yes, rock is dead
June 7, 2006 2:00 PM Subscribe
David Lee Roth singing "Jump" with a bluegrass band on national tv - 6/6/06
I heard that on the radio yesterday, and I assumed it was a joke...
But no, Strummin' with the Devil is all too fuckin' real.
posted by SweetJesus at 2:04 PM on June 7, 2006
But no, Strummin' with the Devil is all too fuckin' real.
posted by SweetJesus at 2:04 PM on June 7, 2006
Does not work. Sorry, Dave. Should have had a blues band and sung it with cotton in your mouth. That might work.
posted by strangeleftydoublethink at 2:08 PM on June 7, 2006
posted by strangeleftydoublethink at 2:08 PM on June 7, 2006
No wonder I spend less than 15 minutes a day on MeFi lately.
posted by mischief at 2:10 PM on June 7, 2006 [1 favorite]
posted by mischief at 2:10 PM on June 7, 2006 [1 favorite]
Wow.
This makes me appreciate Aztec Camera's cover that much more.
posted by donpardo at 2:11 PM on June 7, 2006
This makes me appreciate Aztec Camera's cover that much more.
posted by donpardo at 2:11 PM on June 7, 2006
Shouldn't the quotes be on "singing"?
posted by doctor_negative at 2:13 PM on June 7, 2006
posted by doctor_negative at 2:13 PM on June 7, 2006
Is it me or does Diamond Dave seem to closely resemble Robin Williams on that clip? Oh, and WTF - how desperate can he get? Still, that'll probably put the dampeners on this year's press release from him begging for a Van Halen reunion. Still, maybe he could take up rocket surgeory in his spare time instead...
posted by TheDonF at 2:14 PM on June 7, 2006
posted by TheDonF at 2:14 PM on June 7, 2006
"rocket surgeory"
I'm going to be using this one.
It's a DLR original (except he could have probably spelt it better)
posted by TheDonF at 2:29 PM on June 7, 2006
I'm going to be using this one.
It's a DLR original (except he could have probably spelt it better)
posted by TheDonF at 2:29 PM on June 7, 2006
oh
my
god
that is one of the most painful things I have ever seen/heard
i could not watch it to the end and i think my ability to use the shift key and punctuation have been permanently impaired
posted by spock at 2:34 PM on June 7, 2006
my
god
that is one of the most painful things I have ever seen/heard
i could not watch it to the end and i think my ability to use the shift key and punctuation have been permanently impaired
posted by spock at 2:34 PM on June 7, 2006
It looks bad for DLR but let's face it, bluegrass doesn't come away unscathed either.
posted by bardic at 2:36 PM on June 7, 2006
posted by bardic at 2:36 PM on June 7, 2006
Unwatchable. Like listening to a cow being sodomized.
posted by disgruntled at 2:37 PM on June 7, 2006
posted by disgruntled at 2:37 PM on June 7, 2006
Diver Down
posted by Optamystic at 2:38 PM on June 7, 2006
posted by Optamystic at 2:38 PM on June 7, 2006
Is it me or does Diamond Dave seem to closely resemble Robin Williams on that clip?
Yup, that's the first thing I thought of.
posted by bobo123 at 2:40 PM on June 7, 2006
Yup, that's the first thing I thought of.
posted by bobo123 at 2:40 PM on June 7, 2006
For much better covers of metal music, people should try out Fade to Bluegrass, instead. Bluegrass covers of Metallica. Not the easy-listening, watered-down, bluegrass-lite type of instrumentalism you hear in "Jump", either.
In fact, I think I'll put it on now. I feel like I need to wash my ears out.
posted by barnacles at 2:40 PM on June 7, 2006 [1 favorite]
In fact, I think I'll put it on now. I feel like I need to wash my ears out.
posted by barnacles at 2:40 PM on June 7, 2006 [1 favorite]
Hot For Earplugs
posted by BillBishop at 2:44 PM on June 7, 2006
posted by BillBishop at 2:44 PM on June 7, 2006
Wow. There are no words.
posted by ludwig_van at 3:08 PM on June 7, 2006
posted by ludwig_van at 3:08 PM on June 7, 2006
I saw/heard that live.
