The first two shows of David Lee Roth's previously announced Las Vegas residency have been canceled. According to Metal Sludge, one of the musicians in Roth's backing band contracted COVID-19, forcing the concerts to be called off.
Roth's camp has issued the following statement: "Due to unforeseen circumstances related to COVID and out of an abundance of caution for those working and attending the shows, the David Lee Roth performances schedule for Dec. 31, 2021 and Jan. 1, 2022 have been cancelled. Refunds will be automatically processed, and ticketholders will be notified directly."
Roth is still scheduled to perform at Mandalay Bay's House Of Blues on January 5, 7 and 8, January 14-15 and January 21-22.
When Roth's residency was extended earlier this month, he said in an audio message: "David Lee here. I had no idea how many people wanted to see me go. Okay, that sounded wrong. [Laughs] All right. Don't turn it off. David Lee here, for the second time. I had no idea how many of you wanted to pay to see me go. [Laughs] So I'm putting more tickets on sale, instead of doing the wrong thing and pissing more people off. I have industry professionals now ringing in, telling me, 'Dave, at your age, you should be in the middle of your third retirement. Did you watch 'Rocky' movies? He's on his seventh. Same guy, 'Rambo' — fifth. He's about 14 retirements ahead of you.' Just when I get out, they drag me back in.
"Look, I'm vulnerable. I feel sensitive. If I sound that way to you, I'm in the middle of my first retirement. And I'm gonna extend my world goodbye tour of Las Vegas at the House Of Blues for two more weekends — like any good fucking barbecue. Just like you would, if you could."
In October, the legendary VAN HALEN singer announced that he was ending his career with his Vegas shows during the first weeks of January. "I am throwing in the shoes. I'm retiring," Roth told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "These are my last shows."
He added: "I'm not going to explain the statement. The explanation is in a safe."
Roth also reflected on the passing of his longtime bandmate, legendary VAN HALEN guitarist Eddie Van Halen, who died of cancer a year ago.
"I thought I might have been the first, frankly," Roth said. "I might have thought the Marlboro Man would've got me. Hey, Ed, objects in the rear-view mirror are probably me. And my doctors, my handlers, compelled me to really address that every time I go on stage, I endanger that future.
"I am encouraged and compelled to really come to grips with how short time is, and my time is probably even shorter," he added.
"I know that when I am in the audience, whether you come out with a ukulele or a marching band, all I ask you give me everything you've got to give," he said. "That's what I did for the last 50 years. I've given you all I've got to give.
"It's been an amazing, great run, no regrets, nothing to say about anybody. I'll miss you all. Stay frosty."
In March 2020, Roth postponed the final six shows of his Las Vegas residency due to the coronavirus pandemic that is spreading across the globe.
Roth's latest Vegas residency kicked off on January 8, 2020 with a 15-song set that included 10 VAN HALEN classics and five songs from his solo career. Backing the now-66-year-old singer were lead guitarist Al Estrada from the VAN HALEN tribute band ERUPTION, rhythm guitarist Frankie Lindri, bassist Ryan Wheeler, keyboardist Danny Wagner and drummer Mike Mussleman.
Roth explained that he chose Vegas as the place to debut his new band because "this is where you come to celebrate and do the victory dance, whatever that means to you."
In a February 2020 interview with StarTribune, Roth openly wondered whether his first tour since VAN HALEN completed its 2015 run of shows would be the last time he would perform.
"I'm calling it 'The Last Tour'," he said at the time, "and then underneath it in parentheses: 'Unless It Isn't'. ... At my age, everything is a possible farewell tour."
"It's been a long great trip, a long great run," he continued. "But this kind of music requires the kind of energy that people in their 20s bring. You know what NFL stands for: Not For Long. It's similar in rock. I remember the days when we would stand around and say, 'Let's go have a cigarette.' And that's what we did: Four guys having one cigarette. I remember those days. They go by fast, so enjoy them while you're in them."
In February/March 2020, Roth performed as the opening act for the North American leg of KISS's "End Of The Road" farewell tour.
Roth's 2020 Vegas residency wasn't the first time he had set up shop in Sin City. Back in 1995, Roth completed a Las Vegas engagement at Bally's Hotel and Casino and another short run at MGM Grand.
Everyone has a plan, till you get punched in the face,
Bummer. I'm a huge DLR fan. I'd like to see him go out on a high note.
I wish he had gotten the chance to have T-Bone pull him aside to make a rich, flavorfull storytelling blues album rather than a modern trendy album or a hard rock album. Robert Plant has shown that there is a way for a hard rocker to go out.
Wish he and Steve Vai would do a farewell tour. I saw a DLR show about 1984 with Steve and it was as good as Van Halen if you like hard rock.
