Last week, we released an interview with David Lee Roth from 1984. This week, we are releasing another Roth interview, but 35 years later. We go from the height of Roth’s Van Halen career to his twilight years. I believe this interview is one of the most honest and humble interviews he’s ever given; he speaks very candidly on many topics. At the time of this interview in 2019, Roth was 65 years old and promoting his line of tattoo skin care products called Ink the Orginal. In the interview, Roth talks at great lengths about his parents and growing up, the beginning and ending with Van Halen, why he never got married, why he’s never happy, plus so much more. The interview was conducted by Debbie Millman and was originally aired on her award-winning awesome podcast Design Matters. We are so grateful that Ms. Millman is allowing us to share one of the most insightful David Lee Roth interviews with you. Please use the link below and subscribe to her podcast.

Subscribe to Debbie Millan's Design Matters: https://www.designmattersmedia.com/

00:00:00 - Intro to David Lee Roth interview00:01:17 - Debbie Millman intro00:02:19 - Start of David Lee Roth interview00:02:47 - His Uncle Manny Roth00:05:29 - His mother, Sibyl Roth, and her toughness on him00:07:49 - Wearing leg braces as a kid00:08:41 - His early jobs00:09:34 - Where his youthful drive came from00:11:14 - What the Roth family expected when they had get-togethers00:12:29 - When he first realized he had a talent for singing00:15:00 - Him being in plays as a child00:16:11 - He tells where he really learned to sing from00:18:59 - His parents threaten him with going to a foster home00:19:16 - If “bad” Dave comes from his mother00:21:08 - How he was taught to sing like the girls00:22:43 - How many instruments he plays00:23:25 - The first meeting with the Van Halen brothers00:26:31 - Why he and the Van Halen brothers were crosstown rivals00:28:26 - What inspired him to write music00:30:57 - The near-death experience that chokes him up even today00:34:38 - How much of his Playboy image is a story he was creating00:37:15 - If he is confident he would make it in show business00:37:33 - The idea of an album band00:39:00 - An obscure Dutch radio reference00:40:14 - Did they write Runnin’ with the Devil in 18 minutes00:42:25 - Who are the best teachers and coaches00:45:35 - When he has felt sorry for himself00:46:45 - Why he hasn’t fallen into a lot of traps, other Rock and Rollers did00:47:28 - Him stealing books00:48:31 - What kept him from succumbing to drug abuse00:49:55 - Where his ability to jump high comes from00:53:46 - Why did he leave Van Halen in 198500:54:38 - Why didn’t he ever get married00:56:44 - His ability to mimic others00:58:54 - The teleplay he has been working on for three years01:00:33 - Why his favorite audience is disbelieving nonbelievers01:01:29 - Why he isn’t happy01:02:14 - His window time01:02:53 - How he’s always solving a catastrophe01:05:12 - Why he decided to start Ink the Orginal01:07:43 - Why take his life in this direction01:09:41 - Tattoos today01:12:11 - The process of making his product01:13:53 - How the business is doing01:14:22 - The difference between having a tattoo today and 30 years ago01:17:37 - What advice would he give someone who has writer’s block01:19:28 - Squeezing every single moment out of life