Diamond Dave

David Lee Roth
Roth performing with Van Halen in 1978.
Background information
Also known as	Diamond Dave
Born	(1954-10-10) October 10, 1954 (age 62) Bloomington, Indiana, United States
Genres	Hard rock, heavy metal, glam metal
Occupation(s)	Musician, singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1972–present
Labels	Warner Bros., Interscope, Magna Carta, CMH
Associated acts	The David Lee Roth Band, Van Halen
Website	davidleeroth.com

David Lee Roth (born October 10, 1954) is an American rock vocalist, musician, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality. In 2007, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Roth is best known as the original (1974–1985) and current (2006–present) lead singer of hard rock band Van Halen. He is also known as a successful solo artist, releasing numerous RIAA-certified Gold and Platinum albums. After more than two decades apart, Roth re-joined Van Halen in 2006 for a North American tour that became the highest grossing in the band's history and one of the highest grossing of that year. In 2012, Roth and Van Halen released the comeback album A Different Kind of Truth.

Roth was born in Bloomington, Indiana. He is the son of Sibyl Roth and ophthalmologist Nathan Roth and the brother of Allison and Lisa Roth. Nathan Roth was a renowned eye surgeon who made millions via his practice and in real estate. The senior Roth was featured on the TV show Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous in 1984, on which he claimed that he was Van Halen's first manager helping the group obtain gigs in the early days. Nathan owned a 14,000-square-foot home in Pasadena, California named "Rothwood" as well as a chateau named "Bradbury".

Roth is of Jewish heritage. Several members of his family were surgeons: uncles Dave (neurosurgeon) and Marty (orthopedic surgeon), and a grandfather. His uncle, Manny Roth, built and owned the New York, N.Y. establishment Cafe Wha? in the early 1960s, which featured performers such as Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix. At age seven, Roth got his first taste of show business from the inside by hanging out at Cafe Wha?, as mentioned in his book "Crazy from the Heat". His uncle was one of Roth's first guests on his short-lived radio show on New York's 92.3 Free-FM.