David Lee Roth extends Vegas ‘world goodbye tour’
David Lee Roth is extending his farewell party.
Van Halen’s famous former ringmaster has added four dates to his announced what he calls his “world goodbye tour of Las Vegas” at House of Blues at Mandalay Bay. Jan 14-15 and Jan 21-22 go on sale 10 a.m. Friday.
Roth has sold out his previously booked shows Dec. 31, Jan. 1, Jan.5, and Jan. 7-8.
“I had no idea how many of you wanted to pay to see me go,” Roth said in an recorded statement Monday morning. “The gear is already in town. I already got the room upstairs. There is a dispensary right down the street. All we’re missing is you!”
Roth also said, “I have industry professionals now ringing in telling me, ‘Dave, at your age, you should be in the middle of your third retirement. Do you watch Rocky movies? He’s in his seventh. Same guy, Rambo, fifth. He’s about 14 retirements ahead of you.’”
On Oct. 1, the vocalist stunned the rock world by announcing the Vegas shows would be his last. In an exclusive announcement in this column, he said, “I am throwing in the shoes. I’m retiring.’”
Roth referred to the late guitar legend and Van Halen co-founder Eddie Van Halen in his explanation. He also said he was following medical advice in stepping down.
“I thought I might have been the first, frankly. I might have thought the Marlboro Man would’ve got me. ‘Hey Ed, objects in the rear-view mirror are probably me,’” Roth said. “And my doctors, my handlers, compelled me to really address that every time I go onstage, I endanger that future.”
Roth’s backing band for the Vegas shows has not been announced or confirmed, leading to speculation that his friend and founding member Alex Van Halen would join the series. There is no verification one way or the other that Van Halen will perform any dates at House of Blues.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His “PodKats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.
