The DLR Cast

Steve and Darren have a blast talking with Doug Brod, author of They Just Seem A Little Weird: How KISS, Cheap Trick, Aerosmith and Starz Remade Rock and Roll. Doug talks about the influences those bands had on so many musicians, the artist that connects them all and so much more. And yes, there's a couple of connections with David Lee Roth and Van Halen. At the top: Steve and Darren talk about the recently-released Alex Van Halen interview in Modern Drummer. They Just Seem A Little Weird: How KISS, Cheap Trick, Aerosmith and Starz Remade Rock and Roll is a fantastic book and you can find it online and in your favorite bookstore. If you've been a fan of any of those bands, or all, you have to read this book! Follow Doug on Twitter: @DougBrod And follow the podcast on Twitter! @TheDLRCast

Darren and Steve debate the two recent developments in David Lee Roth land. First up, Dave on "The Joe Rogan Experience," where Steve and Darren try to answer the over-arching question, "Wa wa zat?"  Then its all about the new track, "Giddy Up!" which dropped earlier in the week. It's the second song released presumambly from the album written (and produced?) by John 5. How is it? 

Darren digs into the vaults and his 2003 interview with Diamond Dave make its world premiere! It is -- simply put -- a fun, rambling convo: Dave talks about his favorite poem, why he doesn't have writer's block, all about ambitious fury, infinite refinement, his Fourth of July Christmas special (!?!), future plans, and much more. At the top: Darren and Steve talk about Dave's latest round of art, the multiple panel serial "True Story." What's it all about? Where's it all going?

Darren and Steve lead off with a few points about Dave's lyrics and why Dave's band with guitarist Brian Young was his hardest rocking -- and hardest working -- solo band. Then, Darren talks with Brian about staying busy during COVID-19, his recent cover of the Vandenberg song "Burning Heart," the importance of saying "yes" to every gig, secrets of working with Dave, what "trackblasting" is, and much more.

On this edition of "The DLR Cast," Darren and Steve catch up about, then they cut to Darren's recent interview with Red Reign drummer Sam "Sammy Lee" Bendhiem. Sammy Lee probably knows more about Van Halen and DLR than Darren does -- Darren's assessment -- and their conversation touches upon various facets of the DLR catalog (e.g. "Skyscraper," "Eat 'Em And Smile," "DLR Band," "A Different Kind Of Truth") and Sammy nearly meeting Dave a few times. Sammy also talks about Red Reign's gigging alongside the likes of Tesla, Quiet Riot, Dokken and other DLR-adjacent artists we all dig. Red Reign's latest single is "Not That Way," and we at "The DLR Cast" are big fans of it. Go learn more about Red Reign via www.redreignband.com and www.facebook.com/RedReignBand. Thanks for listening!

This week Darren and Steve welcome Danny Zelisko, author of "All Excess: Occupation Concert Promoter." Simply put, Danny is one of the most successful concert promoters to ever book a show and he's been doing that for 46 years and over 12,000 concerts. In "All Excess," Danny navigates you through his musical journey of producing concerts and takes you behind the scenes of it all as he tells you about his years of working with some of world's biggest stars in entertainment, the good friends he's made and the wild and crazy stories.  At the top, Darren and Steve discuss how the last Van Halen album 2012's "A Different Kind of Truth" may be the heaviest VH album of all, Eddie Van Halen's dearth of musical appearances and collaborations outside of VH, and a very strange David Lee Roth story re-surfaces...via Reader's Digest? You can get Danny's book at all online booksellers and directly at his website, DZPLive.com. The DLR Cast: The Essential Podcast by and for fans of David Lee Roth.  

