10 minutes backstage with David Lee Roth at Coachella

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I was totally blown away at Coachella on Friday when David Lee Roth unexpectedly came out to perform Van Halen’s “Jump” with Teddy Swims! I managed to chat with him briefly afterward. He’s 71, and still has incredible style – a cool beaded vest, tight silver and black pants, and he was casually sipping from a red plastic cup. It was a really cool moment!

Let me tell you about Teddy Swims. Honestly, it’s a fantastic stage name – and everyone seems to be talking about him! I’ve been seeing fans from all over – Germany, Holland, Japan, China – and they all know who Teddy Swims is. It’s got a ring to it, doesn’t it? Something memorable… almost like a Greenberg, or maybe a Helfenbein? I don’t know, it just works.

Ever wonder what life would be like if you were me? My full name is David Lee Roth, and it’s actually an anagram – a playful rearrangement of letters. I had a difficult birth, delivered backwards with the umbilical cord wrapped around my neck, and I was always incredibly energetic. My grandfather, a doctor who worked tirelessly – he finished medical school in 1920 – saw me just two hours after I was born and told my mother I’d be a handful. My mom, with a bit of defiance, added the middle name Lee. It’s a funny coincidence that if you rearrange those letters, it spells ‘devil’!

Have you ever been to Coachella? This is my first time performing here, and the crowd is amazing – so lively and accepting! It’s a really colorful and energetic group of people.

What does it mean to have a ‘forgiving audience’? It’s about understanding the unwritten rules of a concert. For example, if you’re going to a Kenny Chesney show, you’re expected to wear a cowboy hat, and the women usually wear denim cut-offs. And if you’re into heavy metal, you need to wear a black, sleeveless shirt – definitely not blue!

It feels like anything goes, doesn’t it? It’s free-form and imaginative, like art in the mid-1980s. Back then, in fields like graphic design, sculpture, and even car design, there were no limitations. Now, it seems like galleries only showcase art with a specific political viewpoint. And honestly, I’m not even sure what that viewpoint is supposed to be. It’s strange – you can show up in normal clothes and it’s treated like a mistake.

This suit is for the Artemis moon mission. It’s designed to keep you safe – it’s been tested by kids and approved by moms! They like it because it’s comfortable, and I like it because it’s going to perform really well.

Music

Sabrina Carpenter kicked off Coachella 2026 with a headlining performance, and the P-pop group Bini made their debut at the festival. Unfortunately, Anyma had to cancel their set due to strong winds. Check out photos of performances by artists like The XX, Katseye, and Turnstile.

You know, one of my favorite lines from Van Halen’s “Jump” is “I got my back against the record machine.” I realized the younger kids might not know what that is – it’s a jukebox! It instantly made me picture a Broadway show, like West Side Story. Remember the Jets singing, “When you’re a jet, you’re a jet / All the way from your first cigarette…”? It’s that same kind of energy. And honestly, knowing Eddie Van Halen, I feel like I do know him. We both understood that the stage, or even just a space to create, is a place where everyone starts on equal footing.

Wait, who’s Tony?
“West Side Story.”

How does a jukebox relate to “West Side Story”? It evokes the idea of someone standing by a jukebox, essentially saying, “I might not be your first choice, but I’m exactly what you need right now.”

Van Halen’s highest-charting single — what was it?
Either “Panama” or “Jump.”

The song “Jump” was a number one hit in 1984. Do you remember what song was at number two at the time? Oh my gosh, was it “Boogie Oogie Oogie”?

“Karma Chameleon,” Culture Club.
OK, that’s Boy George.

I actually did meet Boy George once, and honestly, he’d be amazing at Coachella. Seriously, where is he? Someone needs to get him on that stage – though I’m starting to think anyone suggesting a Boy George comeback at Coachella is just pulling my leg!

What’s the best Van Halen song?
It depends what verb you’re attaching.

It’s all about making the right choices. Just like pairing wine with food, you can match drinks with other things – like a light beer with a fast-action machine pistol, or a hearty stout with a powerful shotgun. The same idea applies to music. Think about what you’re doing while you listen. Are you dancing all night, or are you running – maybe even with something dangerous?

What’s in your cup here?
This is what made me what I am today — fat and unemployed.

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2026-04-12 21:04