David Lee Roth. Diamond Dave. DLR.
Whether those names conjure the gravity-defying rock god jumping from drum risers in the late ‘70s, the sensationalist solo artist and entertainer of the ‘80s and ‘90s, or the feud-fueling podcaster and eccentric elder statesmen of the 2020s, there’s no doubt that parts of pop culture remains drawn to Roth’s over-the-top antics.
That obsession goes way deeper for Darren Paltrowitz, cohost of The DLR Cast podcast and author of DLR Book: How David Lee Roth Changed The World. “I first learned about solo Dave and Van Halen both via 1980s MTV and VH1. Then, like any music obsessive, I eventually wanted to learn more about deep cuts and non-focus tracks, and realized that this was not going to happen by watching MTV and VH1.”
Paltrowiz’s fandom accelerated when he read Roth’s 1997 autobiography, Crazy From The Heat.
“That was around the time Rhino Records did a ‘best of’ compilation for Dave's solo years, and not too far off from when Dave did his DLR Band album. Before that flurry of activity, because the internet was still primitive when it came to video content, there was not a lot to grab onto with Dave's solo career,” Paltrowitz told me for the interview below.
“Dave was very active in the early 2000s when it came to touring, interviews and mainstream appearances, and a lot of that helped remind you—or at least me—of why the first six Van Halen albums were so special. It is and was timeless music, and I feel the same about some of Dave's solo catalog.”
I interviewed Paltrowitz by email in between his day jobs as a licensed private investigator and host of Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz.
Darren Paltrowitz Interview
Why is now the right time to unleash the DLR Book?
Darren Paltrowitz: Dave's autobiography came out in 1997, which was literally over 25 years ago. There have been plenty of books focused on Eddie Van Halen and Van Halen as a whole, but none since Dave's Crazy From The Heat that were Dave-centric. And Dave's autobiography skipped over some things diehard fans are really curious about.
So, I wanted to do my best to cover the last 25 or so years of Dave and speak to as many Dave-related people as I could while I had the chance. Within the past few years alone we have lost Eddie Van Halen, former Van Halen manager Noel Monk, and Dave’s keyboardist Brett Tuggle. This stuff has to be documented while we still can document it.
You interviewed 100+ people for the DLR Book. Which interviews gave you the most surprising insights and perspectives?
Darren Paltrowitz: Dave's cousin Jack gave me some excellent information about Dave's family tree. Dave Jellison—early Ratt bassist, Van Halen crew member and Dave crew member—remembered everything and was able to clear up some myths for me about the 1980s. Rocket Ritchotte helped clear up some behind-the-scenes stuff for me in the mid-1990s. Hutch and Doug Short had a lot to offer about Dave in the early 2000s. So many people, so many eras.
What's the most incredible thing you personally learned putting this book together?
Darren Paltrowitz: The more you think you know about Dave, the more questions you wind up with. Since finishing the book, more people have emerged who have more to offer about various eras of Dave's life and career. I don't think the full story has been told yet.
How has your DLR fandom changed as a result of this book?
Darren Paltrowitz: It started off as a 100 percent passion project where I could listen to Dave and Van Halen all day and all night. Now... not so much. I got way too close to the flame!
How do you think DLR's '80s/'90s solo music stands up?
Darren Paltrowitz: A lot of it has dated production and some of the lyrics are cartoony, but hooks are hooks. I don't think you can listen to "Just Like Paradise" every day and love it, but if you occasionally hear it or choose to listen to it, it sounds amazing. In small doses, it is unique, fun and interesting.
But listening to the same album a few times in a row may be nauseating—or that’s how I feel after writing a book about an artist, taping 90+ podcast episodes about him via DLR Cast, and then doing dozens of interviews in support of the book.
What are your top 5 DLR songs of all time?
Darren Paltrowitz: I plead the fifth on this one. Anytime someone says "In A Simple Rhyme" is their favorite Van Halen song, I get suspicious. As in, ‘Are you trying to like the least straight-forward Van Halen song to prove a point?’
Do you think we'll ever see another rock entertainer like DLR?
Darren Paltrowitz: I think we will be seeing entertainers as great as and/or as talented as DLR, but none that will make as much of an impact. There is not a dominant media source or music discovery gatekeeper which carries weight like early MTV did, where one groundbreaking music video is seen by practically everyone and talked about for a long time, no matter their favorite genre (a la "Thriller").
To me, Justin Hawkins from The Darkness is that sort of performer and personality, given how he has also crossed over into hosting a successful YouTube series, yet it isn't going to connect on a mainstream level due to everything being so segmented.
What's next for you?
Darren Paltrowitz: I tape interviews 5-6 days a week for the Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz, which airs regularly via 150+ TV stations and OTT outlets. A lot of that content goes to Paltrocast.com and elsewhere. I have a few ideas for "the next book."
In the meantime, I remain a licensed private investigator, a co-host of The DLR Cast, consult for artists and... probably need more sleep.