Band premieres first single with frontman David Lee Roth in nearly 16 years, and yes, it rocks. By James Montgomery Van Halen’s David Lee Roth Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage Van Halen didn’t play “Tattoo” — their first single with frontman David Lee Roth in something like 16 years — during last week’s free-wheeling, free-spirited (and free-booze-fueled) club show in New York City, and it’s sort of a shame. It would’ve fit in rather nicely alongside the massive Carter/Reagan-era smashes they did work into the set. Don’t get me wrong, “Tattoo” isn’t on par with the likes of “Runnin’ With the Devil,” “Everybody Wants Some!!” or “Panama,” but it’s cast from the same mold: huge riffs, huger backbeat, hangar-sized chorus, soaring vocal harmonies (thought it’s certainly weird to see Eddie Van Halen’s son filling Michael Anthony’s role in that regard) and a killer guitar solo. Diamond Dave even gets to do one of his patented talking bits. But perhaps most importantly, in keeping with grand Van Halen tradition, it doesn’t try to be anything more than a Sterno-grade party starter. “Tattoo” isn’t really about politics or religion or really even feelings (except for maybe the part where Roth sings about his uncle being in the union). Instead, it is entirely about, well, tattoos. Of all shapes and sizes. Or, as Roth puts it, “Sexy dragon magic!” And really, what else needs to be said? At the very least, “Tattoo” is miles better than the last two songs the band recorded with Roth, “Me Wise Magic” and “Can’t Get This Stuff No More,” from 1996’s Best Of Volume 1. And when compared to the other “new” song Van Halen premiered during Thursday’s Caf
-
-
Raw Police Video
Name That Celebrity Smile!
Breaking Sports VideoHot Celebrities
Britney Spears
Kim Kardashian
Lauren Conrad
Heidi Montag
Zac Efron
Vanessa Hudgens
Miley Cyrus
Spencer Pratt
Robert Pattinson
Adam Lambert
Taylor Lautner
Taylor Swift
Roxy Olin
Khloe Kardashian
Brooke Hundley
Levi Johnston-
