Dave’s journey from badass to glam goofball

[Legoman]

Let me say from the start, I love Dave! Van Halen with David Lee Roth, to me, is the only Van Halen. (I wasn’t quite as partisan when I was growing up, though, so fair play to those that like the Van Hagar years too.)
However, I’ve often wondered over the years about Dave and how his public image and consequent decline could have happened if he was a smart as everybody says he is. For example, how did he evolve from being a badass in the early years of Van Halen to the increasingly goofy character in the mid-80, and then to a full-on glam rock performer by the end of the decade? I just wondered whether he was following a trend set by Poison, Cinderella, etc. and, if he was so smart, why did he become reactionary rather than continue to take the lead? Or was it just a really conscious decision on his part to go down that road? If the latter, he should have looked at the popularity of Guns N’ Roses, for example, and saw that they were the next big thing, along with Metallica, and could have or should have foreseen that the image he had been cultivating for a few years prior to that had a limited shelf life.
Again, Dave was The Man, especially in the early years of Van Halen and I just wish that he kept that rough and edgy, almost threatening persona at times, which would still have fitted in with the party-hearty image he was trying to promote as Van Halen got bigger into the ‘80s. What I’m thinking is, if he wasn’t quite as glammed up and goofy by the end of the ‘80s, he may have stood a chance. It was the ones that had an edgy, tough image that survived into the ‘90s while Dave lost his way. As a fan, it pisses me off!

[Dave's Dreidel]

This thread will go well.

[I Coulda Hada VH]

Dave has always been more of an entertainer than a typical musician / rock star. Van Halen wouldn't have been the amazing band they were without him, though. Not even close.

[japeape]

I agree in many ways, in he started to become a caricature of his original self.
Steven Tyler did that as well, but still retained the voice for the most part.

The CVH Dave just oozed charisma and cool, in this effortless fashion.
He had the jumps, the swagger, the impossibly cool stage mannerisms and vibe.

When he got older, it was more goofy and less badass.
It was very Vegas, even pre-Vegas, and then the voice started to get strange.

But no one can erase the "Golden God" that he was, and how incredibly witty
and influential he was.

[Dave's Dreidel]

78-85 he was the man.

[Ashe]

He was increasingly desperate to stay relevant.

[DFVH5150]

I like Dave's goofball side.

He didn't go glam though. Certainly not musically. You mean his image? He wore a little makeup during the EEAS days but that's it. After that it was all cowboy garb.

[PrideofPasadena]

I think the more popular he became the more he thought he could do no wrong. He would still be considered cool no matter how goofy he acted, or looked. That was never going to be the case. Even if he never left VH, that wasn't going to work for very long.

Unfortunately, that's Dave's personality...over the top. It was never going to be any different. That's just who he is as a person.

[DRFC]

I think Dave has always been a goofball. In photos like the WACF photoshoot he's acting all badass for the persona. In interviews he was still goofy. Nowadays he does a badass face here and there for photos, but I don't think he cares as much about the sex symbol persona like he did then, so he just acts natural more often.

Another theory: it takes 100% confidence to act the way he did from 75-85. If there was any doubt in his mind about himself it would show. He was 100% sure of himself, which is an almost impossible thing to do. And I think in '97 he was on point, but in more recent days whether it was his voice or hair loss or bad back or whatever, he felt a fraction uncomfortable being 'Dave' naturally. Just enough to notice he isn't 100%. I thought earlier this year with the frosted hair and a little weight gain and the improved voice -- you started to see a more confident Dave, which meant less nervous smiles. It was awesome to see, and a shame it's on hold.

[CaboChris]

I think Dave was a great actor. He played the Rock God very well. He had sex, drugs, and RNR down to a T. What we see today is his true self. The more I think about him the more I believe he was never truly a rock n roller at heart.

[bklynboy68]

What we see today is a 65 year old man who refuses to play the role of 20 something rock god like so many other bands do.

It’s obvious he decided a long time ago that he wasn’t going to play that game. He would’ve been sporting a wig for years if that was the case.

It’s Dave.

Also, there was nothing “goofy” about Dave in his prime. Dude is a legendary badass for a reason.

[L.S.D.]

Dave won the sprint.

Sammy won the marathon.

Both excellent in their peak.

[VH1986]

I think Dave was a great actor. He played the Rock God very well. He had sex, drugs, and RNR down to a T. What we see today is his true self. The more I think about him the more I believe he was never truly a rock n roller at heart.

This is an interesting take on Dave. I think Dave has always been more dedicated to being a showman than anything else, and rock and roll turned out to be the best medium for him to command an audience. Don't get me wrong, I think Dave loves music and I think he has musical talent. He's also a gifted artist. His eccentricities haven't always translated well outside of rock n' roll and I think they started to slip into his onstage persona. I think Dave would have been happy as a lark taking over for Bob Barker on The Price is Right.

[CaboChris]

This is an interesting take on Dave. I think Dave has always been more dedicated to being a showman than anything else, and rock and roll turned out to be the best medium for him to command an audience. Don't get me wrong, I think Dave loves music and I think he has musical talent. He's also a gifted artist. His eccentricities haven't always translated well outside of rock n' roll and I think they started to slip into his onstage persona. I think Dave would have been happy as a lark taking over for Bob Barker on The Price is Right.

Can't argue with any of that.

[JUNGLE DRUMMER]

Dave won the sprint.

Sammy won the marathon.

Both excellent in their peak.

Dave proved that wrong during the KISS tour. Both can still perform and entertain.