The DLR Cast

Episode 12: Eddie Van Halen (R.I.P.)

As recorded on the evening of October 6, 2020, Darren and Steve discuss the life, (unexpected) death, impact, and influence of the one and only Eddie Van Halen.
Edward Van Halen, R.I.P.

Episode 11: Interview with Longwave's Steve Schiltz

Darren talks with Longwave's Steve Schiltz about his band Longwave, Van Halen, and of course, David Lee Roth! Steve talks about how Eddie's guitar playing was his entry to Van Halen, Dave, and Steve Vai and Jason Becker's catalogs, and how it informed and inspired how own work. Plus, the time Steve and James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins) were incredulous when a younger travel companion hadn't heard of, and subsequently did not get, the greatness of "Hot For Teacher." And Darren tells Steve about the Japanese import of the Spanish-language version of Eat 'Em And Smile, Sonrisa Salvaje (yes, you read that right).
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Steve Schiltz co-founded Longwave in 1999, and by 2002 the band was signed with RCA Records. Longwave’s sophomore album, The Strangest Things, helmed by Flaming Lips producer Dave Fridmann, brought the band’s music to the masses, and international tours with The Strokes, Bloc Party, OK Go and many more followed.
Longwave went on an unofficial hiatus in 2009, after releasing Secrets Are Sinister. After years of collaboration, Schiltz wrote, recorded, mixed and produced Tonight Is The Ghost by himself — the first set of songs from the project that would become Hurricane Bells. The album quickly garnered kind words from critics and a following of fans.
Steve's music has been featured on the soundtrack to The Twilight Saga: New Moon, alongside Death Cab For Cutie, The Killers and more. Hurricane Bells released an EP in 2010 and a second album, Tides And Tales, the following year. Another EP, There’s Nothing Precious in the Past, was also completed. The band toured the States and played to crowds in Japan and India. 
Steve has toured with the likes of Albert Hammond Jr., The Pierces, Teddy Thompson and James Iha. His playing and writing can be heard on Blue October’s 2018 hit album I Hope You’re Happy (for which he co-wrote the title song), as well as UK hits by Birdy and Gavin James, and James Bay’s international 2019 hit “Bad”. He's also his own boutique studio, composing music for documentary films and ads for multiple national brands and companies.
In 2019, Longwave reunited and released “If We Ever Live Forever”, followed by “Live At Bowery Ballroom” in 2020. New records by Blue October, Harvard Of The South, and the Japan-only “There’s Nothing Precious In The Past” are all slated for release in 2020.
For more on Steve Schiltz and his music visit SteveSchiltz.com and be sure to check out Darren's work at Paltrowitz.com
 
 
 

Episode 10: Interview with Greg Renoff, author of "Van Halen Rising" and "Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer's Life In Music"

Greg Renoff, author of Van Halen Rising: How A Southern California Backyard Party Band Saved Heavy Metal and Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer's Life In Music joins us to talk about David Lee Roth, Van Halen, Ted Templeman, and so much more. It's a wide-ranging conversation covering everything from the backyard parties that launched VH, Templeman's role with VH and so much great music, to the story behind the songwriting credits on "I'll Wait" from Van Halen's 1984 album. Plus, the acting stylings of Dave's dad, Dr. Roth! And...Tim Conway!
Greg Renoff was born in the Bronx, New York, and grew up in New Jersey. Renoff earned his Ph.D. in American history from Brandeis University and his writing has appeared in medium.com/cuepoint, Guitar World, LA Weekly, and Vulture. He and his work have been profiled in Spin, Salon, Maxim, Rolling Stone, Los Angeles Magazine, Oklahoma Magazine, Yahoo Entertainment, and the Boston Herald. Greg lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma and enjoys connecting with readers via vanhalenrising.com and twitter.com/GregRenoff.
Greg Renoff's books are available online and at your favorite local bookstore.
 
