David Lee Roth on Van Halen Brothers: “We Have Always Hated Each Other”
This week in absolutely MUST LISTEN content, David Lee Roth appeared on Marc Maron’s WTF Podcast. Diamond Dave has always had a way with words that sets even the most mundane of stories afire so I’m sure whatever the duo talked about was fascinating, especially given how particularly fantastic Maron is at getting his guests to dive deep. But of interest today, of course, are Dave’s brief but loaded words about his notoriously rocky relationship with Eddie and Alex Van Halen.
Ghost Cult Mag pulled the following quotes from the episode, and yow, they’re doozies:
Asked by Maron about his relationship with Eddie and Alex:
“We have always hated each other, right up until the last phone call.”
How the band started writing together in the beginning of the band:
“There were always creative differences. We’ve never gotten along. We started in rival bands. Bitter rivals. But we were thrown together and it was amazing.”
On why Van Halen works, in spite of the ill feelings:
“Think of your favorite jeans, their ruined and full of holes. What you love most about them is the fucked up parts.”
On whether he can hang out with the brothers or have dinner with them socially:
“Not even close.”
The rough relationship between DLR and the VH brothers is nothing new, but to hear Roth speak so candidly about it is. I guess at this point it doesn’t matter, right? That rumored reunion stadium tour with Michael Anthony allegedly set to take place this summer obviously isn’t happening, and with that much open animosity between parties all these decades it’s not like that alone has prevented previous touring. So Roth may as well be completely honest; he’s got nothing to lose. Also, how good — and how Dave — is that quote about jeans?
Check out the full WTF episode here.
