David Lee Roth, Van Halen, and the US Festival – A Wild Rock ‘n’ Roll Ride

In the sweltering heat of May 1983, a sun-drenched California desert became the backdrop for one of the most extravagant, chaotic, and legendary rock performances in history—Van Halen at the US Festival.

The early 1980s were a transformative period in both music and technology. 

The rise of MTV had turned music into a visual experience, and personal computers were beginning to change the way people worked, played, and connected. 

Against this backdrop, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak had an audacious vision: a festival that would celebrate the convergence of these two cultural revolutions.

Wozniak, who had amassed great wealth from the success of Apple, wanted to create an event that would bring together the biggest musical acts of the time and showcase cutting-edge technology. 

He envisioned a utopian gathering where people could revel in the power of music and explore the limitless possibilities of the digital age. With this dream in mind, the US Festival was born.

The Birth of the Historic US Festival

The first US Festival was held in 1982, but it was the 1983 edition that would truly go down in history. 

Staged at Glen Helen Regional Park in San Bernardino, California, the festival promised an unprecedented experience. 

Spanning three days, each with a distinct musical theme, the lineup featured some of the biggest rock, pop, and new wave acts of the era.

The festival was split into different days, with performances tailored to specific audiences:

• New Wave Day (May 28, 1983) featured Divinyls, INXS, Wall of Voodoo, Oingo Boingo, The English Beat, A Flock of Seagulls, Stray Cats, Men at Work, and The Clash.

• Heavy Metal Day (May 29, 1983) included Quiet Riot, Mötley Crüe, Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest, Triumph, Scorpions, and Van Halen.

• Rock Day (May 30, 1983) showcased Los Lobos, Little Steven & The Disciples of Soul, Berlin, Quarterflash, U2, The Pretenders, Joe Walsh, Stevie Nicks, and David Bowie.

Of these, Heavy Metal Day would prove to be the most infamous—and Van Halen’s performance would become the stuff of legend.

Further viewing: Watch the VH-1 documentary about the US Festival

Van Halen and the $1 Million US Festival Deal – The Most Expensive Gig of Its Time

At the time, Van Halen was arguably the biggest rock band in America. Fresh off their successful “Diver Down” tour, they had built a reputation for high-energy performances, wild antics, and an unmatched stage presence.

While the band had initially planned for some downtime, Wozniak made them an offer they couldn’t refuse—a staggering $1 million to headline Heavy Metal Day.

In the early 1980s, no band had ever been paid such an exorbitant amount for a single performance. 

For context, acts like The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin, two of the most dominant rock bands in history, had never commanded such a fee for a single show. 

Van Halen’s million-dollar US Festival payday was unheard of and instantly became a topic of conversation within the industry.

The Favored Nation Clause and Bowie’s Controversial US Festival Payday

But there was more to the deal than just a big check. 

Van Halen’s shrewd manager, Noel Monk, inserted a “most favored nation” clause into their contract. 

This meant that no other artist at the US Festival could be paid more than Van Halen. It was a move designed to cement their status as the top draw of the event.

However, when David Bowie was later added to the festival lineup, it was revealed that he, too, would be receiving $1.5 million. 

This caused immediate friction behind the scenes, as Van Halen felt their historic payday had been undercut. The tension between Van Halen and the festival organizers added an extra layer of drama to an already chaotic event.

Diamond Dave’s Jungle Adventure – The Chase to Bring Roth Back

While Eddie Van Halen was already back in the studio, working on material that would eventually shape their groundbreaking “1984” album, front man David Lee Roth was nowhere to be found.

Roth had always been a larger-than-life personality, and rather than sticking around in Los Angeles, he had embarked on a wild adventure in South America with his self-proclaimed “Jungle Studs”—a group of daredevils who thrived on extreme experiences.

Roth’s trip involved climbing treacherous mountains, navigating the Amazon rainforest, and partying in some of the most remote locations imaginable. 

He was living out a real-life Indiana Jones fantasy, completely oblivious to the fact that his band was desperately trying to locate him and bring him back in time for the US Festival.

A Frantic Effort to Track Down Roth

As the US Festival date neared, Van Halen’s management realized they had a problem—Roth was off the grid, and no one knew exactly where to find him. 

Phone calls and messages went unanswered, and it took a massive effort to finally track him down. 

Eventually, the band was able to get David Lee Roth on a plane just in time to return to California and prepare for the festival.

While most artists would have spent time rehearsing and fine-tuning their setlist, Roth took a different approach—he showed up, ready to wing it, and let the magic of the moment take over.

Clashes, Chaos, and Rock ‘n’ Roll Excess

One of the most infamous moments of the US Festival was the ideological battle between The Clash and Van Halen. 

The Clash, known for their punk ethos and anti-commercial stance, were deeply opposed to the financial excess of the festival—especially Van Halen’s massive payday.

Joe Strummer, the outspoken frontman of The Clash, publicly criticized the entire event, calling it a corporate sellout. 

He was particularly vocal about the million-dollar fee Van Halen had secured, seeing it as an example of everything punk rock was supposed to stand against.

On the other side, Van Halen had no problem embracing the festival’s excess. To them, rock ‘n’ roll was meant to be big, loud, and extravagant. 

The contrast between The Clash’s anti-establishment attitude and Van Halen’s celebration of rock star decadence highlighted the growing divide between punk and mainstream rock.

A Backstage Party Like No Other

If the main stage was about music, Van Halen’s backstage area was about indulgence. The band’s tent was decked out with arcade games, unlimited alcohol, and an entourage of beautiful women.

The atmosphere was a full-blown rock ‘n’ roll circus, with an anything-goes mentality that epitomized the band’s approach to life. 

Stories from that day describe a scene that was so wild it made Almost Famous look tame.

Roth’s US Festival Infamous Press Conference – A Display of Ego and Excess

Before taking the stage, Roth held an impromptu press conference. 

Lounging on a table in a revealing outfit, he delivered a bizarre, meandering monologue that touched on everything from his philosophy of life to his thoughts on success.

The press, unsure whether to be amused or bewildered, watched as Roth put on one of his signature performances—offstage, before the real show even began.

A Performance for the Ages

Despite the chaos and controversy, Van Halen delivered a blistering two-hour set. 

Though Roth seemed a bit out of it at times, the band’s musical prowess shone through. The performance included a sneak peek at their upcoming song “Girl Gone Bad,” a fiery guitar vs. drums duel, and a string of classic hits.

The Aftermath: Rampaging Fans and a Lasting Legacy

The energy of Van Halen’s performance was so infectious that it reportedly sparked a near-riot among fans leaving the venue. 

Beyond the mayhem, their US Festival appearance solidified their reputation as one of the greatest live bands of all time. 

Even with Roth’s antics and the behind-the-scenes drama, Van Halen’s performance remains a legendary moment in rock history, captured in countless bootleg recordings and cherished by fans to this day.

Sources:

• Renoff, Greg. Van Halen Rising: How a Southern California Backyard Party Band Saved Heavy Metal. ECW Press, 2015.

• Monk, Noel. Runnin’ with the Devil: A Backstage Pass to the Wild Times, Loud Rock, and the Down and Dirty Truth Behind the Making of Van Halen. Dey Street Books, 2017.

• Roth, David Lee. Crazy from the Heat. Hyperion, 1997.

• Rolling Stone Archives, Various Issues.

• Classic Rock Magazine, Special Edition Features on Van Halen and the US Festival.

• Wozniak, Steve. Interviews on the US Festival, Apple History Archives.