When David Lee Roth parted ways with Van Halen in 1985, he left with grand ambitions—determined to prove he could eclipse the band’s legacy. While his solo career didn’t quite reach Van Halen’s commercial peak, his ability to attract top-tier guitar talent was never in doubt.
Over the years, Roth assembled a formidable lineup of guitarists including Steve Vai, Jason Becker, Steve Hunter, and John 5. These musicians helped turn Roth’s vision into vibrant musical statements—but not without challenges. Behind the flamboyant rock star persona, Roth was a relentless perfectionist, demanding precision and discipline in the studio.
One of the most candid accounts comes from John 5, known earlier as John Lowery. Before making his mark with acts like Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie, he sought out Roth after reading his autobiography Crazy from the Heat. Cold-calling Roth’s management, John 5 asked if they were open to new material. To his surprise, they were.
With limited resources, John 5 called in favors and recorded Van Halen-inspired demos. The material impressed Roth’s team, leading to a meeting at Los Angeles’s legendary Ocean Way studios—where Van Halen had recorded many of their hits. But the opportunity came with intense expectations.
“It was crazy,” John 5 recalls. “This is where [Van Halen] did every song and rehearsed.” Roth discovered that John 5 was about to tour with his industrial metal side project 2wo, featuring Judas Priest’s Rob Halford. Eager to lock down the guitarist before that tour, Roth brought him in at 6 a.m. to begin recording what would become the 1998 album DLR Band.
“He goes, ‘If you can’t do it in two takes, you can’t do it.’ And I was like, ‘Whoa. This is insane!’” John 5 remembers.
This demanding approach wasn’t new. Steve Vai, Roth’s first post-Van Halen guitar hero, experienced similar expectations. Speaking to VPR Rocks, Vai recalled the pressure and creative freedom that came with the gig.
“My ideas were being depended on, because I was the guitar player and it was very cool,” Vai said. “Dave had this bizarre sense of humor, and so do I. The energy the whole band created was indestructible.”
Beyond just playing guitar, Vai was expected to help shape the band’s music, lyrics, and melodies. “Not only did I have the freedom to write what I wanted,” he explained, “I had to push myself to go beyond my own vision.”
When Vai left the band, Roth recruited another young virtuoso—Jason Becker. In 1990, Becker was riding high after releasing groundbreaking albums with Marty Friedman in Cacophony and as a solo artist. Roth, however, wanted him to evolve even further.
According to Steve Hunter, Roth wanted Becker to incorporate more blues into his style. Becker, despite his speed and technical prowess, revealed his admiration for Stevie Ray Vaughan during a conversation with Hunter—surprising the veteran guitarist and easing any doubts.
“I said, ‘OK, that’s good. How would you like to hear where Stevie Ray got his stuff?’” Hunter recalled. He then introduced Becker to Albert King’s album Years Gone By, and Becker was stunned by what he heard.
Embracing this new blues influence, Becker adapted quickly, but his tenure was cut short. Just as he was finding his footing in Roth’s band, he was diagnosed with ALS, which tragically ended his performing career.
Another guitarist, Brian Young, who played with Roth from 2002 for four years, also encountered the singer’s uncompromising nature.
“To be in the David Lee Roth band, you’ve basically gotta go through this boot camp to toughen you up,” Young said in a 2021 interview with Rock N’ Roll Icons With Bode James. “He expects a lot, and he’s demanding. He’s a perfectionist for everyone else, even for himself.”
Young emphasized the chain of command. “He’s paying everybody. It’s his name on the marquee, so there’s no argument. When Dave says something, you just do it. And I do like that. Whatever he says—right or wrong—you just do what Dave tells you, and everything’s fine.”
Though Roth’s solo path didn’t reach Van Halen’s commercial summit, the discipline, creativity, and high expectations he demanded from his collaborators created moments of undeniable brilliance. For the guitarists who stepped into his world, it wasn’t always easy—but it was unforgettable.
Related Topics
- Brian May Reveals the Queen Song That Pushed His Limits
- Indonesian Metal Guitarist Ricky Siahaan Dies Backstage at Tokyo Concert Finale
- Air Guitar Championship Rocks Back into Minnesota This May
