By Rob Welch
Concert Review – David Lee Roth
On Tuesday, September 2nd, I couldn’t wait to see the new, and old Diamond David Lee Roth. Remember Roth, the guy who was the life of the party for eight or nine years with Van Halen. My first impressions before the show were pretty low. I thought he wouldn’t be the same Dave I know, athletic, brash, colorful and comical. He was part cheerleader, part macho sex symbol and full lead screamer. While the new Van Halen (or shall we say) Van Hagar Halen has scaled down its stage production, Roth still employs mammoth sound and light systems.
Guitarist Steve Vai, a longtime member of Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention, was quite an eyebrow raiser. People can’t say Steve Vai copies Edward Van Halen. What do you expect when David Lee Roth and band members (which they have total rights to) play “You Really Got Me” and other such classics. If Vai didn’t they would call him trash, and if you saw the show you know he’s choice!
Bassist Billy Sheehan showed us he didn’t have to walk on his bass to get respect. This guy is simply incredible. This guy is Yngwie Melmsteen on bass.
Drummer Gregg Bissonette, who did work with jazzman Maynard Ferguson, had his share of choice bombastic solo turns. This band, David Lee Roth, is going to be around longer than people realize, especially the rowdy crowd of 7,796 standing, jumping crowd at The Met Center.
The concertgoers in the cheap seats loved and also got their money’s worth when Roth, who had departed the stage during a solo by Vai, emerged on a platform at the back of the arena for one song. Opening act Cinderella, was very casual but not unusual, but well, well worth seeing. They’re a good mix between Aero Smith and AC/DC.
We’ll see you at the next definite D.L.R. show.
Record Review
Vinnie Vincent, ex Kiss second guitarist, released his “Invasion” LP with excellent results. He has even started doing a little lead vocals.
The unusual context of this album is that there are absolutely no synthesizers – nor effects. Not even for his guitar, just plain distortion and pure talent. Such tunes as Twisted and Animal, which sounds like it has a strong relation with Kiss.
IN MEMORY OF
Rob’s Com-Mini-Cations rock page is dedicated to Cliff Burton who died in a bus accident the first week in October. Cliff Burton was the bassist for the gods of speed metal.