It seemed that Sammy Hagar was out. It seemed that David Lee Roth was in. Before the "Best Of... (vol.1)" compilation was released, Howard Stern (and his team) talked with Roth on the phone.

Howard Stern (or team member): You look happier than ever...
David Lee Roth: Wonders never cease... I may have badmouthed Sam but VH has always maintained their endocrine system.

HS: Money-making propsition...
DLR: Makes spititual sense... in terms of lead singer, band went from decaf to speedballs... not alot of singers have the caliber to hook up with Van Halen.

HS: ...went into studio...
DLR: DLR/VH music is timeless/classic... contained genuine attitude... powerful magic in Van Halen music.

HS: Came as a shock... how did it happen?
DLR: (I) was watching CNN and heard about the Greatest Hits... called Ed and said I'd like to make peace... don't like to hear words from his former battles with Van Halen.

HS: ...rumor is that Ed has no money...
DLR: Absolutely not true...

HS: I thought this because I approached VH about doing a song for my movie as long as David Lee Roth was with them... they said they'd do it for $1,000,000 and all of a sudden, a few weeks later, David Lee Roth is back.

DLR: There's a different kind of lyrical balance now... Sam was doing Valentines, I'm do airbag...

HS: Did you talk to Val?
DLR: No... Ed has quite a little family going.

HS: Were you nervous... was it 3 against 1?
DLR: No... not adversarial... I know what this music is all about... first meeting was in the studio and none knew I was there except Ed...

HS: Is the new song called "Sammy blows"?
DLR: Don't sit with your back to the wall and don't pack your suitcase if you're a VH lead singer... Sam is pissed off and in a few months will look around and say 'everything will be allright but what do I know about losing a high profile gig?'

HS: What is Sam's story?
DLR: When Sam was in the band, it was nostalgic - now it's of the moment... Sam was not enjoying the ship and was always complaining...

HS: So you walk in and the rest of the band sees you...
DLR: I was allready there with Ed... Alex looked like he had seen a ghost... we hugged, talked about mutual frames of reference and it was not wierd at all.

HS: You're so talkative and Ed is so quiet, to the point of wierding someone out... Ed's dull...
DLR: No!... He's best at what he specializes in... took 10 days to record...

HS: How long before the first argument in the studio?
DLR: [Smiling, tongue-in-cheek] Four hours!... Arguments are from differences in lifestyle - goal is the music... for example: Ed said hi to his wife and son on MTV (then, DLR proceeded to say what he would have said)...

HS: So, the rest of the guys walk in...
DLR: Have to disregard the past...

HS: Were problems with everyone or just Ed?
DLR: Ten years ago we were different people and forgot now why we were feuding... it was "instant"... times heals a whole lot and we still have alot in common... after Alex came in, we talked for 7 hours straight...

HS: Was Sammy mentioned?
DLR: Constantly... I believe Sam will be on the Greatest Hits but it changes so much... we're talking about nuclear power here - not me, the band... all of a sudden, everyone wants videos.

HS: What happened on MTV?
DLR: Everyone rode in together... he wasn't kept hidden... backstage, people were going nuts... a few nights later, a policeman stopped me and said "Mr. Roth, you the man"...

HS: On MTV, you became their frontman and they sunk into the background.
DLR: We all play different instruments: I play my body.

HS: When will we see a tour?
DLR: One little thing at a time.

HS: They're telling you what to do - you should be telling them!
DLR: There is a quasi-democracy in a rock band... everyone has a say.

HS: You'll be on board a year and will have them in hand.
DLR: That kind of thinking may affect this... lots of people feel that way... there is super enthusiam in this band... there is magic in putting it all together.

HS: How will you split the money?
DLR: Same as always.

HS: But it's not a "band" - he's not a member?
DLR: They're still carrying on active auditions... not clear to me if I'm the singer... I'm ready to go if they want me... there are no direct committments.

At this point, Howard et all kept trying to egg Dave on about how he should be telling Van Halen what to do, not vice versa and Van Halen was leading him on, etc.

DLR: Can't think about that... two months ago I never would've thought it would happen... everyone right now has a different time frame. I have no part to play in the production of the videos until I'm in the band.

HS: What is your communication with Ed?
DLR: It's call by call...

HS: How happy is Val?
DLR: I don't see her much... she has a sense of humor... I was there one day and she was posting on the internet about me being in Wolfie's timeout chair.

HS: Does Val still have a nice body?
DLR: (ignored this)

HS: I'd be delighted if this were to happen... do you miss Vegas?
DLR: Show good... timing bad.

HS: Ed is clearly holding you back by the shorts.
DLR: (no answer again)

HS: Will you sing Sammy songs?
DLR: Sam committed "lyrical felonies" for the past 10 years... there will be an arm wrestle once the song list is proposed... but no one knows more than me what Sam is going thru right now.
This is the first interview since this started and there was some dissension but I told them it had to be done.


© 1996, E!.