J. Roth (ophthalmologist, deceased). He is the nephew of Manny Roth, an influential New York City nightclub owner and entertainment entrepreneur who runs the famous Cafe Wha.

After living in Swampscott, Massachusetts, and Bloomington, Indiana, David settled in Pasadena, California, where he attended John Muir High School and Pasadena City College (did not graduate). Meeting the brothers Eddie and Alex Van Halen, while renting his PA system to them, David then joined their hard rock band as the lead vocalist. The group, which at first used the name “Rat Salade” and “Mammoth,” was finally billed as “Van Halen.”


Crazy from the Heat

Career:

With Van Halen, David Lee Roth quickly shot to fame through the band’s self-titled debut album (released in 1978), which was followed by five more albums: Van Halen II (1979), Women and Children First (1980), Fair Warning (1981), Diver Down (1982) and 1984 (1984). Roth, with his bluesy baritone voice and distinctive screams, and his band mates increased their popularity with the No.1 Billboard hit song “Jump” (1984).

However, following his conflict with other Van Halen members, Roth pursued a solo career with the album Crazy from the Heat (1985, spawned the singles “Just a Gigolo/I Ain’t Got Nobody” and “California Girls”), which he released while still a member of Van Halen. After leaving the rock band, the singer teamed up with guitarist Steve Vai, bassist Billy Sheehan and drummer Greg Bissonette to work on his album Eat’em and Smile (1986). He also made the Spanish language-version of the album titled Sonrisa Salvajae (1986).

In 1988, Roth released the more experimental album Skyscraper. Co-produced by Steve Vai, the recording went platinum and arrived at No.6 on the Billboard album chart thanks to the worldwide hit song “Just Like Paradise.” It was then followed by the gold album A Little Ain’t Enough (1990), which offered more mainstream hard rock music, and Your Filthy Little Mouth (1991). Unfortunately, the latter album failed to achieve gold status.

After recording two new songs for Van Halen’s Best of Vol. 1 (1996) album, “Can’t Get This Stuff No More” and “Me Wise Magic,” Roth issued a solo album comprising primarily of classic rock cover songs titled Diamond Dave (2003). Branching out to acting, he guest starred as himself in the acclaimed series “The Sopranos” (2004) and took a minor role in the spoof movie Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead (2006).

In addition, Roth began a career as a radio personality in the morning drive slot on several CBS Radio stations. Beginning to replace Howard Stern in January 2006, he sadly received negative reviews and was finally replaced by another broadcaster in April 2006.


Award:
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