Backstage, 1978—with Michael, Alex, Edward, and David. When I first met them, they really were just four guys from Southern California.
Backstage, 1978—with Michael, Alex, Edward, and David. When I first met them, they really were just four guys from Southern California.
Michael Anthony and his then-girlfriend (now wife), Sue Anthony. For all my time with the band, Michael Anthony was a gentle and fun-loving soul even as chaos swirled around him.
Our sound engineer, Townsend Wessinger (left), Eddie (center), and me in 1979.
Gary Geller the Red Roadie (left) and Peter Angelus (right) on the first Van Halen tour. The battery in the rented truck behind them died the night of the first gig of the tour in Chicago at the Aragon Ballroom.
The logo on the Jimi Hendrix poster that turned up in a box of the band’s things from Marshall Berle’s office after he was let go. The similarities to the Van Halen logo hit me immediately.
1978: From left, Michael Anthony, me, and Peter Angelus.
David Lee Roth on tour in 1978.
Carl Scott, the Warner Brothers Records VP who brought me on board as road manager for Van Halen’s first tour.
A picture of me from the road, 1978.
David and Alex, during a promotional trip to South Africa.
David and the South African cops.
David Lee Roth, 1979.
David checking out the view from a hotel window. Those first couple of years we were always on the road, but we loved it—all of us.
Me (right), hanging out with Edward (left), and Alex (center) around 1980–81.
Michael Anthony dressed up for a Halloween, 1980.
Alex (left) and Edward (right) were always ready for a good party—be it on Halloween or any other night.
The whole band together on Halloween (clockwise from the top), Alex, Michael, David, Edward).
Even on Halloween, he was still David Lee Roth.
A later Halloween with Edward and Valerie Bertinelli in which they dressed as each other.
David lounging by the pool during some down time.
Alex and his then-wife Valerie Kendall.
Eddie Anderson, who handled security, and my soon to be wife, Jan.
Michael and Sue Anthony at a party in a French restaurant for my wife and me four days before we were married.
Though David and I had our differences at times, he was always fun at a party.
Alex Van Halen at his finest.
Valerie and Edward at the French restaurant. I was there the first time these two met in person, and I can say that if theirs was an odd match, it was nonetheless genuine. I could tell right away that they liked each other.
David Lee Roth at our pre-wedding party.
The Van Halen crew at my wedding in April 1983. In the front from left to right: Edward, Michael and Sue Anthony, Valerie Bertinelli, and Jan Van Halen (Edward’s and Alex’s father). ©Neil Zlozower
Sue, Michael, and Alex at my wedding. ©Neil Zlozower
Eddie Anderson, Edward, me, and Jan Van Halen. ©Neil Zlozower
Edward, me, Mo Ostin, Evelyn Ostin, and Tom Ruffino. ©Neil Zlozower
Valerie Kendall and Alex Van Halen. ©Neil Zlozower
Jan with David’s father, Nathan Roth. ©Neil Zlozower
Hanging out with Edward. ©Neil Zlozower
Sue Anthony and Valerie Bertinelli catching some sleep on the road during the 1984 tour.
A very hungover Valerie Bertinelli.
Backstage with our equipment in Europe, 1984.
Valerie with a bathrobe, waiting for Edward to finish playing during the 1984 tour.
Michael, Valerie, and Edward during the European leg of the 1984 tour.
David with Debbie Kelly, who sold merch at our shows and whose husband was the head of merchandising for us.
Michael and Sue Anthony, high school sweethearts, were great people through it all.
Backstage during the summer of 1984.
David Lee Roth in a hotel room in London.
Michael waiting for the Concord.
Valerie backstage on tour.
Michael backstage with Vince Neil of Mötley Crüe during the Monsters of Rock tour.
Sue and Michael with Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee on the Monsters of Rock tour.
With my wife, Jan, in London, 1984.
My wife, Jan, has been through it all with me and then some. All these years later, we’ve never forgotten what life was like with Van Halen.