Just about the weirdest thing I have ever heard. And bad.
Really really bad.
posted by konolia at 3:11 PM on June 7, 2006
Just about the weirdest thing I have ever heard. And bad.
Really really bad.
posted by konolia at 3:11 PM on June 7, 2006
For much better covers of metal music, people should try out Fade to Bluegrass
*cough*HAYSEED DIXIE*cough*
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 3:16 PM on June 7, 2006
*cough*HAYSEED DIXIE*cough*
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 3:16 PM on June 7, 2006
Whatever happened to him being an EMT?
In the best of all possible worlds, Bruce Dickinson would fly DLR around the world to save people whose heads exploded because of the "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" video. Sort of a rockin' International Rescue. Perhaps they could be the Metalbirds, or the ThunderthunderTHUNDERbirds.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 3:19 PM on June 7, 2006
In the best of all possible worlds, Bruce Dickinson would fly DLR around the world to save people whose heads exploded because of the "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" video. Sort of a rockin' International Rescue. Perhaps they could be the Metalbirds, or the ThunderthunderTHUNDERbirds.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 3:19 PM on June 7, 2006
This is awesome on so many levels.
Thanks for the post.
posted by AspectRatio at 3:20 PM on June 7, 2006
Thanks for the post.
posted by AspectRatio at 3:20 PM on June 7, 2006
WOO! *desparate grin, desparate grin*
posted by boo_radley at 3:28 PM on June 7, 2006
posted by boo_radley at 3:28 PM on June 7, 2006
I don't listen to much bluegrass, but is the singer supposed to be able to cover the rest of the group?
I kinda feel sorry for the guy.
posted by anarcation at 3:37 PM on June 7, 2006
I kinda feel sorry for the guy.
posted by anarcation at 3:37 PM on June 7, 2006
Jesus!
Where's my mallet and stake?
This moron's time is most definitely up.
posted by Relay at 3:41 PM on June 7, 2006
Where's my mallet and stake?
This moron's time is most definitely up.
posted by Relay at 3:41 PM on June 7, 2006
Well bless his soul, the poor old bastard. It must be difficult being an ex-famous person / sex symbol. Props to him for being willing to look old and plain up on stage.
posted by Meatbomb at 3:43 PM on June 7, 2006
posted by Meatbomb at 3:43 PM on June 7, 2006
I am now significantly less upset w/ the rest of Van Halen for ditching him.
posted by well_balanced at 3:48 PM on June 7, 2006
posted by well_balanced at 3:48 PM on June 7, 2006
Some top quality musicians backing up Roth the Abominable, though:
Scott Vestal, on Stealth banjo
Rob Ickes on dobro
World class players, both. The fiddle player and mandolinist were also doing the best they could in a lost cause, but I didn't recognize them.
Good to see a bluegrass ensemble on Leno, even if in a rather bizarre context.
posted by rdone at 3:50 PM on June 7, 2006
Scott Vestal, on Stealth banjo
Rob Ickes on dobro
World class players, both. The fiddle player and mandolinist were also doing the best they could in a lost cause, but I didn't recognize them.
Good to see a bluegrass ensemble on Leno, even if in a rather bizarre context.
posted by rdone at 3:50 PM on June 7, 2006
Van Hayride did it first.
A comment from their myspace page:
"You guys are one of the top two Van Halen country tribute bands."
I'm no linguistic expert, but that sounds like damning with faint praise to me.
posted by ktoad at 3:51 PM on June 7, 2006
A comment from their myspace page:
"You guys are one of the top two Van Halen country tribute bands."
I'm no linguistic expert, but that sounds like damning with faint praise to me.
posted by ktoad at 3:51 PM on June 7, 2006
Is it me or does Diamond Dave seem to closely resemble Robin Williams on that clip?