This week Darren has a great interview with the supremely talented and awesome singer/songwriter Jonny Polonsky. Jonny talks about first seeing David Lee Roth and Van Halen on MTV when he was 8 years old, learning Van Halen songs on guitar, Dave as a cultural influence, pursuing passions, the rock & roll lifestyle that used to be versus today, and much more.  Born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in suburban Wilmette, Illinois, Jonny Polonsky began writing, recording and self-releasing homemade cassettes as a teenager. Filled with smart rock and pop melodies, these cassettes landed in the hands of influential artists he admired, like Reeves Gabrels, Zander Schloss and Frank Black, who helped Jonny do a demo tape and find a manager. Soon the tapes got him a deal with Rick Rubin's American Records, and his debut album "Hi My Name Is Jonny" was released in 1995. Subsequent albums and musical projects included Jonny working with the Brad Wilk and Tim Comerford (Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave), Maynard James Keen from Tool, including joining Keen's side project Puscifer. As a studio musician he's appeared on albums by Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond, The Dixie Chicks, and Pete Yorn. His latest album "Power and Greed and Money and Sex and Death" was released in 2020, recorded during the COVID-19 lockdown in his aparment. For more info visit JonnyPolonsky.com.

This week on "The DLR Cast": Darren speaks with composer, musician and David Lee Roth and Van Halen fan, Jeff Cardoni. Jeff talks aboout how his career evolved, composing for TV and movies, great guitar players, and, of course, Dave, Van Halen, and more! At the top: Steve and Darren wonder, "where is Dave?" Jeff Cardoni's body of work ranges from studio features (e.g. "Mike And Dave Need Wedding Dates," "Step Up: All In," "Just Friends, "Open Season 3," "Firehouse Dog," "Miss March") to television scores (e.g. "Silicon Valley," "The Kominsky Method," "Training Day," "Young Sheldon," "CSI:Miami," the re-boot of "Saved By the Bell"). For more on Jeff visit www.jeffcardoni.com

The awesome Steve Brown is this week's guest interview. Steve talks about digging both David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar, how Van Halen influenced him to form Trixter, that time (pre-fame) he ran on stage during a Van Halen show, and meeting Dave when Trixter was recording their debut album.  At the top, Darren and Steve talk about some various DLR news: Dave donates a cool jacket for a MusicCares auction which segues into a conversation about his evolving aesthetic thru the years; former Dave guitarist Brian Young talks about working with Dave and Dave once expressed interest in managing Tesla? Plus, hello, Finland and Australia!  Follow your favorite podcast about Diamond Dave at Twitter: @TheDLRCast  Steve Brown not only founded Trixter but he's also part of Tokyo Motor Fist, played with Danger Danger, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, the Broadway musical Rock of Ages and is the only guy to fill-in for both Vivian Campbell and Phil Collen of Def Leppard. Find out more about Steve at http://www.stevebrownrocks.com.

Darren and Steve discuss the latest Van Halen tribute show rumors and more. Then, Darren has a fun conversation with percussionist extraordinaire Sammy Figueroa. Sammy played on David Lee Roth's "Crazy From The Heat, "Eat 'Em And Smile" and "Skyscraper." Sammy Figueroa has long been regarded as one of the world's great musicians and has played on countless records and is well-known for his versatility in a multitude of musical styles. Besides playing with Dave he's also played with David Bowie, Chaka Khan, Mariah Carey, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Quincy Jones, and George Benson. He also has a radio show which you can check out via Mixcloud Select. More on Sammy can be found online via www.sammyfigueroa.com. Follow us at Twitter: @TheDLRCast

Happy New Year! Its the first episode recorded in 2021 and Darren speaks with the great Stacy Jones (American Hi-Fi, Miley Cyrus, Veruca Salt, Letters To Cleo, Hey Monday, Matchbox Twenty) about a bunch o' cool things and Stacy has a cool Van Halen story, too! Prior to that Darren and Steve chat about the special, all-Van Halen edition of Life Magazine that's on newsstands and VH's "dark period." Follow us at Twitter! @TheDLRCast

Darren and Steve talk about Wolfgang Van Halen's recent Howard Stern interview, his new song "Distance" and band, Mammoth WVH. Plus, the news about Diamond Dave around and from all the Wolfgang press. And this week's news-making interview: Darren talks with Michael Starr of Steel Panther. For more of Darren's cool interviews with musicians, actors and more, check out the Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz everywhere you get your podcasts!   Follow us on the Twitter machine! @TheDLRCast  

Steve and Darren take a deep and meandering look at The Roth Project, the dystopian, sci-fi digital graphic novel David Lee Roth recently released via DavidLeeRoth.com. What is it and why? Who is involved? We try and find out!   Odds are good that The DLR Cast on Twitter won't be as entertaining as the actual podcast but you can follow us here: @TheDLRCast  