Steve Vai graciously deferred to Eddie Van Halen when asked to comment about Eddie's death. Steve said Eddie was the king of hard rock guitar playing.
But Steve was being modest. Steve can shred as good as anybody who plays that way!
Steve Vai graciously deferred to Eddie Van Halen when asked to comment about Eddie's death. Steve said Eddie was the king of hard rock guitar playing.
But Steve was being modest. Steve can shred as good as anybody who plays that way!
In my opinion Eddie Van Halen is not a shredder type guitar player. Rather, as Vai also suggests, an iconic hard rock guitarist. In his opinion, arguably one of the best of all time.
I would add that it's EVH's COMBINATION of talent that puts him on the Mount Rushmore of hard rock guitar players. This includes his tremendous chops as a soloist and, what he's not always recognized for, his amazing skills as a rythmn player. Add in his unique musicality and songwriting ability and you're left with a very unique player in the hard rock world.
For instance many people can shred on a guitar, but in the end where's the song?
Now all 2022 shows cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns. Not postponed, but cancelled. Not being re-scheduled; refunds automatically processed.
Just the fact DLR re-scheduled these Jan2022 shows due to contractual commitments from a year ago, and now these shows are flat-out cancelled, doesn't give warm & fuzzy feelings for some reason. Seems to be a lot of speculation about DLR's health, based on his own comments over the past several months, and the way these shows were rescheduled as his last "live shows ever". And the fact these shows are being flat-out cancelled versus not being further postponed will probably add to the speculation and rumor-mills.
The dude is 67+ years old now, and his brand of rock 'n roll doesn't hold up very well after age....what, 50? 40? After 1987? So he hasn't quite been in the same boat as Neil Young, Mick Jagger, or Paul McCartney. And certainly hasn't tried (much) to re-define himself to fit his birth year. Hope 2022 brings good health to DLR, even if he ain't no longer up to live performances.
Now all 2022 shows cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns. Not postponed, but cancelled. Not being re-scheduled; refunds automatically processed.
Just the fact DLR re-scheduled these Jan2022 shows due to contractual commitments from a year ago, and now these shows are flat-out cancelled, doesn't give warm & fuzzy feelings for some reason. Seems to be a lot of speculation about DLR's health, based on his own comments over the past several months, and the way these shows were rescheduled as his last "live shows ever". And the fact these shows are being flat-out cancelled versus not being further postponed will probably add to the speculation and rumor-mills.
The dude is 67+ years old now, and his brand of rock 'n roll doesn't hold up very well after age....what, 50? 40? After 1987? So he hasn't quite been in the same boat as Neil Young, Mick Jagger, or Paul McCartney. And certainly hasn't tried (much) to re-define himself to fit his birth year. Hope 2022 brings good health to DLR, even if he ain't no longer up to live performances.
There has been a lot of speculation concerning DLR on the internet. I have heard a variety of opinions/tales on podcasts such as Dave and Dave Unchained and the DLR cast. Who knows ? Try and decipher what he says and means can be an enigma. Maybe his body has just had enough and he is done. He has always been pretty physical on and off the stage. He has eluded to multiple surgeries, as a child he had some physical disabilities , etc. Does he need the money? I highly doubt it. Playing the House of Blues is not a huge payday. Like I said, who knows.....
Everyone has a plan, till you get punched in the face,
@jszfunk According to entertainment news on cable this morning DLR was going to retire after the Las Vegas shows and now they are canceled because of Covid. DLR has some underlying conditions so he needs to avoid getting Covid with more concern than those who don't. Plus he is 67 and over 65 is too a concern.
The man on this channel indicated DLR likely now is no longer a performing artist but retired.
DLR's net worth in 2021 was $60 million. So certainly he doesn't need the money.
They also mentioned longtime Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzman has been told by his doctor he can no longer play. Heart issues.
@robertdee Yes, Bill Kreutzmann is going to be missing th Playing In The Sand event. He was absent from a few Dead & Co shows towards the end of their tour last year as well
@jack_frost They said on TV Kreutzman's doctor told him he couldn't play drums anymore. Heart not up to it.
They mentioned he played at all 2,300 shows the Grateful Dead performed and was a founding member. The name Grateful Dead was retired when Jerry died but Bill said the latest lineup of Dead and Company is really the lastest version of the Grateful Dead in an interview I watched just recently.
Bill also said Cocaine was a horrible drug. He wished he had never used. Said musically it's horrible too. Makes you overplay at times and makes the band sound bad as everyone is at a different place musically and energy level when the whole band tooted before the show. And when you are really buzzing, you don't care what the other guys are playing. You just want to show off and you think you are really burning but it actually is sloppy.
Hate he apparently has to hang it up!
Charlie Watts was told the same then passed away. Rock drumming and 75 (Bill) and 80 ( Charlie) is a steep hill it seems. Phil Collins is still singing but not drumming.