I'm seeing Wink Martindale.
posted by StickyCarpet at 3:54 PM on June 7, 2006
I'm seeing Wink Martindale.
posted by StickyCarpet at 3:54 PM on June 7, 2006
The Asylum Street Spankers' version of NIN "Closer".
posted by ginger rootless at 3:56 PM on June 7, 2006
posted by ginger rootless at 3:56 PM on June 7, 2006
Jeez, what snark. The guy is probably (at the time) one of the most famous rockers, gets more tail than a monkey proctologist, he goes on to become an EMT (!) in NYC (!!), replaces Howard Stern as a talk show guy, and now ends up at age 52, still alive (!!!), singing in front of a bluegrass band on a nationally broadcast television show.
How many of you guys have swung around stage on a giant bungi cord in your own MTV video? Hmmm?
posted by felix at 4:11 PM on June 7, 2006 [1 favorite]
How many of you guys have swung around stage on a giant bungi cord in your own MTV video? Hmmm?
posted by felix at 4:11 PM on June 7, 2006 [1 favorite]
I like Dave. And if he needs a couple of bucks, I'm happy to help him out, if it means avoiding this sort of thing.
posted by theredpen at 4:27 PM on June 7, 2006
posted by theredpen at 4:27 PM on June 7, 2006
But it was worth watching to learn about "Van Hayride" -- HA HA HA HA. Priceless name.
posted by theredpen at 4:38 PM on June 7, 2006
posted by theredpen at 4:38 PM on June 7, 2006
Werd felix. I think it's a big lark and he was having fun.
Dave's never been afraid to take a chance.
Good on him.
posted by black8 at 4:51 PM on June 7, 2006
Dave's never been afraid to take a chance.
Good on him.
posted by black8 at 4:51 PM on June 7, 2006
I saw the DLR band a few years ago, and Duck Dunn was playing bass with them!
posted by stevil at 4:55 PM on June 7, 2006
posted by stevil at 4:55 PM on June 7, 2006
I'm no DLR or Van Halen fan. Or any hair metal junk. But I thought it was kinda cool that he's doing this particular project at his age. Looked like he was having fun too.
posted by melt away at 4:55 PM on June 7, 2006
posted by melt away at 4:55 PM on June 7, 2006
I've been working on a bluegrass bands that covers funk hits of the 70's and 80's. You should hear us doing, "Play that funky music white boy". It's how the song was meant to be heard.
BTW, P-Funk's "Flashlight" is harder to play on a mandolin than you would think.
posted by nyxxxx at 5:07 PM on June 7, 2006
BTW, P-Funk's "Flashlight" is harder to play on a mandolin than you would think.
posted by nyxxxx at 5:07 PM on June 7, 2006
ROU_Xenophobe : *cough*HAYSEED DIXIE*cough*
Amen, brother.
If this thread does nothing else, i hope it turns one more person on to the genius that is that band.
posted by quin at 5:10 PM on June 7, 2006
Amen, brother.
If this thread does nothing else, i hope it turns one more person on to the genius that is that band.
posted by quin at 5:10 PM on June 7, 2006
I'm glad to see comments in here. That was the first link I opened since waking up this morning, and I thought I'd been left behind.
posted by planetkyoto at 5:13 PM on June 7, 2006
posted by planetkyoto at 5:13 PM on June 7, 2006
"Whatever happened to him being an EMT?"
He still holds his certs in NY, apparantly. And from what I've heard, he's actually decent at the job. He claims that nobody has ever recognized him while he was on the job either.
posted by drstein at 5:13 PM on June 7, 2006
He still holds his certs in NY, apparantly. And from what I've heard, he's actually decent at the job. He claims that nobody has ever recognized him while he was on the job either.
posted by drstein at 5:13 PM on June 7, 2006
I think it's a big lark and he was having fun.
Looked like he was having fun too.
