Yes, There Really Is a Book Titled ‘How David Lee Roth Changed the World’

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A new book about David Lee Roth arrived in 2024. And while the classic rock legend is certainly worthy, it was the title that understandably got our attention. DLR Book: How David Lee Roth Changed the World is from author Darren Paltrowitz via Backbeat Books. The 272-page paperback is available in the U.S. and in the U.K.

From the announcement: What do you do after leaving one of the world’s biggest bands? If you’re David Lee Roth, you write a memoir, become a radio host, sell a screenplay to a major studio, get certified as an EMT, play Vegas, become a certified helicopter pilot, put out bluegrass versions of your biggest hits, and learn a few languages. And then you rejoin Van Halen for a reunion tour.

Encompassing the highs and lows of a truly unusual career, DLR Book is an intimate look at the force of nature that is David Lee Roth, from his start with Van Halen to his highly publicized departure from the band and his triumphant return. Drawing on nearly one hundred exclusive interviews, author Darren Paltrowitz delves into Diamond Dave’s many extracurricular activities, including his unclassifiable video series The Roth Show, the rise and fall of his syndicated radio program, and his line of tattoo skincare products. Included are conversations with some of Roth’s most popular collaborators (among them Steve Vai, Billy Sheehan, Gregg Bissonette, Travis Tritt, John 5, and Korn’s Ray Luzier) and contributions from figures influenced by Roth, including Jason Aldean, Billy Corgan, Butch Vig, and legendary sumo wrestler Konishiki.

Filled with photographs never published in book form—including exclusive photography from Lit bassist Kevin Baldes—and an introduction by WWE Hall of Fame inductee Diamond Dallas Page, DLR Book is not simply the first book about Roth to be published in decades. It’s a front-row seat to one of the wildest and most unpredictable artists of all time.

Roth was born October 10, 1954.

Author Paltrowitz is a licensed private investigator who began working around the music business as a teenager. Since then, he has worked with numerous recording artists, including OK Go, They Might Be Giants, Tracy Bonham, Mike Viola, Amanda Palmer, TNT and Loudness. DLR Book: How David Lee Roth Changed The World is his third book, a followup to 2019’s Good Advice From Professional Wrestling: Full Contact Life Lessons, as co-written with prolific author D.X. Ferris and published by 6623 Press.

He is also the host of Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz, which airs regularly on over 150 television stations and OTT carriers, in addition to key podcast and digital outlets. Paltrocast guests have included film and television stars (e.g. Alison Brie, Michael Cera, Johnny Knoxville, Joel McHale, The Fraggles), athletes (e.g. Danica Patrick, Jimmy Garoppolo, Jorge Masvidal, Channing Frye, Chris Jericho), chefs and hospitality-related personalities, reality TV favorites, hip-hop pioneers (e.g. Ice-T, Method Man, Flavor Flav, Kid Koala), and Rock and Roll Hall Of Famers (e.g. members of Van Halen, Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses, Deep Purple, Pearl Jam, Radiohead).