Forty years ago, today (April 1, 1985), Van Halen experienced their first major change when it was announced that singer David Lee Roth left the band. Reflecting on his departure a year later in 1986, Roth shared his thoughts on the split. He explained that he and Eddie Van Halen had reached a difference in career direction. Roth wanted to tour extensively and hurry into the studio, but the band wasn't on the same page. They shook hands, hugged, and parted ways. However, Roth was surprised to read in Rolling Stone magazine that Eddie claimed he had spent the last 12 years in misery, living a lie despite his luxurious lifestyle.
While Van Halen found success with Sammy Hagar, Roth also thrived with his solo career. His first three releases, the EP Crazy From the Heat and the albums Eat 'Em and Smile and Skyscraper, were well-received. In 1996, Van Halen parted ways with Hagar, and Roth reunited with his former bandmates to present an award at the MTV Video Music Awards. Although this reunion didn't lead to anything substantial, they came together again in 2001 to record a few songs. Despite the differences between Roth and Eddie, Roth expressed his willingness to tour with the band, even if they weren't on speaking terms.
Nothing materialized from their attempts to reunite until 2007, when Roth joined Eddie, Alex, and Wolfgang Van Halen for a tour. Roth stayed with the band long enough to release two more albums, A Different Kind of Truth in 2012 and Tokyo Dome Live in Concert in 2015. Since then, Roth has released numerous singles, hosted podcasts, and performed until March 2020. He announced his retirement in 2021 but was in talks with Alex and Michael Anthony about a Van Halen tribute tour following Eddie's death in 2020, which never came to fruition.
[Source: Classic Hits Today]