Joe Morello played well into his 70's. But it's hard. Hard on the heart. Toward the end of this solo Joe looses his stick. When Joe was younger he often played without sicks. John Bonham was a big Morello fan and apparently lifted that from Morello.
DAVID LEE ROTH Addresses Possibility Of Future Shows Following Las Vegas Residency Cancelation
David Lee Roth has issued a brief statement after the cancelation of the remaining farewell shows he was set to play in Las Vegas.
The 67-year-old VAN HALEN frontman had previously scrapped concerts scheduled for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day and was to play a total of nine shows as he vowed to retire from performing live.
The concerts were scheduled to take place on December 31, 2021, and January 1, 5, 7 and 8 of 2022 at the House Of Blues at Mandalay Bay.
When asked if Roth's farewell performances will take place at a later date, he told Fox News Digital in a statement: "It's not about me anymore. When the benefits for Kentucky, Colorado, and Farm Aid kick in; Call me."
In a similarly worded statement to EW, Roth said about the cancelation of his Vegas residency: "Sometimes you win, Sometimes you lose, We got rained out.. "Covid cancelled.
"Future shows? When the benefit concerts for Colorado, Farm Aid, and hospital workers 'everywhere' come up; Call me..," he added.
In a previous statement, event organizers said the cancelations were made "due to unforeseen circumstances related to COVID and out of an abundance of caution for those working and attending the shows."
When Roth's Vegas residency was first announced, organizers promised "a changing set of 26 instantly recognizable songs, including 'Jump', 'Panama', and 'California Girls...'"
In October, the legendary VAN HALEN singer announced that he was ending his career with his Vegas shows during the first weeks of January. "I am throwing in the shoes. I'm retiring," Roth told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "These are my last shows." He added: "I'm not going to explain the statement. The explanation is in a safe."
In March 2020, Roth postponed the final six shows of his Las Vegas residency due to the coronavirus pandemic that is spreading across the globe.
Roth's last Vegas residency kicked off on January 8, 2020 with a 15-song set that included 10 VAN HALEN classics and five songs from his solo career. Backing the singer were lead guitarist Al Estrada from the VAN HALEN tribute band ERUPTION, rhythm guitarist Frankie Lindri, bassist Ryan Wheeler, keyboardist Danny Wagner and drummer Mike Mussleman.
Roth explained that he chose Vegas as the place to debut his new band because "this is where you come to celebrate and do the victory dance, whatever that means to you."
In a February 2020 interview with StarTribune, Roth openly wondered whether his first tour since VAN HALEN completed its 2015 run of shows would be the last time he would perform.
"I'm calling it 'The Last Tour'," he said at the time, "and then underneath it in parentheses: 'Unless It Isn't'. ... At my age, everything is a possible farewell tour."
"It's been a long great trip, a long great run," he continued. "But this kind of music requires the kind of energy that people in their 20s bring. You know what NFL stands for: Not For Long. It's similar in rock. I remember the days when we would stand around and say, 'Let's go have a cigarette.' And that's what we did: Four guys having one cigarette. I remember those days. They go by fast, so enjoy them while you're in them."
In February/March 2020, Roth performed as the opening act for the North American leg of KISS's "End Of The Road" farewell tour.
Roth's 2020 Vegas residency wasn't the first time he had set up shop in Sin City. Back in 1995, Roth completed a Las Vegas engagement at Bally's Hotel and Casino and another short run at MGM Grand.
Everyone has a plan, till you get punched in the face,
@robertdee I really did enjoy the Dead & Company show I saw in Hershey, Pennsylvania this past August. Glad I went now, I guess.
@jack_frost Yeah I liked the Dead and Co. Shows I saw. May have been a little more organized and less noodling than the last Grateful Dead show I saw.
@jszfunk Seems likely DLR will indeed perform some more if someone calls and he is in the mood after all. DLR hadn't been told by a doctor to retire.
@robertdee I was happy they did the old Pigpen chestnut Mr. Charlie and it was nice to see two of my favorite Bob Weir songs (Black Throated Wind & Cassidy) in the first set. Eyes Of The World and Death Don't Have No Mercy in the second set were nice too. Again, guess I am glad I went - it may wind up being the last time I saw Bill Kreutzmann.
@jack_frost I hope the docs can come up with something that will help Kreutzman back on the stage.
75 years old and heart issues has to be taken seriously though. I think Kreutzman and the others put Grateful Dead together in 1964.
@robertdee I just saw an article online that said John Mayer (in addition to Bill Kreutzmann) will also be absent from the Playing In The Sand event due to testing positive for COVID-19, to be temporarily replaced by Tom Hamilton.
Doesn't sound like things bode well in the Dead & Company universe 😕
