Van Halen vocalist David Lee Roth announces retirement from music

The singer's retirement announcement comes almost a year after Van Halen co-founder and guitarist Eddie Van Halen died from cancer at age 65

Rock legend David Lee Roth has announced that he is stepping back from his prolific music career.

The former Van Halen vocalist said he will be "throwing in the shoes" in January after doing his last five concerts at the House of Blues Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas.

“I am throwing in the shoes. I’m retiring. This is the first, and only, official announcement. … You’ve got the news. Share it with the world. … I’m not going to explain the statement. The explanation is in a safe. These are my last five shows," Roth told Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The singer's retirement announcement comes almost a year after Van Halen co-founder and guitarist Eddie Van Halen died from cancer aged 65.

Roth, 67, said he has been contemplating “the departure of my beloved classmate recently" and is "encouraged and compelled to really come to grips with how short time is, and my time is probably even shorter."

"I thought I might have been the first, frankly. And my doctors, my handlers, compelled me to really address that every time I go onstage, I endanger that future," he added.

Roth also revealed that the original Van Halen drummer Alex Van Halen will be part of his band for the final five dates in January.

With Roth as the lead vocalist, iconic rock band Van Halen released its self-titled debut album in 1978. Roth left the group in mid 1980s with Sammy Hagar replacing him as the lead singer. There first studio album with Hagar was “5150" and the group followed it up with “OU812,” “For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge” and “Balance.”

Roth reconciled with the band in 2007, teaming up with the Van Halen brothers and Eddie's son Wolfgang Van Halen for a tour, the album “A Different Kind of Truth” and the 2015 live album “Tokyo Dome Live in Concert.”

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