Valerie Bertinelli on David Lee Roth: I’d like to sit down with him and go, “Dude, what did I do?” – 2022 – Interview – Eddie Van Halen
Valerie Bertinelli on David Lee Roth during a conversation on Rob Lowe’s Podcast:
After Ed and I became involved, all of a sudden, there was this rule that there were no girlfriends, or no wives allowed on the road. I got along great with Al and Mike. Someone else didn’t like me. I don’t know why he didn’t like me. I was always nice to him. I honestly don’t know.
One day, I’d like to sit down with him and go, “Dude, what did I do?” I’ve always been a fan of yours. I think you’re a brilliant frontman. I think you’re a brilliant songwriter. I love your lyrics. Why don’t you like me? What did I do?
On Van Halen’s Music Videos, Bertinelli said:
That was all Dave and Dave’s imagination. He really had a lot to do with those videos. He was so brilliant. Dave, why do hate me? I’ll talk you up, dude. I still think you’re an amazing artist. I’m a very nice person if you get to know me.
David Lee Roth during a 1986 interview with SPIN:
A lead guitarist is married to a television star. I came back from one of my trips about two years ago. It was a camping trip in Tahiti. Spent two weeks camped on Mt. Bali Hai, where the cloud cover is so rich it’s like a ceiling. You could literally put your hand up into it and it disappears up to the elbow. We went into those clouds and stayed there, waiting for the ghosts. When we came back, all sunburnt and everything, we were at the airport, the band’s getting ready to go back out on tour.
There’s the guitar player and there’s the television-star wife, the TV star. She says to me, “So where did you go on vacation this time, Dave?” Well, we just got back from Bali Hai Mountain in the South Pacific. Did you ever hear of it? She says no. I say OK and go into overdrive. Television star. I say, “Uh, you ever see the play South Pacific?” No. “Ever hear of the movie?” No. “Come on, you don’t remember her beckoning to the French guy and singing, ‘Bali Hai is calling’?” No.
I go into hyper drive. “You know the band Led Zeppelin?” Yeah. “Remember the tune, ‘Immigrant Song’?” She said, “Yeah.” I says, “He probably stole that melody from ‘Bali Hai’.” To this day I’m sure she thinks Page wrote South Pacific.
Everyone who commented had valid points. My opinion, Roth was the best front man for the band, but just can’t seem to help being a thick headed prick. Hagar was alright, but the band just wasn’t as popular with him. Valerie was just trying to be a good companion to Ed by doing what most people think is right, helping hi m off drugs.
David Lee Roth was the best lead singer for Van Halen. Those were there greatest times in the studio and on the tours.
My reply to all would be to agree that wives and girlfriends don’t belong in the studio or on tour, really. My experience is that it does mess up band chemistry. Just look at the Beatles. Enter yoko into the studio, exit the Beatles whole vibe, and ultimately killed the most brilliant chemistry between 4 musicians ever. And my reply to me. Katen Bender: right on. Very arrogant, major issues, and really a horrible vocalist as singers go, but the only voice I’d ever want fronting early Van Halen. Awesome frontman, great vocal arrainger, but really can’t sing a lick 🙂
I guarded Van Halen when Eddie and Valerie started dating. David didn’t like that Valerie didn’t want Eddie doing drugs. The band did drugs between sets and Eddie went behind the stage to be with Valerie.
Omg..the answeris so simple ..how on earth can the band sleep with the groupies if the wives and gf’s are there…duh
David Lee Roth was ok as the front man. Sammy Hagar REVIVED Van Halen and brought a beautiful rocking vibe to the band. Sammy Rules as a front man.
David Lee Roth will always be my favorite frontman & one of my favorite song writers.His lyrics were alot cooler & unique than Sammy Hagar
I remember when I saw Van Halen in 1984.A chick threw her bra on stage, Roth held it up in the air and said “That’s too big to be Valerie’s! What a great show!Love Van Halen
Narcissists are always right, and need to be front and center DLR.
Wives and girlfriends can’t go on tour with the band members, yet groupies can hang out with them and do what the guys want to do with them. It’s not because the wives/girlfriends are distracting the guys, it’s because if the guys wanna get some strange from the groupies, they can’t if the wives/girlfriends are there.
She didn’t do anything. Dave was jealous that Eddie got a TV star girlfriend. That’s all it was.
i think david lee roth is an arrogant man with issues.sure he can sing,but it’s all about him and not the band.wasnt even his band,but he made it as such.sammy hagar did a much better job.
My experience with wives girlfriends is its best to keep them away from the band They keep us artists from focusing on our music and can have band members fighting.
I think her point was it was an “All of a sudden thing” once they were together. Which would make me go, “what the hell,” as well. Wasn’t an issue before she came around. Sorry, not buying it.
Girlfriends will never understand why they can’t join their boyfriends on tour.
The band chemistry gets distracted and when you have responsibilities towards fans, record companies and others, it’s more important than ever to work as a band. I don’t know any other profession where you can bring your wife/girlfriend.