The DLR Cast

Episode 34: Dave on "The Joe Rogan Experience" and the new song "Giddy Up!"

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? 

Episode 33: David Lee Roth's Most Overlooked/Underrated Songs

Steve and Darren welcome Eric Senich from the Van Halen News Desk - VHND.com - to talk Diamond Dave's most overlooked and underrated songs, both solo and with Van Halen. All of Dave's solo albums are discussed, Eat 'Em and Smile, A Little Ain't Enough; Skyscraper has several songs on these lists...did anything from Your Filthy Little Mouth make it? Naturally, multiple sidebars abound: New Zealand public radio is damn good, Dave's cover songs, Sammy vs. Dave, Jason Becker, Eddie Van Halen and much more. Plus, Eric tells us all about his cool new podcast "Booked On Rock," which you can check out at BookedOnRock.com.
Find out more about what Darren's got going on at Paltrowitz.com and https://www.youtube.com/c/DarrenPaltrowitz.

Episode 32: Darren's Interview with David Lee Roth

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?

Episode 31: Interview With Brian Young (former David Lee Roth guitarist)

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.

Episode 30: Interview with Red Reign's Sam "Sammy Lee" Bendhiem

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!

Episode 29: Interview with Tom Beaujour (co-author of "Nothing But A Good Time")

This week's interview is with Tom Beaujour, co-author (along with Richard Bienstock) of the awesome new book, "Nothin' But A Good Time: The Uncensored History of the 80's Hard Rock Explosion." Its the definitive, no-holds-barred oral history of 1980s hard rock and hair metal, told by the musicians and industry insiders who lived it. Darren and Tom get into the influence Van Halen and David Lee Roth had on this scene, the scene itself in Southern California, and much more.
At the top, Steve and Darren discuss the ridiculousness of the Grammys and their lame "tribute" to Eddie Van Halen and Wolgang's response. Also, was Michael Anthony going to join Dave onstage at a show last year?  And, Paul Stanley's Soul Station and how Diamond Dave should have/could have done something similar, years before.
"Nothin' But A Good Time: The Uncensored History of the 80's Hard Rock Explosion" is available online and at your favorite independent bookstore.

Episode 28: Interview with Danny Zelisko (Author of "All Excess: Occupation Concert Promoter")

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.
 

Episode 27: They're Just Like Us (Except in Interviews)

This week on "The DLR Cast," Darren and Steve talk about David Lee Roth in various interviews through the years, from Dave's 1988 appearance on "Larry King Live" to being on Joe Rogan and Marc Maron's podcasts.
Plus, does Gene Simmons love the Costco rotisserie chicken? And how its a crime that there's never been a home video release of either the "Eat 'Em and Smile" or "Skycraper" tours. 

Episode 26: Interview with Jonny Polonsky

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.

Episode 25: Interview with Jeff Cardoni (Film & TV Composer)

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