DAVE LEE ROTH Takes Another Swipe At SAMMY HAGAR

Scott Cronick of the Press of Atlantic City spoke with David Lee Roth before his show Saturday night (May 31) at Trump Marina Hotel Casino about his current tour, his forthcoming album, and Sammy Hagar — the other former VAN HALEN frontman. "The truth is we had a great time [touring together] last year," Dave said. "Like I said to him on the way in, 'Let's do a retrospective of one of the greatest barbecue bands in the history of the sport. You play yours and I'll play mine. It may be the only time people will get a chance to hear all of the songs in one night.' So I played my 22 huge hits and he played his three or four. I'd have him back to open up for me tomorrow if he would do it." Asked if Hagar would have to open for him, Roth said, "I don't really care. My self-esteem is not a question. It's not ego. I know I'm not the best writer in the history of rock. There were better ... like THE BEATLES. But it's about ambition. And no one can top me in that department."

With regards to his new album, titled "Diamond Dave" (due on July 8 through Magna Carta Records),Dave said, "When [I and the rest of the band] got together, I said I wanted it to be post-modern. We all agreed that post-modern was a damn fine word. We think the album came out that way. We approached it in a way that is rarely used today. Every song is recorded as an ensemble with a real band. Everyone played together — that is a rarity. Even bands in the heavy metal world use too much technology. Like LINKIN PARK, how much of that is really the drummer? Maybe 20 percent. We have an actual band that recorded with 1960s drum sets, early 1970s amps and rigs, a production staff straight out of Berklee with the oldest cat being 24 years old.

"We took the meat and potatoes of the band added in the loops and samples and turntables ... all of my fascinations. And what you get is a combination of two entirely different traditions that are consequently loved from both neighborhoods."