 

Episode 9: A Conversation With Musician Jesse Harms (David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar, REO Speedwagon)

Darren spoke with the only guy to appear on both David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar albums, Jesse Harms. Jesse is a songwriter, keyboardist and producer whose work has appeared on over 15 million albums worldwide. In addition to Dave and Sammy, Jesse has also worked with Heart, REO Speedwagon, Bad English, John Hiatt, Guitar Shorty, Ry Cooder, and Patty Smyth. He also worked with Eddie Money, writing one of Money's biggest hits, "Walk On Water."
In this wide-ranging conversation, Jesse talks about touring, writing and recording with Sammy, life on the road, the realistic expectations and the highs and lows of being a working rock musician, while being a dad and a husband. 
Plus, Darren and Steve talk about Dave's new tour dates -- in 2021!

Episode 8: Author & curator G. Brown on interviewing Dave, Eddie and other greats

Darren talks with music journalist and author G. Brown about what its like interviewing musicians, including David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen. Plus, how the music business has changed for music journalists.
 
G. serves as podcast moderator, curator and executive director of the Colorado Music Experience. He has navigated the Rocky Mountain musical landscape for decades, both as a journalist and as a radio personality. He covered popular music at The Denver Post for 26 years, interviewing more than 3,000 musicians, from Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen, to Bono and Kurt Cobain. Published in numerous magazines including Rolling Stone and National Lampoon, Brown also covered music news and hosted and programmed for a myriad of Denver-based radio stations. He is the author of five books, including the award-winning Red Rocks: The Concert Years, Colorado’s Rock Chronicles and Telluride Bluegrass Festival: The First Forty Years. 
 
Before that, Steve and Darren also talk about music publicity and journalism - specifically the lack of interviews by Dave and Eddie during the 2007 Van Halen reunion tour. How did the reunion ultimately, finally, happen? Did the media silence help keep the peace? Plus the publicity and marketing around Van Halen's 2012 album A Different Kind Of Truth.

Episode 7: A Conversation With Mitch Schneider, Former Publicist for David Lee Roth

Mitch Schneider has worked with some of rock and pop's biggest superstars, including Prince, David Bowie, Heart, Yes, Tom Petty, Grand Funk Railroad, Aerosmith, Heart, and Ozzy Osbourne. Co-founder of the Schneider/Rondan Organization (SRO PR), Mitch stopped by "The DLR Cast" to talk about his time as David Lee Roth's publicist from 1991 to 2003. 
As recorded in July 2020, Mitch told Darren and Steve some interesting details and stories about working with Dave, starting with the "A Little Ain't Enough Album" through Dave's ill-fated 1996 reunion with Van Halen at the MTV Music Awards -- and let's not forget the weird and wacky David Lee Roth's "No Holds Bar-B-Que" home video. In addition, Mitch told some great stories about former clients David Bowie, Ted Nugent and Aerosmith, and there's some discussion about DLR's recent feature in The New York Times!
Find out more about Mitch and the Schneider Rondan Organization at www.sropr.com.

Episode 6: Linus Of Hollywood talks David Lee Roth, Van Halen & more

The talented and funny Linus Dotson, a.k.a. Linus of Hollywood visits Steve and Darren on The DLR Cast. Linus not only has a long and active solo career but he's also in the band Nerf Herder and has worked with Cheap Trick, Roger Joseph Manning, Jr., Lil' Kim, Ol' Dirty Bastard and many others. We talk about Linus's music, and the love of shred, Van Halen and Dave's influence on Linus, Dave's influence in Van Halen and the early albums and how great it is to put on Sonrisa Salvaje, the Spanish version of Eat 'Em and Smile, during a party and more. Plus, Linus's involvement in Nerf Herder, meeting Dave himself, and what hair-metal guitarists were doing when grunge hit.
For more on Linus of Hollywood's music, including able machines, his collaboration with Tay Coliee, visit www.linusofhollywood.com. 
Darren Paltrowitz has a great podcast with tons of cool interview, The Paltrocast. Visit Paltrowitz.com for episodes and more.

Episode 5: A Conversation with Nick Newman of the "Rock n Wrestling Podcast"

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

Episode 4: Talking DLR with Limousine Beach

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 

Episode 3: The First Time David Lee Roth & Van Halen Reunited

Remember the first time David Lee Roth reunited with Van Halen? Darren and Steve talk about DLR getting back with the band in 1996 for the Van Halen greatest hits album, Best of Volume 1, recording two new songs, “Can’t Get This Stuff No More” and “Me Wise Magic.” Plus, the cringe-worthy 1996 MTV Music […]
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