He looked so uncomfortable to me. His smile seemed very forced and I think he wanted to actually, you know, JUMP! a little bit. I have a hunch he hates it as much as I do.
posted by PhatLobley at 5:14 PM on June 7, 2006
Looked like he was having fun too.
He looked so uncomfortable to me. His smile seemed very forced and I think he wanted to actually, you know, JUMP! a little bit. I have a hunch he hates it as much as I do.
posted by PhatLobley at 5:14 PM on June 7, 2006
On the other hand, the bluegrass version of "Jamie's Cryin' " is not too bad. Almost listenable.
posted by numbers at 5:15 PM on June 7, 2006
posted by numbers at 5:15 PM on June 7, 2006
he looks like robin williams doing an impression of david lee roth singing with a bluegrass band.
posted by ab3 at 5:22 PM on June 7, 2006
posted by ab3 at 5:22 PM on June 7, 2006
Now I've got the mandolin hook that replaced the synth hook stuck in my head.
posted by Songdog at 5:26 PM on June 7, 2006
posted by Songdog at 5:26 PM on June 7, 2006
I saw VH live eight times before the split, and this is about as well as he ever sang in a live show. He's not a great singer - and he knows it, too - but he was IMO about the greatest frontman in rock for many many years. They were such an explosive, ridiculously entertaining band, bigger than big and then some.
The problem is that what Dave did as that frontman doesn't translate well to a small stage - he was all about the Big Moves and Big Mouth in front of a Big Band with Big Big Sound. I agree with PhatLobley that he looked like he was a bit caged, though I doubt he hates it... he's still living on a 150-foot by 40-foot stage somewhere in his mind, which is understandable to me.
He's a wacky guy, yeah. But he's still kinda doin' what Dave Does. I can't bust his balls for keepin' at it.
Actually he looked a lot better physically than most of the times I've seen him in the past decade. His hair looks all right like that, actually.
Queer Eye for the Old Rocker Guy
Yeah, maybe! :)
posted by zoogleplex at 5:55 PM on June 7, 2006
The problem is that what Dave did as that frontman doesn't translate well to a small stage - he was all about the Big Moves and Big Mouth in front of a Big Band with Big Big Sound. I agree with PhatLobley that he looked like he was a bit caged, though I doubt he hates it... he's still living on a 150-foot by 40-foot stage somewhere in his mind, which is understandable to me.
He's a wacky guy, yeah. But he's still kinda doin' what Dave Does. I can't bust his balls for keepin' at it.
Actually he looked a lot better physically than most of the times I've seen him in the past decade. His hair looks all right like that, actually.
Queer Eye for the Old Rocker Guy
Yeah, maybe! :)
posted by zoogleplex at 5:55 PM on June 7, 2006
What zoogleplex said. Though I couldn't stand to watch more than forty seconds of that video.
DLR was incredibly entertaining live. I saw them, what?, three times before the breakup. And I grew up in eastern New Mexico. I can't overstate how much me and my pals were VH fans. I was bitterly disappointed when DLR was kicked out of the band. That was the end of hard rock for me. All rock, really, until the early 90s.
So I have a big soft-spot in my heart for Diamond Dave. But, damn, was that video horrifying.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 6:15 PM on June 7, 2006
DLR was incredibly entertaining live. I saw them, what?, three times before the breakup. And I grew up in eastern New Mexico. I can't overstate how much me and my pals were VH fans. I was bitterly disappointed when DLR was kicked out of the band. That was the end of hard rock for me. All rock, really, until the early 90s.
So I have a big soft-spot in my heart for Diamond Dave. But, damn, was that video horrifying.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 6:15 PM on June 7, 2006
He may indeed be having fun up there. I'm sure John Wayne Gacy had fun butchering young boys and burying them under his house. Doesn't make it art.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 6:22 PM on June 7, 2006
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 6:22 PM on June 7, 2006
Does if he arranges them. In a vase. NICELY.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 6:40 PM on June 7, 2006
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 6:40 PM on June 7, 2006
Is it alarming if I can honestly think of all sorts of ways that buchering young boys and burying them under one's house could actually be art?
