David Lee Roth canceling his current tour last week was not a complete shock. He has “retired” before, in an infamous phone chat nearly five years ago.
But Sammy Hagar’s subsequent public support of Diamond Dave — even an invite to join Hagar in Las Vegas in September — was a stunner.
“Come to Vegas for the residency in September. Come on, join us,” Hagar said in a video post hours after Roth spiked his “Don’t Love Me, Rent Me” series Thursday. “Sing a couple songs, MC the damn show.”
Hagar’s “Best of All Worlds” residency returns to Dolby Live at Park MGM for fives shows beginning Sept. 18. Roth’s participation would of course sell tickets. It is also, as we say, the longest shot on the board. Roth and Hagar have bickered publicly for decades after Hagar joined Van Halen in 1986.
The 71-year-old Roth announced he is spiking all of his remaining shows aside from his Sturgis Motorcycle Rally performance Aug. 7. His show at The Edge Pavilion in Laughlin on Sept. 5 is among the affected dates. Iroquois Amphitheater in Louisville; Astro Amphitheater in La Vista, Neb.; and The Guild Theatre in Menlo Park, Calif. have also been dropped.
Roth didn’t furnish a reason for the tour halt, or any public statement. But Hagar leapt in. In his video, the Red Rocker sipped from “my favorite cocktail,” a margarita, and stared close into his phone:
“Hey, Dave. Sammy here. I just got a call from (Van Halen and Hagar bassist) Michael Anthony … about your tour getting canceled. And I wanna say from the bottom of my heart, I’m sorry. I hope you’re well. I hope there’s not a physical problem. Honestly, Mike and I love the fact that you’ve been out there doing it, supporting the greatest band in the world that we were both part of.”
Roth has most recently played Las Vegas over Labor Day weekend, a one-off at BleauLive Theater at Fontainebleau. Coincidentally, or not, that show ran alongside a Hagar date at Dolby Live.
Hagar has long said he doesn’t understand Roth or Alex Van Halen, though he and Joe Satriani wrote, “Encore, Thank You, Good Night,” after Hagar dreamed of a reunion with Eddie Van Halen. The Van Halen brand and band’s Hagar era is still rocking the Strip.
Roth, meanwhile, had gained some traction on his current tour when he joined Teddy Swims at Coachella in April for an unbilled performance on the main stage. The two performed “Jump,” both clearly relishing the first-ever collaboration.
Videos from the tour, and also from a Roth show at House of Blues in January 2020, reveal the rock icon’s voice is painfully rough. But a showman can still entertain (as Hagar noted) without being in best voice.
Roth still struts and preens and, on occasion, performs the limbo on stage. He also shows you’re never to old to rock the leather pants. He might not headline Las Vegas, or anywhere else, again. But this olive branch from a longtime rival is an honorable way to play in out.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.