David Lee Roth – His Music Done His Way!

David Lee Roth, never one to rest on his laurels (or his past Van Halen glory), continues to surprise with a somewhat steady stream of solo material.
His last single available on iMusic, “Wash and Fold,” followed hot on the heels of “Manda Bala,” adding to a growing collection of tunes that began emerging in 2022 with Roth’s reimagined takes on Van Halen classics.
This burst of activity marks a significant return for Roth, whose last studio collaboration was back in 2014 with Mötley Crüe guitarist John 5. (Remember his 2003 solo album, Diamond Dave? Yeah, it’s been a while.)
But Roth hasn’t just been twiddling his thumbs.
He another unearthed a gem from those 2014 sessions, a track called “Hi-Fashion Girl,” and shared it on YouTube, hinting at a treasure trove of unreleased material from that era with intriguing titles like “Somewhere Over The Rainbow Bar And Grill” and “The Shit That Killed Elvis.”
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John 5 has described their recording sessions as a whirlwind of spontaneous energy, capturing Roth’s unpredictable creative spark.
And that spark is certainly evident in The Roth Project, Roth’s foray into digital storytelling.
This online comic, narrated by Roth himself, features five original songs (also born from those sessions with John 5), presented as an integrated part of the narrative.
It’s a novel approach, allowing Roth to release music in a focused way, similar to artists like Drake who prioritize individual tracks over traditional albums.
Interestingly, Roth has been teasing a full-blown album with John 5 since a 2013 Rolling Stone interview, describing it as a deeply personal, autobiographical project.
He even envisioned performing these songs live, weaving the tales of his life into the music.
We also have “Giddy-Up!” another release from The Roth Project, complete with Roth’s own cowboy-themed artwork.
Clearly, Diamond Dave still has plenty of tricks up his sleeve.
And they keep on coming!
He recently took “Jamie’s Cryin’” on an unexpected journey, transforming the stadium rock anthem into a bluegrass lament. It originally appeared on the Strummin’ With the Devil tribute album.
Swapping electric guitars for acoustic strings, Roth and the band re-imagine the song with banjos and mandolins, revealing a unique depth of emotion.
The familiar tune, now carried by a sorrowful fiddle and a steady, folksy rhythm, evokes a sense of longing and regret.
Roth’s voice, while still undeniably his own, is softened by the stripped-down arrangement, adding a poignant touch to the lyrics.
Who knew “Jamie’s Cryin'” could sound so at home on the front porch?
Sources:
- Rolling Stone. “David Lee Roth on His Unreleased Album with John 5 and Autobiographical Themes.” Rolling Stone, 2013.
- Ultimate Classic Rock. “David Lee Roth Releases New Song ‘Wash and Fold’ and Updates The Roth Project.” Ultimate Classic Rock.
- Loudwire. “David Lee Roth and John 5’s 2014 Recording Sessions – ‘Hi-Fashion Girl’ and More.” Loudwire.
- Blabbermouth. “David Lee Roth Shares Previously Unreleased Tracks from His Sessions with John 5.” Blabbermouth.
- David Lee Roth’s Official YouTube Channel. “The Roth Project – A Digital Storytelling Adventure by David Lee Roth.”
- Roth, David Lee. Personal social media announcements on Instagram.com/DavidLeeRoth and Twitter.com/DavidLeeRoth.
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