This episode's interview is with Tyler Bryant of Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown. Tyler talks about the huge influence Eddie Van Halen and the first Van Halen album were on him, his first guitar, David Lee Roth still writing cool lyrics (re: the last Van Halen album A Different Kind Of Truth) and a special appearance of his Diamond Dave soundboard. Also, Steven and Darren spoke about the ridiculous Van Halen reformation/tribute rumors that Wolfgang Van Halen had to shoot down on social media. And, of course, go down a couple different paths from there. Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown is an American rock band. Founded in Nashville, Tennessee by guitarist Tyler Bryant, the group has since released four successful studio albums, and has toured with such groups as Jeff Beck, ZZ Top, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Guns N' Roses and Lynyrd Skynyrd, as well as making appearances at several rock-themed music festivals. The group's current lineup consists of Tyler Bryant (lead guitar & vocals), Graham Whitford (rhythm guitar), Ryan Fitzgerald (bass), and Caleb Crosby (drums). Their latest album Pressure, just came out last month and is killer!    

Steve and Darren welcome Nick Newman from the "Rock n Wrestling Podcast!" We talk about video games turning a younger audience onto David Lee Roth, why the Dave and Eddie Van Halen feud was kind of like pro wrestling, you never know what you'll get with Dave's vocals, discovering Dave thru MTVx, how Van Halen's "1984" album is a great way to fall in love with VH, why Dave is a natural evolution from being a pro wrestling fan, and much more. Nick Newman's "Rock n Wrestling Podcast" has guests from professional wrestling and rock n roll world. Every week is a new guest sharing stories about their time in these businesses. Nick has had some of the hottest guests in the wrestling and rock world. A new podcasts drops every week. Follow Nick at Twitter: @nicksrnwpodcast

The first guest on The DLR Cast is a fun one! Steve and Darren welcome Jason Sichi and Dave Wheeler of the cool band Limousine Beach. Hailing from Pittsburgh, PA, they draw inspiration from bands such as The Sweet, The Dictators, KISS and, of course, the mighty Van Halen and David Lee Roth. Check out their first release, Stealin' Wine +2 available on Spotify from TeePee Records. Steve, Darren, Jason, and Dave talk about how they became big Dave fans, the amazing Eat 'Em and Smile album and the inevitable comparisons to Van Halen with Sammy Hagar. For more on Limousine Beach find them on Facebook www.facebook.com/limousinebeach 

The premiere episode of "The DLR Cast," the essential podcast by and for fans of David Lee Roth. Hosts Steve and Darren talk about how they became fans of Diamond Dave while growing up on Long Island, NY and his influence. The epic Van Halen album 1984, Dave and Van Halen parting ways […] The post The DLR Cast Premiere – By and for Fans of David Lee Roth! appeared first on THE DLR CAST.

Darren and Steve dig into the latest David Lee Roth videos that have been popping up - is this just Dave's "counter-programming?" Plus, why Dave should have been a pop culture/rock icon gues in John Mulaney's Netflix 6-episode live show, Everybody's In L.A. - or could he have been? Plus, are there any left-over tracks from some of Dave's solo albums, Steve digs the :50 worth of an awesome Steely Dan cover in the new Mojo Dojo video, the Alex Van Halen auction, the new expanded edition of Van Halen's "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" coming in July, and maybe Dave just does what he does just...because.  Find more Darren via the Paltrocast at YouTube!

"If one thing is incorrect, what else is incorrect?" So it goes, as Darren and Steve debate and discuss Dave Lee Roth's recent, back-to-back "Roth Show" episodes, "Stalker" and "Who Called The Ambulance." Who the hell is Dell/Del, a descent into a deep state with myster gardeners and plumbers, part of the Civilian Surveillance Corps. Plus various inconsistencies, mystery music, "Scotch & Sofa" and Toshi!

Darren and Steve discuss, dismantle, and debate the latest in David Lee Roth and DLR-adjacent news. Steve has a dream, Darren has some thought and ideas on royalties and there's the big story from Louder about Van Halen at Castle Donnington in 1984. And some thoughts on Alex Van Halen's book and a new book on VH, Van Halen At 50, by Martin Popoff, coming in May. Plus, a dip into the mailbag reading listener comments!