David Lee Roth Debuts Van Halen’s “Runnin’ with the Devil” on KROQ w/ Rodney Bingenheimer in 1976 – LISTEN – This Day in Rock History

Roth Army: David Lee Roth appears on Pasadena radio station KROQ with Rodney Bingenheimer to debut “Runnin’ With The Devil” #OTD in 1976.

David Lee Roth:

We were playing one night and some of the fellas from KISS came down to see the band, who you brought along. A couple of days later we were in New York City doing a tape recording down at Electric Ladyland Studios. What we have here is one helluva demo tape and this is something that we’re showing people around and people are being exposed to it. This is the first radio play that we’ve ever gotten. It’s just a tape here, but we’re proud to be on ‘The ROQ of Los Angeles.’ This is called “Runnin’ with the Devil.”

Greg Renoff:

DLR masterclass on spin & optimism. REMEMBER: VH had just been rejected in NY by Aucoin, KISS’s mgr. Gene Simmons had failed to get VH a record deal. DLR, back in LA, gets Gene produced VH demo played on KROQ, trumpeting fact they’d been in studio w/a superstar, GENE. BRILLIANT.

Wishing a very happy birthday to Rodney Bingenheimer! We hope the day rocks like you! #LSUG pic.twitter.com/6nGQ0oj90j

— Little Steven's Underground Garage (@littlesteven_ug) December 15, 2022