Yes? Forget I mentioned it.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 6:51 PM on June 7, 2006
Yes? Forget I mentioned it.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 6:51 PM on June 7, 2006
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FINE WITHOUT DAVID LEE ROTH FUCKING IT UP BY SINGING
posted by StrasbourgSecaucus at 7:05 PM on June 7, 2006
posted by StrasbourgSecaucus at 7:05 PM on June 7, 2006
Here's the bad news - the particular link in the post has been removed from YouTube due to copyright violations.
Here's the good news - there are plenty of other versions of the video still available on YouTube.
Now, since I have watched one of those versions, please switch "good" and "bad" in the preceding two sentences. Thanks.
posted by yhbc at 7:06 PM on June 7, 2006
Here's the good news - there are plenty of other versions of the video still available on YouTube.
Now, since I have watched one of those versions, please switch "good" and "bad" in the preceding two sentences. Thanks.
posted by yhbc at 7:06 PM on June 7, 2006
I dunno, I think he looks like a cross between Corbin Bernsen & John Delancey.
And that may have been the first time I've ever listened to any version of 'Jump' in its entirety, so hey, props to Diamond Dave.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:39 PM on June 7, 2006
And that may have been the first time I've ever listened to any version of 'Jump' in its entirety, so hey, props to Diamond Dave.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:39 PM on June 7, 2006
I don't get it. Might I as well jump from listening to this?
posted by Mr. Six at 8:23 PM on June 7, 2006
posted by Mr. Six at 8:23 PM on June 7, 2006
This video has been removed due to copyright infringement.
They couldn't think of a better reason?
posted by Afroblanco at 9:18 PM on June 7, 2006
They couldn't think of a better reason?
posted by Afroblanco at 9:18 PM on June 7, 2006
the same video on Buzznet
for the record, i have mixed feelings about the performance/song myself. on one hand its so sad. and on the other hand i really liked that paul anka cd of covers and this seemed like a very sweet cover.
however dave looks like a caged animal and its pathetic that the rest of van halen wont do the right thing.
posted by tsarfan at 2:23 AM on June 8, 2006
for the record, i have mixed feelings about the performance/song myself. on one hand its so sad. and on the other hand i really liked that paul anka cd of covers and this seemed like a very sweet cover.
however dave looks like a caged animal and its pathetic that the rest of van halen wont do the right thing.
posted by tsarfan at 2:23 AM on June 8, 2006
Amen, felix & black8. Diamond Dave was always all about the fun, and the rockin' and the boozin' and the pussy-chasin'. The DLR haters just like their grapes sour, I guess.
posted by jonmc at 7:06 AM on June 8, 2006
posted by jonmc at 7:06 AM on June 8, 2006
Could DLR at least try to sing the damn song if he's going to bother at all?
posted by StarForce5 at 8:09 AM on June 8, 2006
posted by StarForce5 at 8:09 AM on June 8, 2006
That's as good as he ever got live on stage, StarForce. Seriously. He's not a good singer. In the studio, they were able to clean him up pretty well.
And besides, we didn't go see Van Halen to listen to dulcet crooning vocal tones, dude! :)
Might I add that I was highly disappointed with the change in the music when Sammy joined, mostly because I was anticipating similar incredible rockingness with a great singer. Not quite...
Ah well.
posted by zoogleplex at 12:06 PM on June 8, 2006
And besides, we didn't go see Van Halen to listen to dulcet crooning vocal tones, dude! :)
Might I add that I was highly disappointed with the change in the music when Sammy joined, mostly because I was anticipating similar incredible rockingness with a great singer. Not quite...
Ah well.
posted by zoogleplex at 12:06 PM on June 8, 2006
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posted by Gungho at 2:02 PM on June 7, 2006