David Lee Roth is never one to shy away from a dramatic story. Especially when it comes to his long and complicated history with Van Halen. During a recent solo performance last week in Hampton Beach, the rock icon decided to take a playful jab at Van Halen nemesis Sammy Hagar. However, he did it with a mocking ghost story that had the crowd eating out of his hand.
Back in August 2022, Sammy Hagar told fans and the press that the late guitar legend Eddie Van Halen had visited him in a dream. According to Hagar, Eddie gifted him a riff that ended up inspiring the song Encore, Thank You, Goodnight.
However, it took Sammy nearly three years for the song to see the light of day. However, Hagar eventually released it with Joe Satriani, Michael Anthony, and Kenny Aronoff, according to UCR.com. The moment framed Hagar as deeply connected to Eddie’s spirit, even beyond the grave.
Now fast forward to this week, David Lee Roth wasn’t about to let Sammy’s ghostly tale go unchallenged. So what does Diamond Dave do? He one-ups Hagar’s Eddie Van Halen ghostly visit by seemingly sharing one of his own.
David Lee Roth’s Ghostly Encounter Keeps Fans In Stitches
With Dave’s usual mix of sarcasm and showmanship, Roth told the audience that he, too, had recently been visited by Eddie’s ghost. But in classic David Lee Roth snarky fashion, his version was far more bold and dramatic.
“I don’t know what the odds are, but last night the ghost of Eddie Van Halen visited me at the f**king hotel room. I was watching the weather report, and he came in and he was laughing. His f**king ghost was laughing,” Roth recalled.
According to Roth, Eddie Van Halen, however, instead of whispering a song from the heavens. David said Eddie was laughing and revealed to him that the alleged Sammy Hagar-gifted tune was nothing more than In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida played backwards. If it’s legit, that’s a ghostly joke only Eddie himself could deliver.
David wrapped up the story mid-performance, saying he and Eddie’s ghost shared a cigarette, exchanged hugs, and even a few choice words. The punchline? Eddie supposedly told Roth to go to hell. Roth’s response: “Save me a seat.”
David Lee Roth never lets an opportunity slip by to throw a playful jab at Sammy Hagar. Even if it means dragging Eddie Van Halen’s ghost into the mix. Whether it’s on stage or in a hotel room story, Roth’s knack for mixing humor and shade to keep fans laughing… and sometimes cringing. Classic Dave. Always ready to stir the pot, no matter who’s watching from beyond.
Emma Taylor 
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