David Lee Roth will host his own Van Halen tribute after declining Sammy Hagar’s offer to tour together.
In an Instagram video announcing his appearance at the M3 Rock Festival, Roth said, “It’s gonna be party energy. It couldn’t happen but it did.” He continued, “Me, David Lee Roth, will trouble guitars.”
He further added, “Diamond Dave, the boss in the big town bringing the big sound in the big town the way it sounds on the record. Every classic Van Halen tune is putting the boom in the room. Anything missing now is you.”
After Roth declined to honor Eddie Van Halen during his set, Sammy Hagar criticized him in a Rolling Stone interview last year, calling it ‘pure ego.’
Roth will headline the M3 Rock Festival on May 3, 2025, at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. This will be his first performance in over five years. The festival’s 16th edition will also feature a reunion of Stephen Pearcy and Warren DeMartini. Other bands like Accept, Winger, Slaughter, Steven Adler, and Sebastian Bach will perform on May 2.
Pearcy shared his thoughts on the partial reunion, stating, “It’s only appropriate that the first show in years is at M3 2025. It’s about the [band’s] legacy. There was no question when the idea was brought up to me about doing something with Warren again.”
He continued, “I know what we can do as a team, and that’s writing great songs and kicking some a– onstage. You’re getting ALL the RATT hits and more. … [L]et the ‘Invasion Celebration’ begin! I guess hell does freeze over. Never say never, right? Pearcy [and] De Martini back in the cellar, let’s go!”
Roth’s last show was on March 10, 2020, opening for KISS in Lubbock, Texas. He had planned a farewell residency in Las Vegas for 2022, but canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Recently, Roth has released solo tracks, including updated Van Halen songs and tunes from ‘The Roth Project,’ on streaming services and social media. Presale tickets for the M3 Rock Festival were available on January 29 at 12:00 pm EST, with general sales starting on January 31 via Ticketmaster.
